Introduction to Windows CE

Microsoft® Windows® CE is a compact, highly efficient, scalable operating system (OS) that is designed for a variety of embedded systems and products. Its multithreaded, multitasking, fully preemptive OS environment is designed specifically for hardware with limited resources. Its modular design enables embedded systems developers and application developers to customize it for a variety of products, such as consumer electronic devices, specialized industrial controllers, and embedded communications devices.

For the most up-to-date information on supported chip sets, see the Windows CE Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsce/embedded/resources/processors.asp

Windows CE supports various hardware peripherals, devices, and networking systems. These include keyboards, mouse devices, touch panels, serial ports, Ethernet connections, modems, universal serial bus(USB) devices, audio devices, parallel ports, printer devices, and storage devices, such as PC Cards.

Additionally, Windows CE supports more than 1,000 common Microsoft® Win32® APIs and several additional programming interfaces that you can use to develop applications. These interfaces include:

• Component Object Model (COM)
• Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC)
• Microsoft® ActiveX® controls
• Microsoft Active Template Library (ATL)

Furthermore, Windows CE supports the following technologies:

• Real-time processing for managing time-critical responses
• A variety of serial and network communication technologies, including USB support
• Mobile Channels, which provides Web services for Windows CE users
• Automation and other methods of interprocess communication

For hardware that is intended to perform as an adjunct to a desktop computer, Windows CE provides the following tools to allow a user to manage and transfer data between a desktop computer and an attached Windows CE–based device:

• A connection manager for establishing and maintaining a connection
• A data synchronization interface to allow synchronization of shared data
• File filters for importing and exporting files
• A remote application programming interface (RAPI) for enabling a client on a desktop computer to request services, such as file manipulation, from a server on an attached Windows CE–based device
• Application installation and management services for installing and uninstalling Windows CE–based applications from an attached desktop computer or other sources

In short, Windows CE is streamlined and flexible enough to use in a variety of small embedded systems, yet powerful enough to use in the newest generation of high-performing industrial and consumer devices.