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Announcing Windows CE .NET 4.2 (McKendric)

  • Article

Posted May 17, 2003

Chat Date: May 1, 2003

Please note: Portions of this transcript have been edited for clarity

Chat Participants:

  • John Eldridge, Software Design Engineer in the Windows CE Core OS group
  • Jay Loney, Program Manger for Base OS Drivers in the Windows CE .NET group
  • Mike Hall, Technical Product Manager, Embedded & Appliance Platforms Group
  • Susan Loh, Developer, Windows CE team at Microsoft
  • Matt Young, Software Engineer , Windows CE Base OS Team
  • Mark Larsen, Developer in the Windows CE Core Team (Debugger)
  • Glenn Davis, Windows CE networking development
  • Jeana Jorgenson, Windows CE product manager in the Embedded & Appliance Platforms Group
  • David Kelley, Development Lead, Embedded & Appliance Platforms Group

Moderator: Mike (Microsoft)
Welcome to today's Chat. Our topic is "Announcing Windows CE .NET 4.2 (McKendric)." Questions, comments, and suggestions are welcome.

Let’s introduce our hosts for today.

Host: John (Microsoft)
Good morning. My name is John Eldridge. I am a software design engineer in the Windows CE Core OS group.

Host: Jay (Microsoft)
Jay Loney is the Program Manger for BaseOS Drivers in the Windows CE .NET group. I own Device Manager, Power Manager, all bus drivers (PCI, PCMCIA/CARDBUS, USB, 1394, SDIO) some clients and keyboard.

Host: Mike (Microsoft)
Hi, I'm Mike Hall, a Technical Product Manager in the Embedded & Appliance Platforms Group.

Host: Susan (Microsoft)
Hi, I'm Susan Loh, a developer on the Windows CE team at Microsoft. For a few years I worked on the ram file system/databases/registry and now I work on system performance.

Host: Matt (Microsoft)
Hi! My name is Matt Young. I'm a Software Engineer on the Windows CE Base OS Team.

Host: Mark (Microsoft)
My name is Mark Larsen, I am a developer in the Windows CE Core Team (Debugger).

Host: Glenn (Microsoft)
Glenn Davis, CE networking development

Host: Jean (Microsoft)
I am the Windows CE product manager in the Embedded and Appliance Platforms Group.

Moderator: Mike (Microsoft)
Welcome everyone, let’s get started!

Host: John (Microsoft)
Q: So what is new in CE 4.2 from previous versions 4.0 and 4.1

A: Great question. Start by having a look at the release website: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2003/apr03/04-23version42rtmpr.aspx

Moderator: Mike (Microsoft)
Q: I am having a lot of problem with the meager support for marshalling capability on .NET CF for the CE .NET platform ---- would there be any more improvements?

A: That's a great question, one that would require the expertise of someone from the Compact Framework team. Unfortunately, no one from that team is available on this chat. I would probably recommend asking this on the compactframework newsgroup.

Host: John (Microsoft)
Q: Are their plans to support CSS in any CE browser or is lack of support a platform restriction (limited fonts don't help CSS)?

A: We have support for CSS in both browsers (pIE and IE6.).

Moderator: Mike (Microsoft)
Q: IS there any easy way to access RTC library on the CE platform from .NET CF C# code?

A: I'm not 100% sure. You could either p/invoke to the API or you might consider checking out Odyssey Software's CFCOM component.

Host: Mike (Microsoft)
Q: Is there any easy way to access RTC library on the CE platform from .NET CF C# code?

A: There's a tool from Paul Yao that somewhat automates the task of wrapping C++ headers and creating the appropriate classes - available from:

https://www.paulyao.com/resources/tools/pinvoke.asp

Host: John (Microsoft)
Q: MSXML has been somewhat of a dog for some time. Are there any performance improvements to the MSXML parser in 4.2?

A: Hmmm... if you have specific examples that you are concerned with, please communicate this to PSS. There hasn't been performance work in MSXML for 4.2.

Host: Mike (Microsoft)
Q: What version of MSXML is supported by CE .NET 4.2?

