Windows CE

Windows CE is an operating system provided by Microsoft and line for embedded systems, thin clients and handheld devices.

The graphical user interface can be adapted to a Windows NT or same to small screens as well as the intended use. A Win32 API is available on both platforms, so it would be possible to write code for both at the same time. Although Windows CE contains a Win32-based API, there are profound differences that make the ports of NT software in reality most expensive. Nk.exe is the kernel of Windows CE, which was developed from scratch and is completely independent. In the meantime supported the operating system about a dozen processor architectures.

In contrast to Windows NT, Windows CE developed in view of real-time capability. However, the real-time characteristics depend on a variety of factors that cause the real-time capability in practice is not readily available. These factors include the characteristics of the target architecture, support of hardware and drivers, and above all the problem of verifiability of real-time capability. Real-time capability has been verified for only a very very limited number of platforms under certain conditions, some of them using heuristic methods, so it is not possible to speak of a general real-time capabilities associated with Windows CE.

The letters " CE " are not an abbreviation, but a hint of a variety of design principles such as compactness, compatibility and efficiency. With version 6.0, Microsoft extended the name to Windows Embedded CE and with version 7, the system was renamed to Windows Embedded Compact, so it is uniform in the product line fits Windows Embedded operating systems developed by Microsoft for embedded systems.

Markets

Although the orientation of Windows CE on industrial applications is obviously because of its interpretation as a real- time operating system, it is perceived by the public rather than operating system for mobile devices. In this mass market was the advertising of Microsoft to launch even the most intense.

Programmable logic controllers based on Windows CE, there are, for example, from Beckhoff and Siemens.

Thin Clients with Windows CE has been around since 1998.

Operating system

Windows CE has been specially developed for use in small and micro computers, in particular for industrial, automotive and mobile devices. It constitutes the basis for other operating systems for embedded systems, for example, Pocket PC or Windows Mobile. These systems are specializations and extensions of Windows CE and are therefore not the same as this.

Windows CE can run on different platforms with different properties. A developer shall deliver the Microsoft Platform Builder and represents its individual operating system along: with or without a graphical user interface, command line, with Bluetooth support, etc. The license costs per total shipments device with Windows CE vary according to 3-16 dollars. The tools ( " eMbedded Visual Tools " ) and SDKs needed for developing applications for the various Windows CE or Windows Mobile platforms, Microsoft provides free of charge (only applies to CE version of 2002). A much more comprehensive, fee-based development environment is Microsoft Visual Studio.

Variants

Windows Mobile for Pocket PC, formerly known as " Microsoft Pocket PC", extends the functionality of CE to typical applications for handheld computers, such as appointment calendars and address management. The user interface is geared to that of Microsoft Windows, however, was adapted specifically for use on handheld computers.

Windows Mobile for Pocket PC Phone Edition is a version that supports an integrated telephony in the PDA module ( such as GSM or UMTS). So there is also a reception display, the phone application, a SMS-/MMS-Erweiterung for the email application ( which communicates with normal Pocket PC via Bluetooth or IrDA) and various additional interfaces.

Windows Mobile for Smartphones, formerly " Windows Smartphone " is the CE version for mobile phones. Unlike Windows Mobile for Pocket PC Phone Edition have equipped with this system with any device touch screen, usually a smaller display and a numeric keypad. So you look more like a standard mobile phone as a PDA.

Although the name of the operating system ( almost) is now the same, there are significant differences between Windows Mobile for Pocket PC ( Phone Edition ) and Windows Mobile for Smartphones. This run most programs that were written for the operating system version for Pocket PCs, not on smartphones and vice versa. Microsoft, however, is striving to grow together, the systems again slowly. So there is in Windows Mobile 5 for example, the well-known of the smartphones softkeys ( two buttons are displayed in the display function) and the possibility to run signed applications only or to warn of the execution of unsigned applications.

