Joseph, Your article is extremely informative. I know you're not Humanware, but I figure you might have some thoughts on this question: Though we can't upgrade to CE 6.0, whz couldn't we upgrade to CE 5.0?
hat upgrade wouldn't be as radical.
Just a question. Thanks. Sharonda
On 7/14/07, Armando Maldonado <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Very very well explained! I liked how you made the article short and sweet. Keep up the awesome work. Armando ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joseph Lee" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "BrailleNote List" <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, July 14, 2007 10:53 PM Subject: [Braillenote] Upgrading KeySoft to Windows CE 6.0 > Hi Alex, Cindy and list, > I'm not a software developer (software development was never my strong > point, grin) but I'll try my best to explain this in simple but detailed > context: > INTRODUCTION > Whenever a new product is released to the general public from companies > such as Microsoft, Apple, Samsung, etc., the general public wants to know > what's new with the product. The features that these companies and other > companies list as part of the product release would be easy for people to > understand and many people would say that upgrading would allow them to > use promised features. > ON THE SOFTWARE SIDE > For software developers like HumanWare staff and OEM's (Original Equipment > Manufacturer), the release of a new operating system (particularly from > Microsoft) usually means that they need to come up with strategies to > implement features of this new operating systems to their benefit and for > the benefit of the customers. For example, when Microsoft said, when > Windows Vista (Windows NT 6.0) was released, that this new operating > system would no longer support older CPU's such as Pentium III and older > processors, many people who were using computers based on these chips were > worried and switched to newer processors such as Dual Core processors from > Intel and AMD. Also, for example, when Apple announced that it will > establish partnership with Intel to create iMacks (hope I'm spelling it > right), many people who were using Power PC CPUS to run Mac OSX switched > to Intel-based iMacks for some experiments. As previous examples > illustrates, whenever a major software or hardware is released, people > would anticipate as to its impact on their computing lives. > ABOUT WINDOWS CE 6.0 > Microsoft released Windows CE 6.0 on November 1, 2006. Microsoft hinted > that this new Windows CE version is different from previous versions and > allows devices to run more programs. This was achieved by modifying the > operating system kernel--the real heart of Windows CE--to take advantage > of increased Virtual Memory from 32 MB to 2 GB. An operating system > kernel is some kind of a process that can be described as "heart of the > OS" - meaning that it is a central component of the operating system that > interfaces with hardware and software (mostly between firmware and > software). Virtual Memory is some kind of a memory where you can use more > memory than physical RAM. Also, this new kernel allows devices to run > almost unlimited number of programs/processes (processes is another term > for programs) - up to about 30,000 programs. (Remember, that under > Windows CE 4.2, you can run up to 32 programs at once.) Also, the audio > stack and bluetooth functions has been redesigned and the way of running > programs is significantly different from Windows CE 4.2. > As the illustrations above shows, Windows CE 6.0 is not just a simple > upgrade: it is a radical departure. > SO WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH BrailleNote USERS? > Because of the way Windows CE 6.0 is designed, just running KeySoft on top > of CE6.0 when it is designed for CE4.2 will not work. Due to the > redesigned operating system that takes advantage of nearly thousandfold of > virtual memory (2 GB or roughly 2000 MB), KeySoft needs to be > rewritten/recompiled to take advantage of increased virtual memory > support. As the chat summary states, the hardware on the mPower and PK is > capable of running Windows CE 6.0 (especially on the mPower). > WHAT ABOUT BrailleNote Classic USERS? > There are numerous reasons why Classic won't be able to run under CE6.0 > (I'll try my best to answer many questions that has been discussed on the > list from non-programming perspective): > * The processor itself (MIPS R4000 at 100 MHz) does not have sufficient > capabilities to support CE6.0 because of its speed and rarity of devices > running Windows CE that is powered by MIPS processors. Most devices these > days run under ARM processors. > * Classic does not have enough memory to support CE6.0 features, notably > newer audio stack and virtual memory (although one can use "emulation" for > it). > * The audio hardware on the Classic does not have sufficient capabilities > to support newer audio stack (devices these days have multichannel sound > cards vs. single channel sound cards present on Classic). > These are reasons why Classic will not, and unfortunately unable to > support upgrading to Windows CE 6.0 (it has endured enough to be powered > by Windows CE 4.2). > WHAT POSSIBILITIES CAN USERS EXPECT FROM UPGRADING TO WINDOWS CE 6.0? > If HumanWare upgrades to Windows CE 6.0, the following suggestions that > were posted on the list will come true: > * Enhanced Bluetooth supporting Bluetooth audio and Object Exchange (ObEx) > protocol so you can send data to other Bluetooth devices. > * Enhanced Audio stack (probably a new hardware upgrade is in order). > * The issue of "not enough storage" error would be resolved through use of > tons of virtual memory (KeySoft alone can use up to 2 GB of virtual > memory). > * Support for Office 2007 files and better MS Word documents support. > * Support for Power Point (did I spell it right?) files. > * Support for SDIO (Secure Digital Input/Output) cards such as SD WiFi and > modem cards (probably a new hardware is in order). > These are some of the possibilities that we can expect in Windows CE 6.0. > Conclusion: Every new product release, especially operating system > release, carries considerable impact on customers, computer/device > manufacturers and software developers. Although it may have new features > for better productivity and computer lives, for developers, this means > another challenge for them, especially if the product in question is > different from what developers have been used to using. As illustrated > above, Windows CE 6.0 is not just an evolutionary release, but rather a > radical departure from what we've seen on devices that runs under Windows > CE, namely support for larger virtual memory, redesigned audio and > Bluetooth stack and so forth. For this reason, a software that has been > designed for an older OS such as Windows CE 4.2 needs to be rewritten to > take advantage of new features found in CE6.0. A software written for an > older operating system, say for Windows 98 will not take advantage of new > features released in newer operating systems such as Windows Vista. This > is critical when running a software on a portable device such as > BrailleNote family of products. Although we' as users of this product, > will see many improvements and suggestions come alive, for developers, it > would be a challenge to compile KeySoft to take advantage of new features > introduced in the latest version of Windows CE designed for portable > devices. As Joseph Lee, the author of this message and a BrailleNote user > proclaims, "Use a given technology to its full potential." - use your > technology to take advantage of it. > I hope the above article made sense to everyone. If you have any > questions for me, feel free to contact me. > Cheers, > JosephP.S. Just a comparison: even though the competition claims that it > runs under latest Windows Mobile technology, don't be fooled, as it still > runs under Windows CE 5 technology (This was not meant to be an attack on > a specific product). > > ___ > Replies to this message will go directly to the sender. > If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a > copy to the list as well. > > To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit > http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote > ___ Replies to this message will go directly to the sender. If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a copy to the list as well. To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote
-- Come, read and take a journey with me at www.WorldOfShariG.blogspot.com ___ Replies to this message will go directly to the sender. If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a copy to the list as well. To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote
