Introduction to Windows CE learning route

Introduction to Windows CE Learning route
Q: What is an embedded system?

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International Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) defines an embedded system as an embedded system that controls, monitors, or assists devices, machines, and plant-running devices (Devices used to control, monitor, or assist the Operation of equipment, machinery or plants).
But this definition is very difficult to understand--the backbone of the sentence: "Embedded systems are devices"--and not very well accepted by people in the computer industry. Because the organization that makes this definition is IEEE, is a group of people who engage in electronics, in their eyes, of course, is device more important. Google, you can also find another definition, I think this definition is quite good:
Embedded System is an application-centric, computer based, and hardware and software are cut, applicable to the function, reliability, cost, volume, power consumption, etc. have strict requirements of the special computer system.
the backbone of the sentence is the "embedded system is the computer systems." We can use the above definition, three features of mining embedded system:
(1) Embedding: Because it is embedded into object system, it must meet the requirements of object system, such as physical environment (small), electrical/Atmosphere environment (reliable), cost (low price) and so on. In layman's parlance, embedded systems often need to be tightly integrated with certain application areas.
(2) Specificity: Software and hardware tailoring, the minimum software and hardware configuration to meet the requirements of the object. Generally speaking, when the embedded system development is over, its use is fixed, generally will not change. For example, we cannot use a projector to listen to MP3, although the hardware on the projector is sufficient to handle the MP3.
(3) computer systems: Embedded systems must be computer systems that meet the requirements of object system control. Echoing the above two features, such a computer must be configured with an interface circuit adapted to the object system.
All in all, the difference between the embedded system and the desktop PC that we usually touch or the Enterprise backend server is quite obvious. These differences will be more and more profound as we learn.
with the rapid development of Internet technology and consumer electronic products, embedded system has been developed rapidly in recent years, and a concept popular in recent years is called "Pan-embedded system". It means that the original concept of embedded systems has long been extended. As PDA, smartphones and other emerging devices join the embedded camp, developing applications for PDAs and smartphones can be broadly embedded in development, while developing applications for such devices is not very different from developing applications for desktop devices. The boundaries between embedded development and desktop development are becoming blurred.

Q: What is Windows CE?
Windows CE is a 32-bit, multitasking, multi-threaded embedded operating system developed by Microsoft. It can be used in mobile phones, set-top boxes, smart handheld devices, gateways, digital media equipment, industrial control and many other occasions. Windows CE supports X86, ARM, MIPS, and SH four processor architectures. and Support WIFI,USB 2.0 and other new equipment, and has a powerful multimedia capabilities.
Windows CE operating system is modular design, the whole system is divided into hundreds of modules, embedded system developers can according to the needs of the system to select their own modules, so as to reduce the volume of the system. A minimal Windows CE can run kernel requires only hundreds of KB. A fully functional Windows CE image will not exceed 64MB. In addition, Microsoft has opened some of the source code for Windows CE and allows developers to modify this part of the source code.
Windows CE has released its first version since 1996, and the current version is 5.0. Its version 6.0 will be released in 2007.

What about the relationship between Q:windows CE and other Windows versions of Microsoft?
At present, Microsoft's operating system can be divided into three main areas: Desktop OS, Server OS and embedded OS. Desktop OS is the familiar Windows Xp,windows 9x and so on. The server OS includes the server family, like Windows Server and Windows Servers 2003. This is no longer described in detail here.
Embedded OS is also divided into two categories, one is Windows XP Embedded, basically is the desktop version of XP to do the component. The other kind is Windows CE. Windows CE and Windows XPe are collectively known as Windows Embedded.

Q: What is Windows Embedded? What is Windows Mobile? What is Windows Automotive?
Windows Embedded is a generic term for Windows based embedded operating systems. The Windows Embedded family currently contains two products: Windows CE and Windows XP Embedded.
Windows Mobile is a collection of family products for mobile applications built on Windows CE. That is, Windows Mobile's kernel is still Windows CE, but on the Windows CE built some specific industry application components for this domain, such as mobile phone graphics interface, SMS applications. Windows Mobile currently contains Pocket PCs and Smartphone two products. Pocket PCs are designed for PDAs. Smartphone for smart phone design.
Windows Automotive is also a product for the automotive electronics industry built on Windows CE. Contains some of the most commonly used components of automotive electronics, such as navigation systems.

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