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Windows CE is officially dead
(I know. Many of you thought it already was.)
October 24, 2023
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Ready to have your mind blown?

Windows CE is no longer, as of October 10th of this year, a supported Operating System by Microsoft.

I hear what many of you are saying.  "Microsoft still supported Windows CE?  Didn't that die... like... a long, long time ago?"

Well.  Sort of.  The "Windows CE" that many of us are probably thinking of -- the era of Windows CE that powered PDA's, Palmtops, and the "Windows Mobile" Smartphones -- ended its extended support phase nearly a decade ago.

The HTC TyTN, powered by Windows CE 5.x, circa 2006

Just the same, semi-active development of Windows CE continued up until 2013 -- when Microsoft released Windows CE version 8.0 (rebranded as "Windows Embedded Compact 2013").

But that final CE version was, quite possibly, the most depressing release of any operating system in history.  Version 8.0 stripped out substantial, critical features... nearly gutting Windows CE entirely.

A short sampling of what was removed in CE 8:

  • Support for most processor platforms (including MIPS, SuperH, ARMv5 and ARMv6) was dropped entirely.
  • Internet Explorer was dropped.
  • The ability to sync was removed.
  • Even the entire Windows Explorer shell was tossed into the recycle bin.

Seriously.  Almost everything that, for an end user, made Windows CE... like Windows... was tossed aside.  It was absolutely brutal.

To give you a visual of just how dramatic the change was.  Here is a screenshot of the previous release, Windows CE 7.0, from 2011:

Windows CE 7, circa 2011

Note that Windows CE 7 looked like... well... Windows.  Start Menu.  Task bar.  Internet Explorer and the Recycle Bin on the desktop.  This was... Windows-y.

Now let's look at Windows CE 8, the final CE version from 2013:

Windows CE 8, circa 2013

That's not a loading screen.  That's not some sort of empty recovery shell.  That's the actual desktop.  That's what Windows CE 8.0 looked like.

Empty.  Just... nothing.  A shell of its former self.

And, as of two weeks ago -- October 10th, 2023 -- even that empty, sad, final version of Windows CE has left "Extended Support".

Windows CE, in all forms, has officially been tossed in the dumpster.

Which begs the question:

"Hey, Microsoft!  I heard you like Open Source.  Since you no longer support or earn money from Windows CE... any chance we see a source code release (preferably version 7... version 8 makes me sad) up on GitHub any time soon?"

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https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4619051/lunduke-journal-link-central-tm

Give the gift of The Lunduke Journal:
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Looking for the Podcast RSS feed or other links?
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4619051/lunduke-journal-link-central-tm

Give the gift of The Lunduke Journal:
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LCOS 1.0 Ships on November 1st!

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A few quick tidbits worth mentioning:

Worth repeating: If you want your name in the LCOS About Window (see the screenshot below), you only have through October 31st to grab a Lifetime Subscription to The Lunduke Journal and make that happen.

Huge thank you to everyone who has contributed with both hardware testing and financial support. We’ve had absolutely tremendous momentum over the last few months, and that wouldn’t have been possible without all of you.

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Between now and 1.0, LCOS is laser focused on a) fixing bugs and b) making sure it runs (and runs well) on as much hardware as possible.

Right now, LCOS needs your help. Here’s how:

  1. Test the latest LCOS release on your hardware. Hit any snags? Report them on GitHub, the Lunduke Forum, or via DM on X.

  2. Donate to LCOS (and The Lunduke Journal), so that we can expand our hardware testing lab (among other expenses).

If you haven’t already, watch the LCOS Roadmap video, to get an idea for where we’re heading (in 1.0 and beyond).

Then check out this page, for details on how to support LCOS & The Lunduke Journal (and get your name on the LCOS 1.0 About window in the process).

A huge thank you to everyone who has already contributed (in both ways)! With your help, we are making LCOS into the best gosh darned system in all the land.

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Lunduke Lifetime Discount Ends in 1 Day; Zelda, Larry, SQ, & Keen Walls Available

TL;DR: Lifetime Subscription discount ends in one day. There are currently 4 “Lifetime Walls” with space available for more names (the Oregon Trail Wall is now full).

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But the discounted price only runs through July 31st… and that moment is just about here.

When the calendar ticks over into August (just a hair over 24 hours from now), the Lunduke Journal Lifetime Subscription price goes back to normal.

  • If the calendar still says it’s July, the Lifetime price is still discounted to $125.

  • If the calendar says August… the price returns to $300.

There are, as of this exact moment, 4 retro game themed “Lifetime Walls” which still have some space for more names (check Lunduke.com for the full list):

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  3. Space Quest 4

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Grab a discounted Lifetime Subscription (scroll down for the details), then email Lunduke (bryan at lunduke.com) with which Wall you’d like to appear on.

 

First come, first served. Once a Wall is full, it’s full. So if there’s a specific Wall you’d like to be on, don’t dilly dally.

How to Grab a Discounted Lifetime Subscription:

There are 3 different ways to pick up a Lunduke Journal Lifetime sub. All of them work great. Choose whichever works best for you!

Remember: These discounted prices go back up to normal ($300) on August 1st.

Get a Lifetime Subscription via Locals:

  1. Go to Lunduke.Locals.com/support.

  2. Select “Give Once“.

  3. Enter “125“ into the amount field.

  4. After checking out, Lunduke will toss you an email once your account is set to full lifetime status. (This usually happens within a few hours.)

Get a Lifetime Subscription via Substack:

  1. Go to Lunduke.Substack.com/subscribe.

  2. Select the “Lifetime Subscription” option.

  3. After checking out, Lunduke will toss you an email once your account is set to full lifetime status. (This usually happens within a few hours.)

If you would also like full, Lifetime access to Lunduke.Locals.com (which is included):

  1. Make a free account on Lunduke.Locals.com.

  2. Email “bryan at lunduke.com” with the email address you use on both Substack and Locals (can be different email addresses).

  3. Lunduke will toss you an email once your account is set to full lifetime status on Locals.

Get a Lifetime Subscription with Bitcoin:

Bonus: Save an extra $10 with the Bitcoin option, as Bitcoin processing has fewer fees associated with it.

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  • Email “bryan at lunduke.com” with the following information: What time you made the transaction, how much was sent (in Bitcoin), and the email address you use (or plan to use) on Locals.com or Substack.com.

-Lunduke

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