Java Kecil 2x

I gave a presentation on Pervasive Java, which includes some consumer Java APIs like BD-J and OCAP Java, to NJCCPS (New Jersey Chinese Computer Professionals Society), one of the largest Chinese associations in the east coast. I took the tack of more pictures and demos, less code, which is always a good thing, especially since many in the crowd were not coders.

The response was pretty enthusiastic, with the host having to stop the questioning after the 10 minute time alloted for questions had run past into the 20s, and with some people asking that a SIG be formed to focus on these technologies. One thing I noted was that many were more interested in the Sun SPOT sensors, probably because I had brought some with me to demo. You can find the slides here.

I feel like a commuter whose train has departed the station and I can only glimpse portions of the activity inside through tinted windows, but I’ve been keeping track of the announcements via other blogs, and it looks like Sun is positioning JavaFX as a ubiquitous solution for Java GUIs - from desktops all the way to lower end mobile devices, and even to Blu-ray devices.

In his blog about the opening session, Lucas Jellema notes the following:

JavaFX will be integrated across all platforms: development experience for mobile deives,blu-ray, web applications. JavaFX runs on every existing Java SE platform! Even cooler: Battery powered mobile devices
Power of Java on desktop, project it to everone else JavaFX Mobile: Java SE and rich environment to every mobile device. Supports Java FX content authoring tools. Open, standards based technologies. The Network in your hand. Environment that suits Mobile Devive Manufacturers.

I highlighted the mentions of Blu-ray and porting Java SE GUIs to mobile devices via JavaFX. I’ll probably have more to say about this later when I can get a better handle on the REALITY (as opposed to Sun’s usual misty-eyed vision of what can be), but suffice it to say I have very big doubts about the immediate feasibility of this. There are just too many entrenched interests and competing stakeholders in the consumer and pervasive Java markets to make such a grandiose goal a reality any time soon.

However, if Sun simply displays some perserverance (much like Microsoft) and keeps this JavaFX as a running goal for the foreseaable future (as opposed to quietly dumping it when reality throws some wrenches in the works), then you may see some good things happening in the Java GUI space. I think people want to see not only big dreams from Sun but also big stamina.

Did you know that a Java browser has now surpassed Apple’s Safari in usage in at least one country?

That’s right, folks! Old Steve Jobs, he of the infamous “Java applets aren’t worth a look anymore” is sure gonna be surprised if he finds out that our old friend Opera Mini has a larger market share than Safari in the Ukraine. Well, ok, so it’s Ukraine, and both actually made up a fraction of a percentage of total browser usage, but it’s a start!

But the interesting thing here is that a MOBILE browser actually managed to surpass a desktop browser!!!

Here’s more numbers for Opera Mini from January 2007, when Opera Mini celebrated it’s first birthday:

• 3 billion cumulative pages viewed with Opera Mini
• 13 million cumulative Opera Mini users
• Opera’s servers present 300 complete web pages to users per second

And it’s not just Opera Mini, but rather common Java ME apps as well. Here’s one app that I’ve never heard of until today called Reporo, but which accumulated more than 45,000 downloads just last week!

We have grouped together a series of websites exploring different aspects in the pervasive java development community. Hopefully, people will find such resources helpful in understanding the rational and work involved when exploring these new fields.

Lurker’s Guide to Pervasive Java

In a similar vein to the Guide to Blu-ray BD-J, we have created a site dedicated to Java Sun SPOTS, which are MIDP-based (”Midlet”) wireless sensor systems that are the newest members of the Java ME family. There’s a short intro on Meeting the Sun SPOTs.

I like the idea of smart sensors that are programmable in Java, and the group within Sun that is doing this thinks they may be the next big thing in Java since El Duke jumped into its first Motorola cellphone. I ordered a kit and plan on having some fun with it over the next few weeks.

Check it out.

Project Sun SPOT

In case you missed the announcement:
Sun SPOTs Available Now
U.S. only — limited quantities.
$550 plus tax and shipping.

Good News:

The first limited-production run of Sun SPOT Java Development Kits is now available for U.S. customers.*

The Sun SPOT development kit includes everything needed to start developing applications for your Sun SPOT:
two complete Sun SPOT devices with demo sensor boards
a base station Sun SPOT to connect to your development machine
software development tools
USB cable
The development tools are compatible with Windows XP with Java runtime, PPC Mac OS X 10.4 or better and most common Linux distributions. In addition, the API specification for the initial release of the Sun SPOT libraries is available for preview.

BUY NOW - quantities are limited.

If you have any questions or feedback, please send a message to info@SunSpotWorld.com or join our forum.

Some VERY cool apps that have created, or are creating, quite a buzz not only in the Java world but in the larger populace. I’ve used most of the apps below, although I have yet to try a few.

Just for the few who might get confused, no, these are NOT desktop apps. Java SE does have its share of killer desktop apps (Azureus perhaps?), but Java ME (MIDP) is simply in another world entirely when it comes to possibilities. And btw, I am posting this using the KABLOG MIDP app on my Nokia 9300.

