The true potential of Windows CE lies in its ability to provide a robust, low-cost platform for system integration on custom, non-PC hardware: handhelds, wireless devices, TV applications, terminals, smartcards, even household appliances. Building Powerful Platforms with Windows CE goes beyond Microsoft's documentation to deliver the real-world detail developers need to minimize risk, improve performance, and get to market fast. The authors begin with a detailed overview of Windows CE, its motivation, goals, architecture, design, and implementation. Next, they review the crucial, often-ignored project management issues associated with custom platform development. They introduce Microsoft's Windows CE Platform builder, demonstrate how to quickly create custom builds, and demystify Microsoft CE's confusing boot loader. The book includes a full chapter on building CE Hardware Abstraction Layers, and exceptional step-by-step guidance on designing, implementing, and debugging CE device drivers. Finally, the authors take you further inside the Windows CE build process, show how to extend Platform Builder; and explain how to use Microsoft's Device Driver Test Toolkit to streamline testing.