Jon Westfall
11-06-2006, 12:54 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/nov06/11-01MSKernelPR.mspx' target='_blank'>http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/...MSKernelPR.mspx</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Today, Craig Mundie, Microsoft Corp. chief research and strategy officer, announced the availability of Windows® Embedded CE 6.0, the latest version of the company’s industry-leading software toolkit used to build real-time operating systems for devices such as Internet protocol (IP) set-top-boxes, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), wireless projectors, and a variety of industrial automation, consumer electronics and medical devices. 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."</i><br /><br />Manufacturers are now able to grab the latest version of Windows CE for their devices of all shapes, sizes, and functions. While Windows CE is the base for our beloved devices, it can be used for a variety of other cool toys. Expect to see the first Windows CE 6 devices in, most likely, 7 - 10 months!