Operating System Windows CE 7.0 and Processor ARM Advantages and Disadvantages

1. IS 746 - ASSIGNMENT 2: Describing a Mobile Software and Hardware
Operating System Windows CE 7.0 and Processor ARM
Advantages and Disadvantages
Fatih Özlü
1777762
Middle East Technical University
30 April, 2011
1

2. 1. Mobile Software: Windows CE 7.0 Operating System
Windows CE 7 (also known as Windows Embedded Compact) is an operating system for
embedded systems developed by Microsoft. It is basically designed for specific usage on
small enterprise, smart phone and consumer devices like barcode scanners, personal
navigation GPS devices, industrial controls and health monitoring devices. It has real time and
component based capabilities which provides abilities for device makers to modify for their
specific purposes.
Windows Embedded Compact 7 is the next generation of Windows Embedded CE which
released in firstly November, 1996 (Windows CE 1.0).
Figure 1 – A screen shot from Windows CE 5.0 (One of the earlier versions of Windows CE 7.0)
It has similar interfaces that we are used to see on Windows operating systems like Windows
XP, Vista or Seven. But it has different core (kernel) and properties compared to traditional
computer purposed operating systems. It is optimized for embedded systems that have small
storage and it has its Windows CE kernel that can be run in under almost a megabyte of
memory.
In addition, its real time capability comes from its deterministic interruption latency.
Windows CE has evolved into a component-based, embedded, real-time operating system.
Although “it is no longer targeted solely at hand-held computers”, many platforms are based
on the core Windows CE operating system, such as Microsoft's AutoPC, Pocket PC
2000/2002, Windows Mobile 2003, Windows Mobile 5.0/6, Smartphone 2002, Smartphone
2003, Portable Media Center.
Different feature of Windows CE, when compared to other Windows operating systems is that
some parts of the source code are shared to the several device vendors, so these vendors can
adjust their hardware by modifying source code. To create, integrate and run source code on
embedded devices, products like Platform Builder (an integrated environment for Windows
CE operating system image) can be used.
2

3. Figure 2 - Windows CE 7 on a smart phone
It has many facilities for developers to connect, debug and also run operating system on
devices by Windows development tools like Microsoft .Net Platforms. Windows Embedded
Compact 7 works with most common processor architectures (x86 and ARM) and with the
last version, it offers multiprocessing support. So it provides performance and highly reliable
environment for developers.
Advantages:
• Real Time and Multiprocessing
It is a real time operating system and with the last version, it provides symmetrical multi-
processing, providing new support for critical application performance.
• Highly Confidence Platform
Windows Embedded Compact 7 is the next release of Windows Embedded CE. It takes for 15
years from the first release so these operating systems have been relied on many devices.
• Rich UI framework
It offers an updated Silverlight for Windows Embedded declarative UI framework so
developers and designers can develop user interfaces easily.
3

4. • Many Connectivity Support
Compact 7 has connection support with updated NDIS 6.1, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G, Kerberos
v5 and USB networking, accelerating the creation of always-connected devices and
applications to connect PCs, servers, online services and enterprise systems.
• Media Support
It has media management which is simplified with new Media Library, better media
streaming with updated MPEG-4 and HD support.
• Connection Support to Microsoft Windows 7 and Office
It has data synchronization support with Windows 7 and Office tools to exchange data and
information between computers and devices. It has installed PowerPoint, Excel and Adobe
PDF. Includes support for Microsoft Office 97, 2000, 2003, XP & 2007.
• Browsing Capability
It has also Internet Explorer Embedded with integrated Flash 10.1 support to reach rich
content which is indispensable, nowadays.
• Touch Input
It has support for touch input, so interactive applications can be developed on it. In addition it
has integrated programs that have touch input capabilities.
• Development Environment Tools
Applications can be developed on specialized devices and enterprise solutions with many
Microsoft tools and technologies like Visual Studio, Platform Builder.
• Support for latest CPUs
It has support for latest ARM v7 architectures as well as X86 and MIPS and for graphics
performance with Open GL ES 2.0.
Disadvantages:
• Pricing
Windows CE is more expensive when it is compared to other embedded operating systems. It
causes in-house developers to prefer less expensive operating systems instead of using
Windows CE
• Source Code
Microsoft shares to developers only some part of the Windows CE source code with
development tools for modifying the code to developers’ specific purposes. So it leads
Windows CE to be considered a closed and unshared system. This can be an important
disadvantage when compared to other operating systems for mobile systems.
4