A: 3.0 SP1

Host: Glenn (Microsoft)
Q: What speech codecs are supported by CE .NET's VOIP?

A: G.711 (both a-law and u-law) GSM 610, G722.1, and siren. We also support installing 3rd party codecs.

Host: Jay (Microsoft)
Q: The serial mouse driver was, for whatever reason, omitted in 4.0 and 4.1. I realize I can copy it from 3.0, but some people don't have PB 3.0. Are there plans to provide this driver with 4.2 in a QFE or anything of the sort?

A: We're not seeing very much demand for this in the post 3.0 world. I will make an effort to post this on msdn as a sample.

Host: David (Microsoft)
Q: Will ce .net support graphics accelerators such as the ATI Imageon?

A: Windows CE .NET does not support a driver out of the box, but I believe ATI has CE drivers for a number of their chips.

Host: Jean (Microsoft)
Since this chat topic is focused on the announcement of Windows CE .NET 4.2, thought it might be useful to provide an overview the latest features. Are there any questions on the following topics?

Performance-based kernel enhancements

New design templates for VoIP and gateways

Internet Explorer 6 for Windows CE

Greater application compatibility across CE based devices

.NET Compact Framework version 1.0

Windows Media 9 Series codecs and controls

New file systems (BinFS, TFAT)

Expanded BSP support (Samsung on ARM920T; NEC SG2 on MIPS)

Additional source code

Improved networking security (PEAP)

Additional Bluetooth profile support

New Help documentation

The inclusion of a 3rd party CD

Host: David (Microsoft)
Q: Is there a CDMA stack oon Windows CE .NET? If so, what version?

A: Windows CE .NET does not ship any radio stacks. You will need to work with a 3rd party for this.

Host: Glenn (Microsoft)
Q: So does the CE .NET allow dynamic IP binding as it moves from one 802.11 cell to another ---- thus providing seamless mobility

A: We will attempt to reacquire the same IP address through DHCP. As long as we can get the same address, roaming will be seamless.

Host: John (Microsoft)
Q: Do you guys ship any device drivers for channel chipsets such as QAM (cable), OFDM (Satellite) and VSB (Terminal)?

A: This type of driver is left to the chipset vendor or OEM to implement.

Host: Jean (Microsoft)
Q: Can you elaborate on the templates for VOIP and gateways?

A: Sure - we have 12 design templates (or pre-configurations) found in the Platform Wizard. These are new areas of focus for Microsoft. As for gateways, there is a new sample UI, support for wireless protocols such as 802.11a and Native 802.11, as well as support for SMB file and print server. As for VoIP Phones, we also have a new sample UI (basic and advanced versions), a VoIP Application Interface Layer (VAIL) - an API interface for call handling and logging, pluggable interface for audio codecs

Host: Matt (Microsoft)
Q: Does PB of 4.2 speed up image building time for the engineers who use old PC like me?

A: The build system is still largely the same as 4.1. There are some things you can do to get faster builds however. Upgrading to a faster CPU, faster HD, and ensuring that your build drive isn't overly fragmented will all reduce build times. In addition in iterative development, it oftentimes isn't necessary to run a complete build. You can build just the specific code you are working on from the command line.

Host: Jay (Microsoft)
Q: Do you guys have any pointers on how to set up a command line build in PB 3.0?

A: To setup a 3.0 command line build environment, launch a cmd line window. In the window run wince.bat with the following parameters: processor_architecture Processor_family CE project_name BSP_name. run wince.bat with /? to get the exact format of that.

Host: Jean (Microsoft)
Q: What is the difference in VOIP platform from version 4.0 to 4.2?

A: In 4.0, we didn't have a design template for VoIP, but with 4.2, we have added a design template that brings in all of the basic components needed to build a VoIP phone. We also have created the VoIP Application Interface Layer (VAIL) in 4.2.

Moderator: Mike (Microsoft)
Q: Just to confirm --- the RTC module is a COM module --- can you give us the reasons why it was not integrated into .NET CF framework--- or at least the bridges could have been provided so that we didn't have to write the bridges with another tool (eVC)

A: The folks who spec’d out and made the design decisions for the Compact Framework aren't on the chat with us today, unfortunately. They'll be here next Wednesday. Not trying to be unhelpful, it would just be pointless for us to speculate.

