| Microsoft to open up Windows CE kernel source? |
Oct. 31, 2006
 Microsoft will make a surprise announcement at the Nov. 1 launch of Windows CE 6.0, according to the Web's rumor-mill. In what would be its most substantial nod to the open-source movement, Microsoft is rumored to be opening up CE 6.0's entire kernel as "shared source."
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Update, Nov. 1, 2006 at 8:30 AM PST
Microsoft confirmed, this morning, that 100 percent of Windows CE 6.0 kernel source has been released under a "shared source" license. Read our complete, highly detailed coverage of the launch of Windows Embedded CE 6.0, here:
Windows CE 6 arrives with 100% kernel source
Original story follows . . .
Our anonymous tipster writes, "If you check out Mike Hall's blog, there's a photo of a popcorn bag [see picture, above] that bares the wording, ''Watch the Kernel go Pop."
"Does this have anything to do with CE 6.0 (launching tomorrow)? The CE Base Team blog says, 'This is a big release for the CE base team, considering it's predominantly about kernel and tools changes.' Microsoft has been talking about expanding their shared source with this version -- looks like it could mean they're opening the kernel," the tipster concludes.
If this rumor is correct, the opening up of Windows CE's kernel source code will make Windows CE more attractive as an alternative to Linux in many embedded applications and devices that require substantial customization of the OS, or where source code availability has been mandated by the development team. Microsoft touts the terms of its BSD-like shared source license as being preferred by device and equipment makers who do not want to be compelled to make their OS modifications public and available to their competitors. Additionally, The sixth generation of Microsoft's embedded OS boasts a redesigned kernel that expands the number of simultaneous processes from 32 to 32,000, while enlarging the virtual memory that is addressable by each process from 64MB to 2GB, among other already announced enhancements.
Meanwhile, we do know that Wednesday's online Windows Embedded CE Launch event will feature a "comprehensive introduction" to version 6 of Windows CE, beginning with an 8 AM PST keynote by Craig Mundie.
Following Mundie's keynote, a set of "on demand" technical sessions will become available on the launch event website. These will be presented by technical luminaries from both inside Microsoft and from the company's MVP (Most Valuable Professional) community, including Doug Bolling, Shabnam Erfani, Mike Hall, John Hatch, Sean Liming, Jonathan Lyons, Steve Maillet, Andreas Penna, Nic Sagez, and Paul Yao.
Sessions will cover: - Windows Embedded CE 6.0 Overview
- Kernel and Memory Architecture
- Tools
- Application Development for Windows Embedded CE 6.0
- Access Windows Embedded CE Source Code
- Understanding the Windows Embedded Advantage
- Developing Device Drivers
- Windows Embedded CE 6.0 Real-Time
Two sessions will be offered on the recently released Windows XP Embedded SP 2 Feature Pack 2007: - Introduction to Windows XP Embedded
- What's New in Feature Pack 2007
In addition to the technical sessions, a pair of virtual labs will be available covering Windows CE 6.0 and Windows XP Embedded Feature Pack 2007, as well as the following Windows XP Embedded sessions:- Windows XP Embedded V1.1 Overview, by Shabnam Erfani
- Windows XP Embedded V1.1 Features, Sean Liming
Further details regarding Wednesday's Windows Embedded CE 6.0 launch event are available on the event's website. To register, click here. A "Windows Live" ID is required.
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