Editing Windows CE (section)

{{Short description|Discontinued embedded operating system by Microsoft}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox OS
| name = Windows CE
| logo = Windows CE Logo.svg
| logo caption = Wordmark of Windows CE (in versions 4.x and [[Windows CE 5.0|5.0]])
| screenshot =
| caption =
| developer = [[Microsoft]]
| family = <!--Nothing; this article is about a family-->
| released = {{start date and age|1996|11|16}}
| discontinued = yes
| language = <!--Exactly which?-->
| ui =
| license = [[Commercial software|Commercial]] [[proprietary software]]
| succeeded_by = [[Windows IoT]]
| source_model = {{ubl
|[[Proprietary software|Closed-source]]
|[[Source-available software|Source-available]] (through [[Shared Source Initiative]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS6932977445.html|title=Microsoft opens full Windows CE kernel source.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216190107/http://linuxdevices.com/news/NS6932977445.html|archive-date=February 16, 2009|work=Linux Devices|date=November 1, 2006}}</ref>
}}
| kernel_type = [[Hybrid kernel|Hybrid]]<br>[[Monolithic kernel|Monolithic]]
| supported_platforms = [[x86]], [[32-bit]] [[ARM architecture|ARM]], ([[SuperH]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emacinc.com/operating_systems/windows_ce.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528144239/http://www.emacinc.com/operating_systems/windows_ce.htm|archive-date=May 28, 2010|title=Windows CE overview
}}</ref> up to 6.0 R2, [[MIPS architecture|MIPS]] and [[PowerPC]] were also supported)<ref>{{cite web|title=Windows Embedded CE|url=http://www.microsoft.com/windowsembedded/en-us/evaluate/windows-embedded-ce-6.aspx|work=Microsoft|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|access-date=February 6, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150717180230/http://www.microsoft.com/windowsembedded/en-us/evaluate/windows-embedded-ce-6.aspx|archive-date=July 17, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Windows CE Version 2.0 Supported Processors|url=http://microsoft.com/windows/embedded/ce/guide/processors/proc20.asp|url-status=dead|work=Microsoft|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000914080019/http://microsoft.com/windows/embedded/ce/guide/processors/proc20.asp|archive-date=Sep 14, 2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Windows CE Version 2.1 Supported Processors|url=http://microsoft.com/windows/embedded/ce/guide/processors/proc21.asp|url-status=dead|work=Microsoft|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000914080014/http://microsoft.com/windows/embedded/ce/guide/processors/proc21.asp|archive-date=Sep 14, 2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Windows CE Version 2.11 Supported Processors|url=http://microsoft.com/windows/embedded/ce/guide/processors/proc211.asp|url-status=dead|work=Microsoft|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000914080010/http://microsoft.com/windows/embedded/ce/guide/processors/proc211.asp|archive-date=Sep 14, 2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Windows CE Version 2.12 Supported Processors|url=http://microsoft.com/windows/embedded/ce/guide/processors/proc212.asp|url-status=dead|work=Microsoft|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000914080005/http://microsoft.com/windows/embedded/ce/guide/processors/proc212.asp|archive-date=Sep 14, 2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Windows CE Version 3.0 Supported Processors|url=http://www.microsoft.com/windows/embedded/ce/guide/processors/proc30.asp|url-status=dead|work=Microsoft|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000619051423/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/embedded/ce/guide/processors/proc30.asp|archive-date=Jun 19, 2000}}</ref>
| latest_release_version = 8.0 (Embedded Compact 2013)
| latest_release_date = {{Start date and age|2023|10|10}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Microsoft announces general availability of Windows Embedded Compact 2013|url=http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/Features/2013/Jun13/06-13EmbeddedCompactGA.aspx|work=Microsoft News Center|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=July 14, 2013}}</ref><ref name=WinCEFAQ>{{cite web|title=Windows CE Migration FAQ|url=https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/iot/windows_ce/windows-ce-migration-faq|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022204619/http://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/iot/windows_ce/windows-ce-migration-faq|publisher=Microsoft|date=September 15, 2021|archivedate=October 22, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>
| latest_test_version =
| latest_test_date =
| marketing_target =
| programmed_in = [[C (programming language)|C]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.windowsfordevices.com/c/a/News/Special-Report-Windows-CE-6-arrives-with-100-kernel-source|title=Special Report: Windows CE 6 arrives with 100% kernel source|publisher=windowsfordevices.com|date=November 1, 2006|access-date=July 20, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120820002206/http://www.windowsfordevices.com/c/a/News/Special-Report-Windows-CE-6-arrives-with-100-kernel-source|archive-date=August 20, 2012}}</ref>
| prog_language =
| updatemodel =
| package_manager =
| working_state =
| support_status = Not supported, see [[Windows Embedded Compact#Releases|§ Releases]] for details.
}}
'''Windows CE''', later known as '''Windows Embedded CE''' and '''Windows Embedded Compact''', is a discontinued [[operating system]] developed by [[Microsoft]] for [[Mobile device|mobile]] and [[Embedded system|embedded]] devices. It was part of the [[Windows Embedded]] family<ref>{{cite web |title=Windows Embedded Homepage |url=http://www.microsoft.com/windows/embedded/default.mspx |access-date=November 14, 2010 |publisher=Microsoft.com}}</ref> and served as the software foundation of several products including the [[Handheld PC]], [[Pocket PC]], [[Windows Embedded Automotive|Auto PC]], [[Windows Mobile]], [[Windows Phone 7]] and others.

