.KEYWORD specifics
.FLYINGHEAD VERSION TRACKING
.TITLE Understanding all those different Windows CE versions
.FEATURE
.SUMMARY Sometimes you just gotta love engineers. They build great software, like Windows CE. But sometimes they make it tough on us mere mortals. Case in point: the version numbers of the Windows CE operating system. If you’ve ever tried to figure out what version of Windows CE goes with what, you need to read this incredibly meaty article. Contributing editor Frank McPherson also points out great download sites where some of you can get free upgrades and even gives you an exclusive glimpse into future releases.
.AUTHOR Frank McPherson
As a Microsoft Windows CE MVP (i.e., Most Valuable Professional), I help many people with problems they have with their devices. Many of the problems you might have can be categorized into one of the three following areas:
.BEGIN_LIST
.BULLET Misunderstanding the different components that make up Windows CE, and the different versions of those components;
.END_LIST
.BEGIN_LIST
.BULLET Communication between the device and the desktop computer;
.END_LIST
.BEGIN_LIST
.BULLET Managing memory on the device.
.END_LIST
In this and future articles I will explore each of these categories in-depth, highlighting what I think are common problem areas and challenges. This month’s article covers the different parts of Windows CE. At the end of this article is an exclusive chart that will help you keep track of the different versions.
.H1 Who you gonna call?
Users often don’t understand what Windows CE really is. Because Microsoft is so dominant in the computer market, many people tend to blur the distinction between the hardware device and the software running on it. However, as I’m sure you know, Windows CE is an operating system and not hardware. Understanding this becomes important when you have a problem and need to call someone for help. For example, let’s say you have a brand new Hewlett-Packard Jornada 820 and you’re having problems getting it to connect with your Internet service provider. Who do you call?
If you equate your Jornada (the device) with Windows CE (the OS) your first reaction might be to call Microsoft. What you’d find if you did this is that Microsoft would have directed you to the hardware manufacturer, in this case HP. They do this because you didn’t purchase Windows CE from Microsoft. Rather, HP is really Microsoft’s customer. HP purchases Windows CE from Microsoft to include with their (HP’s) hardware. This is the nature of HP’s OEM (i.e., Original Equipment Manufacturer) agreement with Microsoft, and as part of that agreement HP has responsibility for providing support to their customers. This is also the nature of most OEM operating system deals.
.H1 Searching for upgrades in all the right places
Another way this affects you is with upgrades of Windows CE. Microsoft writes the upgrades and then provides them to Windows CE OEMs (like HP and Compaq), who in turn decide whether or not they’re going to provide these upgrades for their individual devices.
This isn’t just an arbitrary decision on the part of a manufacturer. When the software is provided by Microsoft to the manufacturers it’s not ready for prime time; there are portions of Windows CE that are actually written by the OEMs. Therefore, it is not a simple matter of just burning new ROMs (i.e., Read Only Memory chips) with the latest software, a manufacturer must also determine if selling the upgrade will cover the cost of developing, distributing, and managing the physical aspects of the upgrade. For example, Philips decided they wouldn’t provide a version 2.11 upgrade for the Velo 500, presumably because it wasn’t cost effective or there were technical hurdles that got in the way.
So, the hard truth is you can’t purchase Windows CE directly from Microsoft. The fact that Microsoft creates an upgrade doesn’t guarantee that one will be available for your actual device. As stated earlier, that decision is up to the manufacturer of your device. The upside of this for users is that most manufacturers who do provide upgrades also tend to provide more than just the Microsoft software. Some will include additional RAM with the upgrade, while others will include software from other companies.
.H1 Modularity breeds flexibility
We have already seen that there are at least two companies involved with your device. There are, in fact, several different components to what we commonly refer as Windows CE. I’ve already described the hardware and the Windows CE operating system (consisting of the user interface, some times referred to as the shell, and the kernel, which controls the hardware). The user interface and kernel are modular and can be separated from each other. This enables the kernel to work with different interfaces, such as those of the handheld and palm-sized PCs, or even an audible interface such as that found in the Auto PC.
.H1 Pocket applications
So far, I’ve made no mention of the application software that runs on your device. That’s because the Pocket Outlook applications and Pocket Office applications are separate elements from the operating system itself. It’s entirely possible for Microsoft to provide Windows CE without any of these applications. You’ll find this most evident with the Palm-sized PCs that don’t have the Pocket Office applications. A frequently asked question in the newsgroups is, "Where is Pocket Word on my Casio E-11?" The answer is that Pocket Word, or any other of the Pocket Office applications, are not available on the Palm-sized PCs.
