Microsoft has announced a free, 358-page book providing a detailed introduction to Windows CE 6.0. The downloadable Windows Embedded CE 6.0 Preparation Kit is intended as a text for students taking the new Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist exam, but is also useful generally, the company says.

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The Windows Embedded CE 6.0 Preparation Kit was written for Microsoft by Adeneo employees Nicolas Besson, Ray Marcilla, and Rajesh Kakde. It is available now in English, and planned to be released in French, German, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean during June.

The book is primarily intended to help experienced CE developers prepare for Microsoft’s recently announced Windows CE 6.0 certification exam, part of Microsoft’s Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) series. To be administered for $125 by Microsoft’s testing partner, Prometric, the exam aims to test developers for skills and technical expertise that “all CE 6.0 developers should know,” Microsoft said.

With 358 illustrated, typeset pages, the book is downloadable in the form of nine separate PDF files, as follows:

* Foreword, about the authors
* Table of contents, introduction
* Chapter 1: Customizing the operating system design
* Chapter 2: Building and deploying the runtime image
* Chapter 3: Performing system programming
* Chapter 4: Debugging and testing the system
* Chapter 5: Customizing a board support package
* Chapter 6: Developing device drivers
* Glossary, index