Unlike [[Windows Embedded Standard]], [[Windows For Embedded Systems]], [[Windows Embedded Industry]] and [[Windows IoT]], which are based on [[Windows NT]], Windows CE uses a different [[hybrid kernel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ce_base/archive/2007/11/26/how-does-windows-embedded-ce-6.0-start_3f00_.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100708223127/http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ce_base/archive/2007/11/26/how-does-windows-embedded-ce-6.0-start_3f00_.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 8, 2010|title=How does Windows Embedded CE 6.0 Start?|work=Windows CE Base Team Blog|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|date=December 18, 2007|access-date=November 14, 2010}}</ref> Microsoft licensed it to [[original equipment manufacturer]]s (OEMs), who could modify and create their own [[user interface]]s and experiences, with Windows Embedded Compact providing the technical foundation to do so.

<!--MIPS (SH or "kernel" not in the source: the editor was not sure what it was supposed to support here: <ref name=ec2013_oalms>{{cite web|title=OAL Memory Mapping Structures (Compact 2013)|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj823235.aspx|work=MSDN|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=July 15, 2013}}</ref>-->Earlier versions of Windows CE worked on [[MIPS architecture|MIPS]] and [[SuperH|SHx]] architectures, but in [[Windows CE 7.0|version 7.0]] released in 2011—when the product was also renamed to Embedded Compact—support for these were dropped but remained for [[MIPS II]] architecture. The final version, Windows Embedded Compact 2013 (version 8.0), released in 2013, only supports [[x86]] and [[ARM architecture|ARM]] processors with [[board support package]] (BSP) directly.<ref name="ec2013_bsp">{{cite web |title=Board Support Package (Compact 2013) |url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg156127.aspx |access-date=July 15, 2013 |work=MSDN |publisher=Microsoft}}</ref> It had mainstream support until October 9, 2018, and extended support ended on October 10, 2023; however, license sales for OEMs will continue until 2028.<ref>{{cite web|title=Product Lifecycles & Support for Windows Embedded Products|url=http://www.microsoft.com/windowsembedded/product-lifecycles.aspx|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150410235645/http://www.microsoft.com/windowsembedded/en-us/product-lifecycles.aspx|publisher=Microsoft|archivedate=April 10, 2015}}</ref><ref name=WinCEFAQ/><ref>{{cite web|title=Windows CE, Microsoft's stunted middle child, reaches end of support at 26 years|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/10/windows-ce-microsofts-stunted-middle-child-reaches-end-of-support-at-26-years/2|website=[[Ars Technica]]|first=Kevin|last=Purdy|date=October 30, 2023|accessdate=January 10, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Windows CE reaches end of life, if not end of sales|url=https://www.theregister.com/2023/10/30/windows_ce_reaches_eol|website=[[The Register]]|first=Liam|last=Proven|date=October 30, 2023|accessdate=January 10, 2024}}</ref>