Host: Glenn (Microsoft)
Q: Is there any sample RTC client available for the CE.NET platform? If so can you send me the link?

A: The RTC sample code is located in the %_WINCEROOT%\Public\DirectX\SDK\Samples\VOIP\VOIPDEMO directory

Host: David (Microsoft)
Q: Could you describe how BinFS could be used? Are there any samples for this?

A: BinFS allows you look at .bin images through a file system block driver. This allows you to migrate NOR designs easily to NAND. It allows you to keep slot 1 fixups to save VM space for your DLLs. It should be used in conjunction with a page pool. You can look at the Samsung SMDK2410 BSP (platform) for a sample of usage with NAND flash.

Host: Mike (Microsoft)
Q: So what is the difference between the VAIL and the RTC API ---- I though RTC API was available from 4.0?

A: Vail provides support for Provisioning the phone, Registering the phone with a SIP server, Logging calls, Associating caller-specific information with callers, such as special ring tone, and Plugging-in an RTP stack to handle the media.

Host: Glenn (Microsoft)
Q: So what is the difference between the VAIL and the RTC API ---- I though RTC API was available from 4.0?

A: Correct, the RTC API was available in 4.0. The VAIL is a higher level API designed to facilitate VoIP solutions. VAIL provides capabilities such as provisioning, call logging, etc.

Host: John (Microsoft)
Q: So what's the upgrade plan for CE 3.0 users? How do I go about upgrading? (Upgrading PB and code migration...)

A: There's no upgrade of Platform Builder for 3.0 -> 4.2. It's a new purchase. There is of course migration information for taking your 3.0 code up to 4.2. In platform builder 4.2 help, simply search for migration and there's a section dedicated to this migration path.

Host: Mike (Microsoft)
Q: Is the VAIL API integrated into .NET CF ----- or is that a COM library that I have to invoke through P/Invoke?

A: VAIL is exposed through COM objects, you will need to p/invoke through a Win32 DLL

Host: Jean (Microsoft)
Q: Which profiles does the CE .NET Bluetooth support? Printing?

A: In 4.2, we support 4 new qualified Bluetooth profiles such a Dial-up Networking Profile, LAN Access Profile, Object Push Profile, and File Transfer Profile (FTP). Not sure about printing, but the newsgroups are a great place to start.

Host: Mike (Microsoft)
Q: VS.NET2003 need upgrade to support new features of CE 4.2? or...

A: VS .NET 2003 can be used to write .NET Compact Framework applications for Windows CE .NET based devices - you can also create Win32 applications and DLL's through Platform Builder or eMbedded Visual C++ (MFC, ATL)

Host: Glenn (Microsoft)
Q: What is the name of the VAIL DLL

A: There are several DLLs (I can get list if you really need), you can include this functionality through the PB IDE or setting SYSGEN_VOIPPHONE.

Host: Jay (Microsoft)
Q: We have a customer that had such a difficult time implementing SAPI in a 4.1 application they gave up. Has SAPI support (including docs and samples) been improved in 4.2?

A: There was no work done on SAPI in 4.2. Please contact us offline with your questions concerns.

Host: Jay (Microsoft)
Q: Does v4.2 support ACPI power management in CEPC?

A: The Power Manager is not related to the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) so there is no direct support. You can define your own power states with the Windows CE .NET Power Manager

Host: Mike (Microsoft)
Q: What is SAPI?

A: SAPI == Speech API - The Microsoft? Speech SDK 5.0 is the developer kit for the Microsoft? Windows environment. Tools, information, and applications are provided to help you integrate and optimize your speech recognition and speech synthesis engines.

Moderator: Mike (Microsoft)
Thanks for joining us today and thanks for the questions. It's time for us to go now.

For further information on this topic please visit the following:

Newsgroups: Mobile and embedded application development topics

Embedded Transcripts: Read the archive

Website: Visit the Mobile & Embedded Developer Center

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