Windows CE is burned into the Windows CE computer's ROM; thus, it cannot be upgraded via a download. The only way to update Windows CE is by purchasing a new ROM chip from the manufacturer. Notes: Some manufacturers' Web pages are confusing in regards to Windows CE upgrades. One manufacturer has a link to download Windows CE 2.2. The Windows CE 5.0 device emulator images have not been released yet. The entry 'Windows CE 5.0 Device' is to be used with real devices like CEPCs, prototype boards, etc. In the Device Emulator Manager, you see the Platform item and you should not be getting a context menu at all when clicking on this item. This update makes a change to your Windows Mobile operating system by installing a new time zone for Caracas, Venezuela. The name of the new time zone is Venezuela Standard Time, and the display name for this time zone is (GMT -04:30) Caracas. Windows CE is an operating system used on some mobile devices. Microsoft regularly releases updates that you should download and install to resolve security issues and other software bugs. Updating Windows CE is a simple process that requires a computer with an active Internet connection.
The thing about the unit running Windows CE, it's all a pre-compiled or 'pre-built' operating system that has special drivers and libraries that Pioneer has tailored for that unit alone. Just because you might have the possibility to load a new operating system on it doesn't necessarily mean you'll be able to have full functionality of the unit. The Windows CE operating system is designed for mobile devices such as PDAs, cell phones and some GPS systems. When you need to update the Windows CE operating system on your GPS, you can easily get the most updated versions of the OS by using the Windows Update center on your Windows 7 or Vista computer.
Windows CE
In 1995, Microsoft started the development of the new operating system called Windows CE under the code name Pegasus. The graphical user interface and usability has similarities with Windows 95 and has been designed especially for embedded devices. The application programming interface (API) contains a subset of the Win32 API used for Windows on personal computers. At the beginning, Handheld PCs and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) are supported with the processor architectures as MIPS 3000/4000, SuperH of Hitachi and Intel x86. The 32-bit operating system has a limit of up to 32 processes with up to 32 MB virtual memory for each process. The minimum requirements are stated as 4 MB ROM and 2 MB RAM.Windows CE 1.0 has been presented at the COMDEX, Las Vegas in November 1996. One of the first devices for Windows CE was HP 300 LX and available at the market on 16th November 1996. The operating system is not sold separately and always tied to the device unit delivered by the original equipment manufactures. The resolution of the touch screen is 640x240 pixel and corresponds to the half-VGA resolution. Data can be synchronized between mobile device and desktop computer with the 'Handheld PC Explorer' software. Although the localization in German was planned, the first Version of Windows CE was only available in English.
Windows Ce 5.0 Update
At the beginning there have been speculations about what 'CE' is standing for. Interprations like 'Compact Edition' and also 'Consumer Electronics' was spread. Microsoft declared later that 'CE' is not an abbreviation but represents more the rules of orientation during the development to create an new operating system that is more 'Compact', Connectable', Compatible', an 'Companion,' and 'Efficient'.Windows CE 2.0 came in October 1997 with the first devices on the market. The operating system can now be designed modular by the device manufacturers itself. TrueType fonts improving now the appearance of characters on the screen with a display of 640x480 pixel full VGA resolution and 24-bit color depth. The manageable memory can now be up to 4 MB. The software 'Handheld PC Explorer' was renamed to ActiveSync. The operating system is also available in German now.
The update Windows CE 2.10 in July 1998 allows the use of TCP/IP and the file system FAT32. With the modular file wrapper can be incorporated up to 256 different file systems. The RAM can now be up to 16 MB. The new command line processor allows in this release for the first time the use of commands without a graphical user interface. An infrared port and USB controller increases the scope.
Pocket PC 2003 or Windows Mobile 2003 has a real-time kernel and is based on the Windows CE. NET 4.2 kernel. The features of the XScale CPU are now fully available and use the advanced commands of the ARM v5 architecture. The Pocket Media Player can now play videos in Windows Media 9 format. A WLAN stack was added and the setup of the connections was made easier.