.H1 Sync or swim
Another key component to Window CE is the communications software that runs on your desktop computer (not your Windows CE device). This software was first called the Handheld PC Explorer, and has been renamed Windows CE Services. You use this software to exchange data between your device and either Microsoft Schedule Plus or Outlook. With this software you can also back up your device, install software and browse the contents of your device. By far the most common problem users have with their device is getting it to communicate with their desktop computer. We’ll talk more about this in upcoming articles.
Upgrades to Windows CE Services are written by Microsoft and distributed by the hardware manufacturers to their customers, just like upgrades to Windows CE. If you go to Microsoft’s web site at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsce/Products/download/wceserv.asp you will find links to the download locations. Even though different manufacturers distribute the software, each has the same desktop software for download.
.CALLOUT If you haven’t upgraded to the most current version of Windows CE Services, version 2.2, I recommend that you do.
Here’s a great upgrade tip: if you can’t get the desktop Windows CE Services software from your manufacturer’s site, you can try one of the others. If you haven’t upgraded to the most current version of Windows CE Services, version 2.2, I recommend that you do. This release is commonly called an "upgrade", but you can install the software without having prior versions installed on your desktop computer.
.H1 Which Windows CE do you see?
This brings me to version numbers. Time for a flash back to history class. Pop quiz. When did Windows CE become available for consumers? What was the code name that Microsoft used for Windows CE while it was being developed?
Read on for the answers.
.H2 Windows CE 1.x
Version 1.0 of Windows CE became available when Casio, Hewlett-Packard and Philips began selling their Handheld PCs in the fall of 1996. Up to the actual announcement date, Microsoft referred to Windows CE as Pegasus. The applications that came with Windows CE, Pocket Outlook and the Pocket Office applications Pocket Word and Pocket Excel, also were 1.0 versions. At the very beginning, version 1.0 of the Handheld PC Explorer was also released. It only supported synchronization with Microsoft’s Schedule Plus and it was quickly replaced by version 1.1 that synchronized with Outlook 97. Most people who bought Windows CE devices received version 1.1 of the Handheld PC Explorer. If you’ve still got version 1.0, go to http://www.microsoft.com/windowsce/products/download/hpcexp11.asp and download version 1.1.
.H2 Windows CE 2.x
Shortly after version 1.0 began selling, Microsoft began working on an upgrade, known internally as Mercury. In the fall of 1997, version 2.0 became available. The upgrade was significant for a number of reasons.
.BEGIN_LIST
.BULLET Explorer was integrated with the user interface, making it more consistent with Windows 95 and Internet Explorer 4.0;
.END_LIST
.BEGIN_LIST
.BULLET Pocket PowerPoint was introduced to the Pocket Office suite, but it can only be used to view PowerPoint presentations;
.END_LIST
.BEGIN_LIST
.BULLET Support for color displays was added; the HP 620LX was the first Handheld PC with a color display;
.END_LIST
.BEGIN_LIST
.BULLET Support for connecting external monitors was added, enabling you to give PowerPoint presentations using overhead projectors and large monitors;
.END_LIST
.BEGIN_LIST
.BULLET Windows CE Services replaced the Handheld PC Explorer and added the ability to continuously update the device with what is called Active Synchronization;
.END_LIST
.BEGIN_LIST
.BULLET Pocket Outlook, Pocket Office and Internet Explorer were all upgraded to version 2.0.
.END_LIST
Windows CE Services only works with version 2.0 devices or greater. If you have a version 1.x device, you’re unfortunately limited to Handheld PC Explorer. Most of the manufacturers provided upgrades for systems that they either sold directly or through retailers. Consumers purchased the upgrade and installed it into their devices by removing the old ROM chip and inserting the new chip.
You can find more information about Windows CE 2.0, including the manufacturers that provided upgrades at http://www.cewindows.net/wce/wce20.htm.
.H2 Windows CE Service Pack 1 and moving to Windows CE 2.1
About three months after version 2.0 was introduced, Microsoft released Service Pack 1 for Windows CE. The Service Pack fixed a number of bugs, including a problem that some devices had with draining batteries. As was the case with all other upgrades, the hardware manufacturers distributed Service Pack 1. You can find links to sites for downloading Service Pack 1 at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsce/Products/download/updates.asp.
