MS to release almost all WinCE source

by **Dan East** » Apr 10, 2003 @ 6:26pm

It appears Microsoft is loosening its grip on the Windows CE source code to counter portable operating systems that are more open, like Linux. Microsoft will be releasing "'close to 100 percent' of CE's source code, excluding only code that Microsoft licenses from other companies."

<a href=http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/116722_msftce10.html>Full article here.</a>

I see no mention of Pocket PC, but I would assume this would include the code to the shell and other components Pocket PC adds to Windows CE.

I don't see any indication of what is required to access the source, or whom the source will be open to. It speaks primarily of OEMs, which would obviously be the primary beneficiaries.

What we should see is version of Windows CE that is more customized for the hardware it runs on. We may see Windows CE supporting additional types of processors. We may also see custom GUIs and the like that are OEM specific. So in short this could lead to innovation driven by OEMs and 3rd party developers, but could also lead to problems, because consistency from one device to another could be reduced. We certainly don't want to end up with a Casio BE-300 scenario, which uses a proprietary shell on top of Windows CE. On top of that various 3rd parties have layered additional bastardized shells scavenged from other Windows CE devices, leading to a hodgepodge mess that few can spend the effort to keep abreast of.

Dan East

by **James S** » Apr 10, 2003 @ 6:59pm

It's open to OEMs that wish to make changes to it. The changes that the OEM makes is kept under wraps for 6 months so that the changes that they make they can market as their own for that period of time. After 6 months Microsoft takes control and acquires ownership of all source changes that have been made and they are then merged into the CE source code for any other manufacturer to use in an update.

by **TechMage** » Apr 11, 2003 @ 1:51pm

by **Presto** » Apr 11, 2003 @ 2:36pm

by **simonjacobs** » Apr 11, 2003 @ 2:58pm

by **TechMage** » Apr 12, 2003 @ 10:38am

by **damian** » Apr 12, 2003 @ 2:21pm

Italian?

I hope this doesn't mean we'll be seeing more BE-300s.

by **James S** » Apr 12, 2003 @ 2:58pm

Yes, it's Italian.

by **Draluy** » Apr 16, 2003 @ 3:30pm

by **Digby** » Apr 17, 2003 @ 6:50pm

Don't get the idea that you're going to get the source code for what's on your Pocket PC or SmartPhone.

by **Dan East** » Apr 18, 2003 @ 12:23am

Alrighty then. It looks like all this could amount to is more Casio BE-300'ish devices running Windows CE with stunted, bastardized shells.

Dan East

by **lusid1** » Apr 20, 2003 @ 11:57am

by **TechMage** » Apr 20, 2003 @ 12:36pm

MS to release almost all WinCE source

MS to release almost all WinCE source

Techmage

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