04 Embedded Windows Platform

Windows

Windows, the major OS in the desktop PCs, it has many derivates in the servers and embedded systems. Microsoft offers embedded OSes in different names with different configurations for different applications, sometimes the names are really confusing the developers. But their cores are almost identical.

Windows Embedded CE, a real embedded OS for x86, ARM, MIPS and SH4 processors, it has a lot of names for different applications and different time. The very first name is Windows CE, then Pocket PC, Windows Mobile, Windows CE.NET, Windows automotives, Microsoft Auto. But they are leaves from same trunk. The first version of Windows CE is a subset of Win32, more or less an embedded OS derivates from Windows NT, which is not a real-time OS, not latest Windows CE 6.0 becomes a native real time multi-task OS. Its run time price is USD3-16.In order to develop Windows Embedded CE, you must download following software packages from Microsoft's website.Visual Studio 2005 Trial, Team Suite SP1 for developing application software, Windows Embedded CE 6.0 Evaluation Edition and update ReleasesWindows Embedded CE 6.0 Platform Builder for porting OS to your hardware.

Windows XP Embedded is an embedded version of Windows XP Professional. Windows XP Embedded incorporates the latest embedded-enabling capabilities, such as support for multiple boot, storage, deployment, and management technologies. Windows XP Embedded SP2 Features 2007 support new features includes File Based Write Filter and USB support. Its run time price is USD99.The Windows XP Embedded SP2 Features 2007 has integrated necessary tools for Windows XPe

Windows Embedded for Point of Service is developed for POS applications, which requries a lot of business periperal devices. Its minimum requirement is x86 CPU running over 233MHz. The runtime cost is pretty high, about USD100 for each POS PC. But WEPOS indeed brings some benefits to POS applications.

Windows Vista for Embedded (x86). Unlike the other Windows Embedded operating systems, Windows Vista for Embedded Systems is not a componentized offering and the image is not customizable by the developer. Windows Vista for Embedded System was designed for the desktop but is available for fixed-function or dedicated embedded systems. The Windows Vista? for Embedded Systems product line offers two choices: Ultimate and Business versions. Windows Vista Ultimate for Embedded Systems offer BitLocker Driver Encrytion and SUA for running UNIX applications on the OS.

Windows Automotive. Windows Automotive 5.0 is built on the Microsoft Windows CE 5.0 operating system, a hard, real-time, 32-bit, memory-protected operating system kernel with support for a variety of processor architectures. Windows Automotive 5.0 also features the Automotive User Interface Toolkit (AUITK), a sophisticated graphical user interface framework design tool and compact runtime environment.

Microsoft Auto, another new name of Windows CE 6.0 in automotives. A comprehensive hardware/software reference platform, Microsoft Auto enables carmakers and suppliers to more quickly and easily build a solution that provides consumers with features such as mobile device integration, speech recognition, and infotainment.

SYNC, powered by Microsoft Auto software, is Ford’s new fully integrated, voice-activated in-car communications and entertainment system for mobile phones and digital music players.DOS clones for embedded systemBecause Microsoft discontinued DOS support long time ago. A lot of OS suppliers start to port this legacy OS in embedded system. Most of these DOS-like OSes are free, even open source solutions. Since DOS is not a real time OS, there are some RT extensions for these OSes.

DOS clones for embedded system

Because Microsoft discontinued DOS support long time ago. A lot of OS suppliers start to port this legacy OS in embedded system. Most of these DOS-like OSes are free, even open source solutions. Since DOS is not a real time OS, there are some RT extensions for these OSes.