By John Geralds, VNU
Net
Sun Microsystems has announced a host of non-PC devices running
Java applications and said Java 2 Standard Edition will feature
prominently on the next Mac operating system.
At the JavaOne Developers Conference in San Francisco this week,
Sun demonstrated a version of Sega’s Dreamcast game console
including a Java virtual machine. Sega and Motorola will also
launch a Java-enabled mobile phone, which will include 10 games, in
2001.
Both Steve Jobs, Apple Computer’s chief executive, and Sun chief
executive Scott McNealy promised to give Java a dominant presence
on the next version of the Mac operating system, scheduled to ship
later this year. Jobs said Java 2 Standard Edition, with features
such as QuickTime, would be included in Mac OS X.
Other Java developments include stripped-down versions of Java
for credit card-sized computers demonstrated by American Express
and Citibank. Sun also unveiled Java-enabled mobile phones from
Motorola and NTT, as well as a Java-powered Blackberry pager from
Research In Motion.
Sun announced plans for a new programming interface, or a set of
instructions, that will allow developers to build Java-based
ecommerce software that can generate and exchange messages using
XML (eXtensible Markup Language).
The interface, called Java API for XML Messaging, is being
developed under the Java Community Process (JCP) – the
community-based process for developing Java technology
specifications. Version 2.0 of the JCP called JCP 2.0 will begin on
19 June.
Pat Sueltz, president of Sun’s software products and platform
group, said Java and XML fit together like a “hand and glove”.
Among the technologies highlighted at JavaOne were an operating
system from a Lucent-funded startup called SavaJe Technologies.
Jscream is written in C but designed to run Java programs on
devices using ARM or StrongARM microprocessors.
Websprocket unveiled VMFoundry software that enables users to
run Java applications on ARM and StrongARM-based devices such as
mobile phones without the need for a Java Virtual Machine.
Sun launched Java Web Start software, which gives web developers
the cross-platform capabilities of a Java application with the ease
of centralised web deployment and management. The company will
also deliver two of its Java platforms on Linux: J2EE (Java 2
Platform, Enterprise Edition) v 1.2.1 on Linux and on the client
side J2SE (Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition) are available in beta
for Linux.
Sun also announced a new web portal for people who use its Forte
for Java software development tools. The portal is a virtual
neighbourhood where Java technology developers can share products,
components and ideas.