Windows Embedded Standard 7 delivers the power, familiarity, and reliability of the Windows 7 operating system in a componentized form for developers to create advanced commercial and consumer devices running thousands of existing Windows applications and drivers.
NEW: Windows Embedded Standard 7 Service Pack 1 includes three new technologies; Remote Desktop Protocol, SD Boot and SKU Compliance Package.
Windows Embedded is a family of operating systems from Microsoft designed for use in embedded systems. Microsoft makes available four different categories of operating systems for embedded devices targeting a wide market, ranging from small-footprint, real-time devices to Point of Sale devices like kiosks.
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My company is thinking of switching to these handheld units: https://www.barcodesinc.com/motorola/part-mc32n0-gi4hcheia.htm#specsThey run off of Windows Embedded Compact 7. I have been tasked with programming an inventory management solution. I do have C# .NET experience, but no experience with Compact Framework(CF), so I have a few questions.
- Do I have to use VS 2012 with CF 3.9 or can I use a newer version of VS?
- Is there an emulator that could run Embedded Compact so that I could give a demo of the software without buying the device?
2 Answers
You'll have to use Visual Studio 2008, I'm afraid.
As for getting an emulator running try this: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj200348(v=winembedded.70).aspx
Source: I'm a mobile dev thats worked on CE 5, WM 6 and WM 6.5 (but not 7)
(Just as a side opinion, CE is dead/dying. And it's pretty horrible to work on/support as a developer. GOOD LUCK!)
Windows CE 7.0 only supports .NET CF 2.0 and 3.5, and the latest Visual Studio version that will work is VS2008.
This answer gives a great overview of which Windows CE, .NET Compact Framework and Visual Studio versions go together.
Windows Embedded Compact 7 Update Download
Which emulator to use depends on your desktop environment:
- If you are on Windows 7, the way to go is Microsoft Virtual PC.
- On newer versions of desktop Windows you can use Hyper-V.
There's an emulator Getting Started guide here on MSDN. It's written for WEC2013, but will work for CE7.0 as well.