Windows Mobile 6 Kernel Open Source (also drivers)

[carolos]

I am writing from my pocket pc:

http://www.windowsfordevices.com/news/NS2632317407.html
"Microsoft officially launched the sixth generation of its flagship device software "platform, today. "Windows Embedded CE 6.0" boasts kernel architecture enhancements, new software stacks targeting three high-volume device categories, enhanced development tools, and, for the first time, 100 percent availability of Windows CE's kernel source code. "

Doesn't this mean we can port to any device?

[carolos]

This is for links:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/embedded/community/community/communityprojects/

http://www.codeplex.com/

---
Develop now, pay later

A free 180-day evaluation version of Windows Embedded CE 6.0 is available for download, here. The kit includes the operating system, the standard shared source components described above, and Visual Studio 2005 Professional.
http://www.windowsembeddedkit.com/

[Midget_1990]

sorry to burst your bubble, but CE6.0 is NOT WM6

WM6 is BASED on CE5.2

WM7 will be BASED on CE6.0

Neither will be creatable/editable using the CE shared source as windowsmobile is not shared source.

[carolos]

True hehe
forgot Windows Mobile 6.0 is based on CE 5.2

Was a quick read and post on my pocket pc

Apologies

[carolos]

Might still be useful,
If we can get Windows CE 6.0 to run on a device...

It may be possible to get Windows Mobile 6 to run using a CE 6 core?

Windows CE 6 should be backward compatible with Windows CE 5.2 (although new drivers will probably be needed)

Long shot, but just might work...

(isn't Windows Mobile just a pretty shell for Windows CE?)

Problems:
*Probably against the Microsoft license. (Donations? Maybe can even buy Windows CE 5.2 Tool Suite)
*Windows CE 6 Core needed for Windows Mobile might be significantly bigger than Windows CE 5.2 Core.
*Need to know everything Windows Mobile uses in Windows CE to build a working core.
*Device Drivers may have to be rewritten depending on how much Windows CE 6 differs form Windows CE 5.2 (Will be easier with source code)
*Getting it to work will require quite a bit of development and research

[Midget_1990]

basically, it's not impossible, just highly unlikely. ;)

[carolos]

hehe any volunteers :)

I know its crazy, but there are huge benefits in getting this to work.
(Far less limitations in what we can do)

I would investigate myself but it looks like I am about to be computerless for the next 4 weeks!

[levenum]

OK, I hate to burst your bubble even further, but I don't think it will be possible at all.
Why?
1) They are only publishing the Kernel, and there is a lot more to the OS than that.
2) Because of the different kernel architecture the drivers will defiantly need to be rewritten and for that they will have to be reverse engineered first. Just look a the state of various Linux projects to see how long and hard something like that would be.
3) M$ is notorious for making OSs that are not forward compatible - namely although the difference between WM 6 and 5 is almost non existent compiling a simple "Hello word" app with WM 6 SDK will prevent it from running on a WM 5 device (bad exe error).

Also, the fact that they are "releasing" the code does not make it open source. It will still require a ton of paper work to get and you will probably have to be a real company or at least an academic establishment to get it.
M$ already gives out a lot of code for previous embedded OSs under special license.

So by the time someone leaks the code, figures out a way to patch together new kernel and additional required components from previous OS, plus reverse engineers and rewrite drivers for a given device not only that device will become obsolete but the whole CE line.

My guess is, a few years from now phone size devices will be powerful enough to run a normal OS like UMPCs do today.

[carolos]

1) They are only publishing the Kernel, and there is a lot more to the OS than that.
I don't want to compile the whole of Windows Mobile 6, just the parts that don't allow it to be run on older devices (or newer) e.g. nk.exe
(I haven't downloaded the kit yet so I don't know if this is possible or not, could be, could not be)


2) Because of the different kernel architecture the drivers will defiantly need to be rewritten and for that they will have to be reverse engineered first. Just look a the state of various Linux projects to see how long and hard something like that would be.

Many Windows CE 4 (Windows Mobile 2003 SE) drivers are used on a Windows CE 5.2 (Windows Mobile 5) platform. So there is a slight chance they may work in Windows CE 6.


3) M$ is notorious for making OSs that are not forward compatible - namely although the difference between WM 6 and 5 is almost non existent compiling a simple "Hello word" app with WM 6 SDK will prevent it from running on a WM 5 device (bad exe error).

An application written in a new operating system will not work in the old operating system.
but an application written in the old operating system usually works in the new operating system.
Otherwise microsoft would have many very unhappy customers.
Windows Mobile (non core parts) are basically old applications...


Also, the fact that they are "releasing" the code does not make it open source. It will still require a ton of paper work to get and you will probably have to be a real company or at least an academic establishment to get it.
M$ already gives out a lot of code for previous embedded OSs under special license.
You can already download it
http://www.windowsembeddedkit.com/


So by the time someone leaks the code, figures out a way to patch together new kernel and additional required components from previous OS, plus reverse engineers and rewrite drivers for a given device not only that device will become obsolete but the whole CE line.

My guess is, a few years from now phone size devices will be powerful enough to run a normal OS like UMPCs do today.

This thing runs WINDOWS VISTA
http://www.htc.com/product/03-product_HTC_Shift.htm
Heres another one, running windows XP
http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_BrowseCatalog-Start?CategoryName=cpu_VAIONotebookComputers_UX_Se ries&Dept=computers


We will not know the true amount of work needed until someone tries.
And if it is not a lot of work it will make a few people quite happy.

[AddeBC]

Me, i can not see the point in a project like this... Why would you even want to re-do microsofts sh--t.

Use the manpower and resources for the UNI Linux project.. They are allmost done... Just a few glitches now...

I wanna get away from MS asap... but i like this HW...