Mobile Computing

iPAQ rx 4240 Mobile device (2007), powered by the Microsoft Windows CE-based Windows

Mobile operating system. Salient features of its hardware are as follows:

1. Samsung processor (400 MHz)

2. Windows Mobile 5.0 for Pocket PC, Premium Edition

3. 64-MB SDRAM, 128-MB Flash ROM

4. Up to 64-MB user-accessible memory

5. Integrated WLAN 802.11b/g and Bluetooth wireless technology

6. 2.8 transmissive thin film transistor (TFT) screen with LED backlight

7. Secure digital (SD) slot

8. 1200 mAh battery

9. Integrated mini-USB charging/communications port

The following are some of its technical features, including software available and applications:

1. Up to 10 hours of battery life

2. Simple to synchronize with the desktop

3. Convenient to carry, with a weight of 1.115 kg, including batteries

4. Expandable with PC card accessories, USB devices, or an external monitor

5. Complete with built-in modem for simple and easy mobile computing

6. Has a dialup application for fast and easy access to e-mail and the Web

7. Has a viewer application that displays Pocket Outlook data at a glance, allowing one to

navigate to or view data immediately

8. Internet Explorer v4.0 browser that includes support for hyper-text markup language (HTML

4.0), extensible markup language/extensible stylesheet language (XML/XSL), Dynamic

HTML and animated graphic interchange formats (GIFs)

9. Windows media player for playing either Windows Media or MP3 music

10. New APIs with the crypto API (CAPI) for developing additional encryption software

11. Microsoft Message Queue (MSMQ) for exactly once-in-order message delivery providing reli-

able transactions while disconnected, and the SmartCard API enabling Smartcard applications

such as additional security authentication, personal information (e.g. medical and financial)

and loyalty points

12. SQL server for Windows CE

We shall now discuss the Window CE operating system and then move on to the Windows

Mobile operating system, which is the latest offering from Microsoft.

8.5 Windows CE

Microsoft’s Windows CE is an open, scalable, 32-bit operating system, designed to support a wide

range of intelligent devices, from enterprise tools such as industrial controllers, communication

hubs and point-of-sale terminals to consumer products such as cameras, telephones and home

entertainment devices. There are four different versions of the Windows CE kernel for various

CPUs like the NEC MIPS and its variants, the Intel/AMD X86, Hitachi SH-3 and SH-4 and the

Intel StrongARM to handle different kinds of screens, keyboards, modems and peripheral

devices, unlike the single version of PalmOS.

Windows CE was developed from the ground up, as a small footprint, highly customizable

and modular operating system for embedded applications. Its kernel borrows from other

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