Licensing, distribution and development model

Windows Embedded CE differs in its use significantly from the classic Windows operating systems. A Windows CE system can be derived from the user's perspective does not consider as a general purpose system that can be installed on any application software. It is rather a component of a finished product dar. With this component, the user has nothing to do in detail. For this reason, there are no obligations on the part of Microsoft, and updating extensions for end users offer. But the integrator of the operating system is responsible for the maintenance of the product.

The distribution model that Microsoft preferably consists of a flat hierarchy of companies. First, there are only a small number of distributors that provide development tools and are allowed to sell licenses to companies. These companies create an image for the hardware on which the system is to run. Alternatively, they may hire a third party company which integrates a written application by the company for the specific purpose of the product. The image and the hardware form a unified system that is delivered as a ready, steady in its essential function product to the customer.

Windows CE is a modular view the license structure for an operating system. There is no generic form of Windows CE. Every Windows CE productively used is a specially compiled for the particular purpose version of the system.

Special Use

For Sega Dreamcast there is a special version of CE, which is intended to simplify the porting games to the console from a PC or a laptop. The operating system in each case charged by the game GD, which is why there are several versions for the Dreamcast.

History

Windows CE differed significantly between or handheld PC and a normal PDA (at times by Microsoft as " Palm PC" and Palm - size PC, Pocket PC later called ).

Handheld PCs as some models from the Jornada series of HP were a lot bigger and had a significantly larger display than the only palm-sized PDAs. However, the main difference was a physical QWERTY keyboard, PDAs, this is displayed on the screen ( just a few Pocket PC models also have a built-in keyboard ).

Already in Windows CE version 1.0 ( 1996) it was possible to use rudimentary multimedia features. With version 2.0 ( 1998) it was possible to control color display with up to 65,536 colors. From the beginning, put Microsoft on integrating these devices into networks and to allow many extensions.

Traditionally, the memory of the device is divided into data storage and memory to run programs. Goods in the first generation still 8 MiB total memory usual, this grew in the second generation up to 128 MiB, which could be divided during operation.

Could With the introduction of version 2002 the first units arrived on the market, the real resolution of 640 x 480 pixels (VGA) display on a 3.5 - inch display.

The Pocket PC platform is optimized since version 2002 massively for the mass market. This also includes many useful for the specialist functions, such as quitting applications, control over the network, etc. to prevent, prohibit or behind " user-friendly " to hide layers either.

Also with the 2002 version was the " Connection Manager " is introduced, which takes complete control over any network connection (LAN, dial-up, etc.) and to automate much.

However, some of the new automatisms not work in the way most professional users, but still can not always be avoided.

A problem of the Pocket PC and Windows CE family is of principle that the processors of the individual devices differ significantly from each other, so it is not possible, a program that was written for a CPU type, run on another to be able to. Although the Pocket PC platform since the 2002 version only available as ARM variant, but many old programs are no longer updated and therefore are still only partially for MIPS or the like. available. Running applications other Windows CE platforms, such as handheld PC to Pocket PC is also - mostly due to specific extensions for the current platform - not possible. Since Windows CE. NET is also the execution of programs managed (. NET platform, is largely independent of the system ) is possible. This is accomplished by NET Compact Framework -. A stripped version of the NET Framework -. Possible.

After Microsoft had taken care of by different names for similar Windows CE systems for confusion, the company has recognized today that a return to the old naming system makes sense. Windows CE 5.0 has to get along with new interfaces and built-in WLAN functions, also the first time a support for 3D graphics chips.

One of the major changes that Windows CE 5.0 brings concerns the Memory: The internal data memory is no longer in the volatile RAM, but as a so-called Persistent Storage in Flash ROM, which now protects against data loss if the battery power is depleted. In addition, the operating system now modular in ROM can for the first time to a selective update and must be no longer fully flashed ( overwritten ) when the manufacturer or OEM bug fixes, improvements or additions wants to offer.

Version History

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