Windows Mobile 2003 SE from March, 25. 2004 for Pocket PCs can switch over the display contents between the portrait and landscape format and displays up to 480 × 640 pixels. The start menu was changed light and the handwriting recognizer software Transcriber is controllable with Shortcuts now. The Internet Explorer converts web pages to a adapted format for better view on small displays.
Windows Mobile 5.0 was finished on May 5th, 2005. It is used in Pocket PCs, Smartphones and compact Media Players. Important innovations in this release are the support of Persistant Storage to prevent a data loss at a low battery usage and the revised mobile Office with Word, Excel and Powerpoint. The Windows Media player was updated to version 10 and the sync software ActiveSync to version 4.0. With Direct3Dmobile a new standard API was created for a simplified programming of 3D applications and games for PDAs.
Windows Embedded CE 6.0 was introduced in the year 2006. It offers a revised kernel architecture of the operating system, up to 32,000 parallel processes can be executed. A virtual addressable range of 2 gbyte is possible for every process. The multimedia capabilities have been expanded and now support HD-DVD, DVD (MPEG-2), UDF 2.5, multi-channel audio and much more. The compatibility to existing Windows CE applications and drivers are kept. Microsoft published the whole source code of the kernel within the own Shared Source Initiative.
Microsoft announced at the 'CTIA Wireless' Windows Mobile 6.1 in April 2008. This new release is to be easier for the access to messages and to configure. The integrated web browser supports Adobes Flash, Microsoft Silverlight and the video codec H.264. Functions for Smartphones have been improved.
The market research group Gartner, Inc. released a press news about the worldwide market share of PDA ventors and operating systems on 22nd May 2007. 3.1 million Windows CE units have been sold in the 1st quarter 2007. This represents a dominant position with a market share of 62.1% by operating systems. The Windows CE operating system increased his share compared to the 1st quarter 2006 with 52.8% and 1.9 million units sold.
The market share changed significantly 10 years later. On 19th May 2016, Gartner released the following figures. With 8.2 million Windows units sold in 1st quarter 2015 and 2.3 million devices in 1st quarter 2016, this is equal to a market share of 2.5% and 0.7% only. As a result the Windows operating system is on 3rd place behind iOS and Android the market leader.
Windows CE Struktur | Windows Mobile 2003, desktop and start menu of PocketPC | Windows Mobile 2003, selection of the settings #1 | Windows Mobile 2003, selection of the settings #2 |
Windows Mobile 2003, running programs | Windows Mobile 2003, File Explorer | Windows Mobile 2003, Medion Navigator with GPS | Windows Mobile 2003, view of the Route planner |
Windows Mobile 2003, view of the version | Windows Mobile 2003, settings for network connections | Windows Mobile 2003, selection of the battery mode |
Windows Ce 5.0 Support
Versions
1997 Nov. - Windows CE 2.0, Codename Birch
1998 July - Windows CE 2.10
1999 - Windows CE 2.12
2000 April - Windows CE 3.0, Codename Cedar
2000 April - Pocket PC 2000, Codename Rapier
2001 Oct. - Pocket PC 2002, Codename Merlin
2002 Jan. - Windows CE .Net, Codename Talisker (Windows CE 4.0)
2002 Juni - Windows CE .Net, (Windows CE 4.1)
2003 April - Windows CE .Net, (Windows CE 4.2)
2004 Aug. - Windows CE 5.0, Codename Macallan
2005 May - Windows Mobile 5.0, RTM
2006 - Windows Mobile 5.0 Second Edition
2006 Nov - Windows Embedded CE 6.0, Codename Yamazaki
2007 - Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R2,2007 Feb. - Windows Mobile 6.0
2008 April - Windows Mobile 6.1
2009 - Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R3,2009 Sept. - Windows Mobile 6.5
2010 - Windows Mobile 7
2010 Dec. - Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5
2011 March - Windows Embedded Compact 7
2012 Oct. - Windows Phone 8.0
2014 July - Windows Phone 8.10
2013 June - Windows Embedded Compact 2013
2016 March - Windows 10 Mobile
Windows CE 5.0, Codename Macallan was announced at the beginning of 2003. While not scheduled for release until Q3/4 2004 some details of the release are known.