At about the same time the Service Pack was released Microsoft also provided an upgrade to Windows CE Services, making the new version for it 2.1. That upgrade may be found at the same manufacturer sites that provided the service pack.
.H1 Fun new devices
When Microsoft introduced version 2.0 of Windows CE, they also stated that devices in two new form factors would soon be introduced. Onewas to be the Palm-sized PC. Microsoft originally wanted to call the device the Palm PC, but it turned out that infringed on Palm Computing’s trademark.
The other new device became known as the Auto PC. The Auto PC is a car radio on steroids that integrates a navigational system with a cellular phone. The cool thing about the Auto PC is that it’s voice activated. So far Clarion is the only manufacturer of the Auto PC. You can find more information about it at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsce/Products/apc/clubapc.asp.
The Palm-sized PC, known as Gryphon, began selling in the spring of 1998. It had a newer build of the operating system (version 2.01) that incorporated the fixes provided in the service pack. The user interface was modified for the smaller size of the screen and most notable is the fact that you don’t need to exit or close applications. The intention was to make it quicker to move from one application to another by keeping them all continually running. If the operating system needs more program memory, it’ll automatically close applications to make more available. Most users found that the operating system didn’t do the best job of managing the memory, or were just plain annoyed with the inability to close applications, so third party solutions such as bTask from bSquare (at http://www.bsquare.com) quickly became available.
.H1 Windows CE Services 2.2 and the Handheld PC Professional
In the fall of 1998 Microsoft released an upgrade to Windows CE services. The upgrade brought the version number of Windows CE Services to 2.2. This upgrade included the ability to support the forthcoming release of the Handheld PC Professional. The most notable addition is the support for the synchronization of Microsoft Access databases with Pocket Access. The upgrade also fixed a number of bugs in Windows CE Services and improved communication between Windows CE devices and desktop computers running Windows NT.
.H1 Is it 3.0?
Up to this point the version numbers between Windows CE, the software and Windows CE Services were pretty consistent with each other. In the fall of 1998, HP, Vadem, and Sharp began selling the Handheld PC Professional. These devices, called Jupiter class devices, have a larger form factor than the Handheld PC and are almost notebook computer size (but with the instant on and battery life benefits of Windows CE). Jupiter devices came with an upgrade to Windows CE that includes the Systems Properties Dialog shown in Figure A.
.FIGPAIR A The Systems Properties dialog can help you determine which version is which.
Many people looked at this dialog and began referring to the Windows CE version as 3.0. Careful examination will show that to be incorrect. If you look closely at the dialog, you’ll see the line "Core System Version 2.11." The fact is that the Handheld PC Professional version of Windows CE is version 2.11. What the top line is attempting to point out is that the device is the third classification of CE device, the first being the Handheld PC and the second the Palm-sized PC. Honestly, it is just plain confusing.
.H1 Back to Windows CE 2.11
Don’t confuse Windows CE’s Core System Version 2.11 with the Windows CE Services, which is at version 2.2. The services software runs on your PC. The actual, deep-down core OS that’s on your device is measured by the Core System Version. And on the Jupiter class devices, that’s a new version called 2.11.
Some significant additions with version 2.11 include:
.BEGIN_LIST
.BULLET The addition of Pocket Access to the suite of Pocket Office applications;
.END_LIST
.BEGIN_LIST
.BULLET The upgrade of Pocket Outlook, Pocket Office, and Pocket Internet Explorer to Version 3;
.END_LIST
.BEGIN_LIST
.BULLET Pocket Internet Explorer was improved to be compatible for more Web sites and now has support of jscript;
.END_LIST
.BEGIN_LIST
.BULLET Support for IMAP4 was added to the Pocket Outlook Inbox making it compatible with both POP3 and IMAP4 mail servers;
.END_LIST
.BEGIN_LIST
.BULLET Support for more than 256 colors. The more colors a device supports, the richer the color experience. Just think of a picture of a face. Flesh tone is really hundreds of shades, especially if you consider the shades of shadows. Each shade’s a unique color. When you display an image in 256 colors, it can be "posterized", but when you have more, like thousands or millions of color options, you get much more photo-realistic color.
.END_LIST
.CALLOUT If for some reason you install a program and it doesn’t run, verify that you are installing the version that’s for the processor in your device.
.H2 Version 2.11, StrongArm, and processor selection
Version 2.11 also included support for the StrongArm processor that’s used in the HP Jornada 820. This confused users who purchased these devices and then discovered that there was only a limited amount of software available for them. Of the operating systems that Microsoft sells, Windows CE supports the most computer processors. For each computer processor, there’s a different build of Windows CE and for all of the software that runs under Windows CE.
