Microsoft^R Windows Embedded CE 6.0 is a 32-bit, componentized open operating system designed to power small footprint devices and enable fast time to market for highly differentiated products. Windows Embedded CE is used in a wide variety of devices from Portable Media Players to Voice-over-IP phones.

Why use ARM with Windows Embedded CE?

Exclusive support and products, best-in-class features and over 10 years of partnership with Microsoft make ARM the leading Windows Embedded CE architecture:

• Unique products - Windows Embedded CE-based Microsoft products such as Windows Mobile and Microsoft Auto are only available for the ARM processor architecture
• Hardware support - ARM has the widest range of silicon Partners supporting Windows Embedded CE and the broadest range of supported CPUs
• Software support - The majority of BSPs shipped by Microsoft are ARM-based
• Device Emulator - The Microsoft Device Emulator models an ARM-based virtual platform, providing software developers a fast, out-of-the-box environment that can run the same binaries as an actual device
• Hardware-assisted debugging - only available on ARM platforms, developed in close collaboration with Microsoft, the ARM RealView ICE eXDI2 solution enables debug that would be impossible with a pure software monitor approach

As an ARM partner, Microsoft has a page in the ARM Connected Community.

Board Support Packages (BSPs)

To accelerate ARM Partners' time to market, ARM offers example BSPs for our range of development boards, in addition to those already provided by Microsoft and other ARM Partners.

Download ARM example BSPs for Windows Embedded CE.

BSPs are installed on top of the Platform Builder, the IDE provided by Microsoft for building Windows Embedded CE.

Vector Floating Point (VFP) Support for Windows Embedded CE

The Visual Studio 2008 suite of tools, used to create applications for Windows Embedded CE, includes a fully enabled VFP compiler for ARM.    This enables in-lining of VFP code for optimal performance.  Use of the VFP unit requires either disabling of the VFP exceptions or inclusion of the proper OAL code to handle such exceptions.   Details are included in the Visual Studio 2008 compiler documentation. 

ARM has and will continue to support a VFP C Library for Windows Embedded CE 6, but recommends the use of the Visual Studio 2008 suite as the preferred method of exploiting VFP hardware.  The library offered by ARM replaces software emulated floating point routines with hardware accelerated implementations.  The VFP library plugs into the Microsoft Platform Builder IDE to work with the Microsoft embedded tool chain.  

Download the C run-time VFP library for Windows Embedded CE 6

RealView^R ICE eXDI2 driver

The ARM RealView ICE JTAG-based debug interface connects to the Microsoft Platform Builder via an interface called eXDI2.  This allows developers to communicate directly with the ARM processor, dramatically improving hardware visibility, enabling debug scenarios that are impossible with a software-based debug monitor, allowing direct control of the target device, and the examination and modifying of state. Available for general download from this site soon

Key features

• Takes advantage of hardware breakpoints within the processor core

Resources and Technical Support For Microsoft Products

While ARM works closely with Microsoft to ensure the greatest level of support for the ARM architecture, ARM is unable to provide technical support for Microsoft products or for the BSP examples provided above.

Additional resources are offered by Microsoft via the links below:

Windows Embedded Partners

Windows Embedded Support Resources

Windows Mobile Resource Portal

Please contact us if you require more information.

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