Macallan was originally to be billed against the Windows codename Longhorn release. Due to delays in the Windows release time line caused by Windows XP security concerns, and the subsequent extended internal audit which pushed the Windows developer groups to spending time on Windows XP SP2 instead of Longhorn development. The Windows CE 5.0 release happened well in advance of heavily delayed Longhorn (not expected mid 2006).
Some of the main achievements of CE5 have been to improve the Storage capabilities of Mobile devices, as well as improving the file system that the Operating System uses.
With Windows CE 5, technologies have been made available to OEM's, particularly the Platform OEM's for the Windows Mobile 5.0 release which allow for in-place patching (QFE) of the FlashROM based operating system. In past releases OEM's needed to either issue a completely new Flash image complete with bug fixes and updates, or issue a memory resident patch, which would be lost at the point of complete power failure.
This technology should see consumer Windows Mobile 5.0 devices reach a new level of security and robustness, though at the time of writing on devices are commercially available which make use of the technology.
One speculative wish that hasn't been addressed for the Windows CE 5.0 release, is a solution to the Storage Card / Internal Memory separation. Where by all volumes are mounted as unique entities in the main fling system, rather than being seen to augment main memory. Despite the apparent difficulties with achieving this - when approaching it from the view of the Windows filing system architecture, this is something that the original Pegasus team said they would address back in 1996 after the Windows CE 1.0 release.
CE5 will compliment Longhorn in other ways. Through the adoption and refinement of new and existing communications protocols, Macallan supports the Smart Display Remote Protocol (Codenamed Mira), allowing the CE5 based 'remote display' device to act as an extension to the desktop PC workspace through the use of the Remote Desktop Protocol.
Improved developer tools are also part of the Windows CE 5.0 mantra. For the first time in the history of Windows, Microsoft has opted to provide Platform Builders the ability to view and modify over 2.5 million lines of the Windows CE source code. Named the Microsoft Shared Source Directive (MSSD), device developers can make custom modifications to the underlying makeup of the operating system, without any obligation to share those changes back to Microsoft. Unlike the Open Source world, dominated by the GNU GPL concept. Platform Builders are not obligated to share their modifications with other OEM's or competitors.
Work has also been undertaken on the expandability of the Platform Builder. New ways of integrating technological advances that emerge post CE5 RTM have been tackled. This new functionality will allow OEM's, for the first time to incorporate new hardware technology specifications into their devices, even if the original CE5 platform doesn't support it. 802.11i, 802.11n and WPA2 are all examples of augmentable technology which can be written into the Platform Builder.
A certain amount of device 'intelligence' is also incorporated into CE5. Improved UPnP support will make devices location aware, better supporting different networks and security systems. A new system called Location Services will allow applications on the device to adapt to the users physical presence. For example having one layout while at home and a more formal ergonomic layout and display of information while in the office.
For the mobile gamer the Macallan release promises to provide significant advancement. While DirectX subsets have been incorporated into Windows CE since the 3.0 Platform Builder refresh. CE5 boasts full DirectX 8 Direct3D support in the form of Direct3D Mobile. Allowing mobile devices and game developers to make use of advanced 3D graphics.
Windows Mobile 5.0
Windows Mobile 5.0 extends upon the Windows Embedded platform lineage bringing greater functionality and performance improvements to the struggling Pocket PC and SmartPhone product lines.
Windows CE 5.0 Release History
- CE 5.0 Core (Macallan, 9th July 2004)
- CE 5.0 Windows Mobile 5.0 (Magneto, Beta 1t Feb 16th 2005, RTM 10th May 2005, P/PC & SmartPhone release)
- CE 5.0 Windows Automotive 5.0 (12th July 2005; Successor to Windows Automotive .net)
- CE 5.0 Networked Media Device (NMD) Feature Pack (Tomatin, 4th April 2006)
- CE 5.0 Windows Mobile 5.0 Second Edition (Crossbow)
AcitveSync 4.x is the formal Sync Client for Windows CE 5.0 generation devices. For more on the lineage of ActiveSync 4.x click here.
Windows CE 5.0 Screenshots | Handheld PC Device List
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