1. Opera Mini
   Opera Mini is a fast and tiny Web browser, that allows you to access the full Internet on your phone. I use this app ALL the darn time. It’s indispensable. My smartphone also has a full-fledged color browser, but I barely use it, if at all because it’s slow in comparison. Opera Mini is simply, DA BOMB. Enuff said.
2. Google Maps Mobile
   Combining directions, maps, and satellite imagery, Google Maps is a free download that lets you find local hangouts and businesses across town or across the country. Another app that I use all the time, whether to aid me in finding the nearest restaurant, or to view some satellite imagery of some far-off tropical beach (like Puerto Vallarta, where my wife and I went 2 years ago), or just to give me turn by turn directions. Now if only someone connected this app to a GPS…

   Wow! Well whaddaya know, some independent developers have started on this! Check out J2MEMap, which seems to be able to connect to GPS devices attached to or around the Java-enabled handset! VEDY VEDY cool indeed!

3. FlurryMail
   Enables you to receive all of your personal email on your cell phone. It even sends SMS messages when a new message comes into your box (although I switched that off fast since I was not sure whether incoming text messages are charged on my plan). You might wonder why I’m not using Opera Mini to do this, but the ease of use and interface in FlurryMail just beats using a mini-browser for doing this task hands down. Just another example of why “Thicker” non-browser-based clients are sometimes preferable to thinner browser-based ones.
4. Skype Mobile with Eqo
   I’ve never tried this, but many people think the world of Skype, so this might be just their thing. Hinkmond over at Sun also notes down this competitor that approaches the problem of long-distance phone service from a difference perspective.
5. Karaokini: Mobile Karaoke
   For the times when you just need to let it all out. Haven’t tried it, but I’m sure it’s a blast

   Cocoasoft also has a Karaoke app, and this was one app that was featured in Java.com, but honestly, a company that still has (c) 2004 on its website needs to get with it.

   And if you just want the lyrics, LyricTracker from Corpris might be just what you need. It claims to offer 1 million available lyrics!

6. GCalSync
   Carry your Google Calendar in your pocket! GCalSync will allow two-way synchronization between Google Calendar and your phone’s built-in calendar. Download events to your phone, or add an event on your phone and upload it to Google Calendar. This is a very new app that probably has some bugs, but I’m eager to start trying it.
7. MobyExplorer FTP Client
   Moby Explorer is a powerful File Manager and FTP Client for Java ME enabled mobile phones. It has support for military strength file encryption, a built in text editor which is also integrated with the encryption engine so you can write completely secure notes, and support for file compression using the GZip protocol. The Text Editor can also be used to edit files or web pages remotely on a FTP server. This app still has some kinks on it, but I’ve tried it on my servers and it is so cool to be editing HTML files on my Nokia 9300!
8. KABLOG
   A tool for mobile phones and PDAs that allows you to post photos and blog entries to blog servers and services such as TypePad, Movable Type, Blogger, WordPress, B2, Blog-City, UserLand (Radio), Roller, SnipSnap, and other blog servers that support either the simple blogger xmlrpc interface or the extended metaWeblog interface. It works really well for my WordPress blog, although it keeps adding some weird marks (like question marks) once in a while….Very cool anyways!
9. FIFA Mobile Matchcast
   Mobile Matchcast brings all the action of the 2006 FIFA World Cup straight from the pitch to your mobile! It offers everything you need to keep track of all the action, including match schedules, live match commentary, team standings, photos and much more. Futbol!!!!!!
10. The various Java ME telnet/ssh clients, as well as remote desktop clients like this and this. These are all pretty cool aps that allow me to do my work no matter where I am!

If you think your killer app could be just around the corner, you might want to visit some Java ME download sites (like this) to take a gander at the Java apps growing quietly in the most mundane of places.

Don’t you just love it when Microsoft is forced to use Java? I can just imagine the bitter taste in their mouth when circumstances conspire to give them no options but to throw in the towel and embrace one of their most bitter “rivals”. Shouldn’t this be in “Compact .NET Framework”?

Wanted at Microsoft: Some Java ME developers. Ugh!

Source: CNN.com

Football (soccer) is by far the most-watched sporting event in the world today, and what better way to keep track of all the live events than by using the power of Java?

For the first time in the history of the World Cup, football fans will be able to follow the World Cup on their mobile devices through a rich graphical interface. Using a Java ME app downloaded from the official FIFA World Cup site, users will be able to follow every match with real time play-by-play information, live commentary, up to the second scores, and football news.

The Yahoo Mobile Matchcast was developed by EveryPoint and will be available soon.

In the meantime, you might want to download Mobilo’s World Cup 2006 Mobile scoreboard, another Java ME app.

If you’re going to JavaOne, or even if you aren’t, check out the JavaOne 2006 Mobile Conference Companion from Kallisto, a neat little app that features all the schedules for the greatest IT event, including the all-important After Dark timeline. The Nokia 3650 and Razr jars stall on my Nokia 9300 (they had not optimized it for the phone, but I had to try anyways), but worked great for my wife’s Razr v3 and my old Nokia 3650.

Note to Kallisto: Instead of a standalone app, one feature to add in future might be a way for people to upload new, shall we say, “informal” get-togethers into a server, which the Java ME app can query. Anyways, great job guys!