Microsoft Windows Embedded CE 6.0 Is Ready

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Microsoft's chief research and strategy officer Craig Mundie says Windows Embedded CE 6.0, the latest version of Microsoft's software toolkit used to build real-time operating systems for devices such as Internet protocol set-top-boxes, Global Positioning Systems, wireless projectors, and a variety of industrial automation, consumer electronics and medical devices, is available worldwide. In conjunction with the 10-year anniversary of Windows Embedded, 100 percent of the Windows Embedded CE 6.0 kernel is now available through the Microsoft Shared Source program, an overall increase of 56 percent from previous versions of Windows Embedded CE.

The Shared Source program provides full source-code access for modification and redistribution by device-makers (subject to the terms of a license agreement), who are under no obligation to share their final designs with Microsoft or others. Although the Windows operating system is a general-purpose computing platform designed for creating a consistent experience, Windows Embedded CE 6.0 is a tool kit device-makers use for building customized operating system images for a variety of non-desktop devices. By providing access to certain parts of the Windows Embedded CE source code, such as the file system, device drivers and other core components, embedded developers are able to choose the code they need, compile it, and build their own, unique operating systems, quickly bringing their devices to market.

Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition is also shipping as part of Windows Embedded CE 6.0. This marks another first for Microsoft; Platform Builder, an embedded-specific integrated development environment, will now be included as a powerful plug-in for Visual Studio 2005 Professional. This brings the entire development chain together in one, easy-to-use tool, from device to applications, shrinking time to market for device development.

Windows Embedded CE 6.0 boasts a re-engineered kernel with capabilities such as a capacity for 32, 000 simultaneous processes and 2 GB of virtual memory address space per process while maintaining the software's real-time capabilities. This enables developers to incorporate larger numbers of robust applications into more intelligent, complex devices used on the road, at work and or in the home:
• On the road. With the introduction of new cell core data and voice components, Windows Embedded CE 6.0 will enable devices to establish data connections and voice calls over cellular networks, enabling the development of connections for machine-to-machine communication scenarios to build devices such as parking meters, vending machines and GPS devices.
• At work. Windows Embedded CE 6.0 includes components designed to easily build projectors that use the built-in capability of Windows Vista to wirelessly access the desktop experience.
• In the home. Windows Embedded CE 6.0 takes advantage of multimedia capabilities to allow the development of networked media devices, digital video recorders and IP set-top boxes.

Windows Embedded CE 6.0 is launching with worldwide support from device-makers, many of which will bring new Windows Embedded CE 6.0-based devices to market this quarter.

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