The two most common processor types for devices are the SH3 and MIPS. Many software archives such as CE Monster (at http://www.cemonster.com) provide links for the different processor types. Most software comes with installation programs that automatically detect which processor your device has and installs the correct version, but if for some reason you install a program and it does not run, verify that you are installing the version that’s for the processor in your device. Incidentally, some programs have Handheld and Palm-sized PC version, so be sure you download the version for the type of device you have.
.CALLOUT Some programs have Handheld and Palm-sized PC version, so be sure you download the version for the type of device you have.
The shortage of software for the HP Jornada 820 was caused by the fact that while Microsoft provided beta versions of the development tools that supported the StrongArm, there were restrictions prohibiting the developer from selling software written using that version. Once the final versions of those tools became available, the software vendors were able to recompile their programs for the StrongArm and make them available to users. To date, the Jornada 820 is the only Windows CE device that has the StrongArm processor.
.H1 Yet more upgrades
Some manufacturers of version 2.0 devices are providing upgrades for their devices. I have information about which manufacturers have upgrades on my Web site at http://www.fmcpherson.com/knowce/where/where2.htm.
This bring us to the newest model of Windows CE devices. In the last few months, Microsoft and the hardware manufacturers introduced the Wyvern class of the Palm-sized PC. The significant addition with Wyvern is the support of color. The HP Jornada 420 is the first device out the door and available for consumers. Aside from the color screens, these devices came with no changes to the pocket applications, which are still at version 2 for these devices. The core operating system is version 2.11.
.H1 Figuring it all out
After reading all of this, you may conclude that the Windows CE devices are a little like automobiles. It seems that every fall a new model is introduced and with online auction sites and classified ads, there’s even a market for used devices, just like there are used cars. Therefore even when Windows CE 3 (the real one, the core services 3.0) is released, we’ll see version 1 devices. Table A summarizes all of the different versions of Windows CE.
.BEGIN_TAB_TABLE A Windows CE Version Chart
.TAB_TABLE_HEADER Windows CE Core Version Handheld PC Version 1.0 Handheld PC Version 2.0 Palm-sized PC Version 2.0 Handheld PC Pro Version 2.11 Palm-sized PC Version 2.11
.TAB_TABLE_ROW Code Name Pegasus Mercury Gryphon Jupiter Wyvern
.TAB_TABLE_ROW Pocket Applications 1.0 2.0 2.0 3.0 2.0
.TAB_TABLE_ROW Handheld PC Explorer 1.0/1.11 N/A N/A N/A N/A
.TAB_TABLE_ROW CE Services N/A 2.0/2.1 2.1 2.2 2.2
.END_TAB_TABLE
Microsoft is currently working on upgrades for both Windows CE Services and Windows CE. The upgrade to Windows CE Services has the original code name of Xena and promises to significantly improve the communications between your device and desktop computer. An upgrade to Windows CE for the Palm-sized PC is known as Rapier and there have been reports that this version will simplify the user interface for these devices. We don’t know what the version number of Rapier will be since Windows CE version 3.0 itself has been most commonly referred to with the code name Cedar. As more public information for these upgrades becomes available we’ll provide them here in Windows CE Power Magazine.
.BEGIN_SIDEBAR
.H1 Product availability and resources
Upgrades to Windows CE Services are available at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsce/Products/download/wceserv.
Version 1.1 of the Handheld PC Explorer is available at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsce/products/download/hpcexp11.asp.
More information about Windows CE 2.0, including the manufacturers that provided upgrades, is available at http://www.cewindows.net/wce/wce20.htm.
Links to sites with Service Pack 1 are available at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsce/Products/download/updates.asp.
Information about the AutoPC is available at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsce/Products/apc/clubapc.asp.
bTask from bSquare is available at http://www.bsquare.com.
Find links to the different processor types at CE Monster at http://www.cemonster.com.
For information about which manufacturers have upgrades visit my site at http://www.fmcpherson.com/knowce/where/where2.htm.
.END_SIDEBAR
.BIO Frank McPherson is an Advanced Systems Engineer with EDS. He’s a Microsoft Windows CE Most Valuable Professional, and Assistant Forum Manager of MSN’s Computing Central Windows CE forum. His maintains the Windows CE Knowledge Center at http://start.at/know_ce, and he can be reached via e-mail at frank@fmcpherson.com.
