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Microsoft Makes Surprise CE 6 Release

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the major-overhaul dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Unexpectedly, Microsoft has released a beta of Windows CE 6, at its mobile developer's conference (MEDC) this week. CE is the real-time OS that underpins Windows Mobile and Microsoft's other device software stacks for phones, PDAs, set-top boxes, and the like. CE 6 looks to be a major rewrite, featuring the capability to support several orders of magnitude more concurrent processes and virtual memory. Also new is support for MS's .NET IDE. Together, these new capabilities seem calculated to morph CE from a closed-box, off-the-shelf OS into a more customizable OS."

5 of 145 comments (clear)

  1. Microsoft's Version of Linux by Ben174 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    WinCE is Microsoft's stab at a Linux type of OS. With packages, dependencies, and multiple architecture support, I believe it is the future of Microsoft -- eventually to replace Windows altogether... It's the complete rewrite of Windows we've all been waiting for.

    --
    Here is my home page.
    1. Re:Microsoft's Version of Linux by DigitlDud · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Well, its kind of necessary given the fact that CE has to run on some pretty limited and varied hardware. It's also very different from Linux in that it's a real-time OS and can run without interrupts enabled.

  2. Re:This shows publicity priorities... by Serapth · · Score: 2, Interesting

    You make it sound like one division at Microsoft gains because another division loses. This is just a silly way to view things. Its not like Microsoft is delaying Vista because they have over allocated resources to the CE group.

    How about this for a reality check view of things. First of, Microsoft has 90%+ of the desktop OS market, but maybe 1/3 of the portable market, with 1/3 stretching things huge. Where would you allocate your resources to? Secondly, which do you think would be easier to make... a consumer OS for an unlimited variety of hardware and 20 years of legacy to support? Or, an embedded OS with very little legacy support and a much lower level of hardware requirements?

    The thing im wondering is how much does CE 6 have to do with Microsofts push to having gaming across all platforms. Is CE6 purely CE5 with better gaming/.Net support?

  3. That's the point, dumbass. by XMilkProject · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The fact that people aren't even aware of their reliance on Windows CE is exactly the reason why it is so important Microsoft keeps on the ball with CE releases.

    I think you underestimate the sheer volume of Windows CE users, and almost none of them even know it. Most of your major car manufacurers use CE in their newer vehicles, especially luxury cars. It is in cable boxes, dvrs, exercise equipment, dish washers and point of sale systems... It is everywhere and being used more every day.

    And what is so wrong with XP that a new version is needed in a rush? Keep in mind that Vista is designed as a new generation of operating system, taking advantage of it (or even using it) will require pretty advanced and expensive hardware... Microsoft needs to wait until people are ready for it.

    --
    Big ones, small ones, some as big as yer 'ead!
    Give 'em a twist, a flick o' the wrist...
  4. Every 18 months has been the norm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting



    A new version release every 18 months has been the norm so calling it "surprising" is naive. You won't see a GA user product for a year or more, though. One can only hope these won't be the junk that WM5 (CE5-based) user devices are.