5. 2. Mobile Hardware: ARM Processor
ARM is a kind of very popular 32-bit embedded microprocessor that provides high
performance, less power consumption and reduced system cost. ARM is an acronym for
Advanced RISC Machines.
The processor firstly developed in England in 1984. At first, ARM stood for Acorn RISC
Machine and the first ARM systems were produced for desktop the Acorn Computers. During
this period, mostly they were used for British educational systems, and so they were not
common outside of England. However in 1987 the ARM became the first commercial RISC
processor.
In 1990, a part of Acorn was separated from the parent company and founded: ARM Ltd.
(Advanced RISC Machines Limited). Today, ARM is one of the most licensed and so
widespread processor cores all over the world. It is generally used in mobile and embedded
devices due to lower power consumption and higher performance which is indicated by
MIPS/watt ratio. This has made them successful and widespread in the mobile and embedded
electronics devices, as relatively low cost, and small microprocessors and microcontrollers.
ARM processors are developed by ARM and by ARM licenses and core processor are ARM6,
ARM7, ARM9, ARM10, and ARM11. Some applied examples are listed below from mobile
environment (Figure 3, 4 and 5).
Figure 3 - Garmin Asus A 50
Figure 4 - Samsung Omnia i8910
5

6. Figure 5 - Dell Latitude e4200 Laptop
When compared standard CPUs, ARM architecture is based on RISC (Reduced Instruction
Set Computer) which makes its special for this type of processor's performance, came from. It
has advantages like simple and fixed 32-bit instruction size instead of variable and easier to
prototype and put together that provides higher performance, simplicity and less power
consumption compared to CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computer).
Although it is basically used for embedded systems, it is also specialized for specific
purposes.
 ARM Cortex Application Processors are used for higher performance processors for open
operating systems by delivering “exceptional performance of up to 2GHz+ typical
frequency in advanced process nodes, enabling the next generation of mobile internet
devices”[Arm’s Official Web Site].
 ARM Cortex Embedded Processors with Cortex-R and M Series are used for generally
exceptional performance for real-time applications and sensitive operations for
deterministic and critical applications which also consumes low power and good real time
capability with deterministic interrupt management. Its examples are microcontrollers,
signal devices and automotive braking systems.
 ARM Classic Processors with ARM11, ARM9 and ARM7 Series are used for
organizations who want to participate in mobile environment with a performance
capability for lower cost and popular solutions, for general purpose applications like
cameras, smart phones, etc.
6

7. Figure 6 - Different types of ARM CPUs
Advantages:
• Very low power consumption
ARM is more power efficient, even much lower power as compared to current lowest power
X86 based Intel Atom processor.
• Simple instruction set
With RISC, the design of the cpu is less complicated and have less instruction and so less
power consumption. RISC processor has a number of hardwired instructions.
• Suitable for embedded systems
ARM is targeted for embedded systems, so it is its own community on this area. The chips are
relatively low-size and low-power, so they're cheap.
• High definition and display support
It has video processors capable of 720p or 1080p video decodes and capability of high
resolution display controllers.
• Low cost
A typical ARM processor costs around $35 – $50 where as typical AMD and Intel processors
can go up a thousand dollars or more.
7

8. Disadvantages:
• Incompatible with x86
It is not compatible with x86 because of its architecture, so it prevents from being used and
common in netbooks or laptops, though some attemptions are available. Instead, it is widely
used on embedded systems like smart phones, pdas and other mobile devices.
• Restricted Operating Systems
Since ARM and X86 cores are different from each other, so as an example for Windows
operating systems like Windows XP cannot be run on this cpu. Instead, it could be run Linux
OS, OS like Symbian and Windows Mobiles, or other embedded system operating systems
like VxWorks.
8

9. REFERENCES
 (02.14.2011). Windows Embedded Compact 7. Retrieved from
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-US/library/gg154201.aspx
 Official Windows CE 7 Web Site: Windows Embedded Compact 7. Retrieved from
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsembedded/en-us/campaigns/compact7/default.aspx
 Tiffany Garden. The Disadvantages of Windows CE. Retrieved from
http://www.ehow.com/list_6370560_disadvantages-windows-ce.html#ixzz1L09YKbJw
 ARM architecture. Retrived from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARM_architecture
 ARM Official Web Site. Retrived from http://www.arm.com/index.php
 (Feb 16, 2011). ARM Cortex-A15 Servers? What Advantages does ARM Have? Retrived
from http://techlooser.com/2011/arm-cortex-a15-servers-what-advantages-does-arm-have/
9