Microsoft has launched version five of Windows CE, with wider access to the operating system's source code.

Licensees will now gain access to around 2.5 million lines of code, and will be able to create their own version of the OS.
 
"The derivatives program allows OEMs and manufacturers to modify code and ship derivatives based on that code," said Hardy Poppinga, European product manager for Windows Embedded.

This option is open to all licensees of Windows CE, moreover they are not obliged to give the modified code back to Microsoft, he added.

Source level access is available to crucial areas of the OS, including the system kernel, graphical user interfaces, file system, device drivers and Web server.

Microsoft has also created Platform Builder IDE, a unified toolset for building Windows CE operating systems. There is a 120-day free trial available for the $995 software.

Security has been beefed up, by default setting all security flags to their highest level. A mobile version of Microsoft's Direct3D technology is also available in Windows CE.

By: DocMemory
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