Windows CE

Windows CE (also known officially as Windows Embedded Compact post version 6.0,[2][3] and sometimes abbreviated WinCE) is Microsoft's operating system for embedded devices and minimal computers. Windows CE is a different operating system and kernel. It is not a trimmed-down version of desktop Windows. It is not Windows XP Embedded which is NT-based.

Windows CE
DeveloperMicrosoft Corporation
OS familyWindows CE
Working stateCurrent
Source modelClosed source (shared source kernel[1])
Latest release2013 / June 2013
Available inMultilingual
Platformsx86, MIPS, ARM, SuperH
Kernel typeMonolithic kernel
Hybrid kernel
LicenseProprietary software(Microsoft EULA)
Official websiteWindows CE

The Zune portable media player, as well as the Windows Mobile and Windows Phone 7 smartphone platforms are based on Windows CE.

Version 8, or Windows Embedded Compact 2013, released in June 2013 as of 2022 is the only still supported version (until October 10, 2023). However, since October 9, 2018, when Windows Embedded Compact 2013 reached the end of mainstream support, that was the end of mainstream support for Windows CE evolution.

Versions
VersionChanges
1.0Released in November 1996 [MSCE1].[4] Codenames "Pegasus/Alder".[5]
  • Devices named "handheld PC" (HPC).[4]
2.0Released in September 1997 [MSCE2].[4] Codename "Birch".[5]
  • Devices named "Palm-sized PC".[4]
  • Real-time deterministic task scheduling.
  • Architectures: ARM, MIPS, PowerPC, StrongARM, SuperH and x86.
  • 32-bit color screens.
  • SSL 2.0 and SSL 3.0.
3.0Released in June 2000 [MSCE3].[4] Codename "Cedar".[5]
  • Major recode that made CE hard real time down to the microsecond level.
  • Base for the Pocket PC 2000, Pocket PC 2002 and Smartphone 2002.[4]
  • Priority levels was increased from 8 to 256.[4]
  • Object store was increased from 65 536 to 4,19 million allowed objects.[4]
  • Restricted access to critical APIs or restricting write access to parts of the registry.[4]
4.xReleased in January 2002 [MSCE4].[4] Codename "Talisker/Jameson/McKendric".[5]

Changed the driver structure a lot. And added Features.

  • Base for "Pocket PC 2003".[4]
  • Bluetooth support.[4][6]
  • TLS (SSL 3.1), IPsec L2TP VPN, or Kerberos.[4]
5.0Released in August 2004.[5] Adds lots of features. Codename "Macallan".[5]
  • Automatic report of bugs to the manufacturer.[7]
  • Direct3D Mobile, a COM-based version of Windows XP's DirectX multimedia API.[7]
  • DirectDraw for 2D graphics and DirectShow for camera and video digitisation support.[7]
  • Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) support.[8]
6.xReleased in September 2006. Codename "Yamazaki".[5]
  • Process address space is increased from 32 MB to 1 GB.
  • Number of processes has been increased from 32 to 32 768.[9]
  • User mode and kernel mode device drivers are possible.
  • Device.exe, filesys.exe, GWES.exe has been moved to Kernel mode.
  • SetKMode and set process permissions not possible.
  • System call performance improved.[10]

References
  1. "Microsoft opens full Windows CE kernel source". Archived from the original on 2012-12-09. Retrieved 2009-06-27. Linux Devices' article(Nov. 01, 2006).
  2. Microsoft renames Windows CE, sets CE 6.0 launch date
  3. Windows Embedded Homepage
  4. "Risk Analysis of Mobile Devices with Special Concern of Malware Contamination" (PDF). 090517 2000grad.com
  5. "Windows Embedded Blog : CE 6.0 - why the codename "Yamazaki" ?". Archived from the original on 2009-06-09. Retrieved 2009-06-27. 090517 blogs.msdn.com
  6. "Pen Computing Magazine: Windows CE .net". 090517 pencomputing.com
  7. "MS readies WinCE 5.0 preview". 090517 theregister.co.uk
  8. "The History of the PDA". Archived from the original on 2012-03-22. Retrieved 2009-06-27. 090517 seditaville.com
  9. "Introduction to Microsoft embedded technologies - Session 1". Archived from the original on 2011-07-24. Retrieved 2009-06-27. 090517 embedded.net.nz
  10. "Differences between Windows CE 5.0 and Windows CE 6.0". Archived from the original on 2012-12-09. Retrieved 2009-06-27. 090517 windowsfordevices.com


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