Lunduke
News • Science & Tech
Windows CE is officially dead
(I know. Many of you thought it already was.)
October 24, 2023
post photo preview

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?"

community logo
Join the Lunduke Community
To read more articles like this, sign up and join my community today
31
What else you may like…
Videos
Podcasts
Posts
Articles
XLibre Dev Creates de-Rusted Git Fork

As Git prepares to make Rust a hard requirement for Git 3.0, this fork removes all Rust code and describes itself as "Git with WD-40 applied".

The Lunduke Journal Lifetime Subscription:
https://lunduke.substack.com/p/the-lunduke-journal-lifetime-subscription

More from The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.com/

00:17:36
February 07, 2026
With Git Moving to Rust, How Long Until a Git Fork?

Git 3.0 is scheduled to ship "second half of 2026", with a mandatory requirement of Rust. Which means Git will no longer build on many platforms. Setting the stage for a successful fork.

The Lunduke Journal Lifetime Subscription:
https://lunduke.substack.com/p/the-lunduke-journal-lifetime-subscription

More from The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.com/

00:15:13
February 06, 2026
NetBSD Says No to Rust

"Rust in the core of NetSD is probably a non-starter," says long-time NetBSD developer. "Keeping Rust working is quite a bit of work."

The Lunduke Journal Lifetime Subscription:
https://lunduke.substack.com/p/the-lunduke-journal-lifetime-subscription

More from The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.com/

00:20:49
November 22, 2023
The futility of Ad-Blockers

Ads are filling the entirety of the Web -- websites, podcasts, YouTube videos, etc. -- at an increasing rate. Prices for those ad placements are plummeting. Consumers are desperate to use ad-blockers to make the web palatable. Google (and others) are desperate to break and block ad-blockers. All of which results in... more ads and lower pay for creators.

It's a fascinatingly annoying cycle. And there's only one viable way out of it.

Looking for the Podcast RSS feed or other links? Check here:
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4619051/lunduke-journal-link-central-tm

Give the gift of The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4898317/give-the-gift-of-the-lunduke-journal

The futility of Ad-Blockers
November 21, 2023
openSUSE says "No Lunduke allowed!"

Those in power with openSUSE make it clear they will not allow me anywhere near anything related to the openSUSE project. Ever. For any reason.

Well, that settles that, then! Guess I won't be contributing to openSUSE! 🤣

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:
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4898317/give-the-gift-of-the-lunduke-journal

openSUSE says "No Lunduke allowed!"
September 13, 2023
"Andreas Kling creator of Serenity OS & Ladybird Web Browser" - Lunduke’s Big Tech Show - September 13th, 2023 - Ep 044

This episode is free for all to enjoy and share.

Be sure to subscribe here at Lunduke.Locals.com to get all shows & articles (including interviews with other amazing nerds).

"Andreas Kling creator of Serenity OS & Ladybird Web Browser" - Lunduke’s Big Tech Show - September 13th, 2023 - Ep 044
post photo preview
February 08, 2026

Feels like this sometimes out in the world.

post photo preview
February 08, 2026

Who said curl was dead???

February 08, 2026
79 Million Views in 6 Months for The Lunduke Journal

Welcome to February, all of you amazing nerds!

January was a fun month for The Lunduke Journal (thanks to all of you). For those interested in a little Inside Baseball, I’ve pulled together some stats and charts below.

The short version: Great month. Crazy news stories. Solid growth. Can’t complain!

Revamped Lifetime Wall

Oh! And the “Lifetime Subscriber Wall” is getting a “retro” facelift.

This is what the four Lifetime Walls currently look like:

 

Once that 4th Wall is filled (a little over 75% of the way there as of this morning), I’ll be introducing the new designs (for all the walls) along with the starting of Wall Number 5.

Each Wall now has its own, distinct look and theme. Very Retro Computer-y. You’re going to dig it.

To make that “Wall Number 5” get here as fast as possible, I’ve gone ahead an reinstated the “$89 Lifetime Subscriber” deal. But only until Wall Number 4 is full.

Want to be on the Wall? If you don’t have a Lifetime Subscription, grab one. If you already have one, email me (bryan at lunduke.com) to let me know how you want your name to be displayed.

Once Wall 4 is full, the Super-Mega-Ultra Discounted Lifetime Subscription goes back to regular price. And, the next day, the new Lifetime Wall design appears at the end of new shows.

At the current rate, I expect that to happen in the next couple days.

Stats for January, 2026

Now let’s look at the stats for January.

Can’t lie. I’m pleased.

  • 30 new shows (just shy of one new show every day)

  • 15.2 Million views (including podcast downloads)

  • 2,326 new subscribers

The most popular story of January, 2026:

Taking a high level view: This means that, in the last 6 months (Aug ‘25 - Jan ‘26), The Lunduke Journal has had:

  • 79.4 Million views

  • 21,694 new subscribers

Bonkers, right?

Here’s a chart of “views” for last 6 months:

Image
 

The long-term trend continues to be solidly upward, with February (in the first 7 days, so far) currently tracking slightly ahead of January.

For those interested in the specific platforms: The Lunduke Journal is seeing the most growth on X and the Audio Podcast.

Here’s a combined subscriber chart for January (up 2,326 subscribers from the month prior):

Image
 

Wild. It is truly amazing to me how widely these stories are spreading nowadays.

Over 15 million. In one month.

These are numbers that most of the big, “Main Stream” Tech Journalists could only dream of.

The reach of The Lunduke Journal, thanks to all of you, is now wildly exceeding any other publication I have ever worked with.

Even though most “Main Stream” Tech Journalists are refusing to cover some of the biggest stories in Tech… those stories are still getting out there.

They are being seen. Far and wide.

Thanks to all of you.

-Lunduke

Read full Article
January 31, 2026
$89 Lifetime Offer Ends at Midnight!

I’ll make this quick: The $89 Lifetime Subscription offer for The Lunduke Journal ends at midnight tonight (Saturday, January 31st).

Once the calendar reads “February” — poof — the deal is gone.

If you wanted to save 70% on a Lifetime Subscription, these are your final hours.

A huge thank you to everyone who has signed up during this crazy deal. We are this close to filling up the 4th Lifetime Subscriber Wall (there’s a possibility it might fill up in the next few hours).

Far beyond anything I was expecting. All of you are absolutely amazing. The Lunduke Journal would not be possible without you.

If you were on contemplating grabbing that Lifetime Sub, I’d jump on it right now. The price goes back up to normal ($300) in about 12 hours or so.

Get it while it’s cheap!

-Lunduke

Read full Article
January 30, 2026
The End of the $89 Lifetime Sub is Nigh!

Quick reminder: The massive deal The Lunduke Journal has been running — 70%+ off Lifetime Subscriptions, 50% off all other subscriptions — ends after tomorrow (Saturday, January 31st).

Considering that, here are the steps I recommend:

  1. Grab the $89 Lifetime Subscription before it ends tomorrow night.

  2. High five yourself for saving money and supporting Indie Tech Journalism.

  3. Maybe… grab a donut?

That is all.

-Lunduke

Read full Article
See More
Available on mobile and TV devices
google store google store app store app store
google store google store app tv store app tv store amazon store amazon store roku store roku store
Powered by Locals