Bluetooth Everywhere

Ok,

I’ve been to the JavaOne conference before, and I can say that it’s an awesome experience.  Now, of course, at JavaOne there’s so much going on, that’s easy to get lost in the myriad of speakers, topics, and exhibitors. So, since Sun is running the M3DD (Mobile, Media & Embedded Developer Days) conference, then I have my hopes up that it will be as fun and exciting as JavaOne.

Here’ a list of technologies that I want to get smarter on:

• Java FX mobile
• Tru2way
• MIDP 3 (of course!)
• BUG Platform
• Java ME and OSGi
• Java ME widgets
• Java Card 3
• Squawk
• Capuchin

So this should be an exciting conference next month. Hope to see you there!

Ok, so my wife got one of those Amazon Kindle eBook readers, and I have to admit that it’s pretty nice. I like the fact that you can search in the eBook, as well as look up items on Wikipedia and Dictionary.com with a simple button click. So, I started thinking, since I’m going to be writing the next edition of the best Bluetooth book on the planet, why not release mini-books on the Kindle platform?

This would allow you, the reader to get the new content in “Bluetooth for Java” 2nd ed. within a matter of weeks or months, as compared to waiting for the entire authoring, editing, proofreading, finalizing, printing, packaging, shipping, shelving process to get a book in your hands.

So regardless  if you’re a Kindle owner or not, let me know if you’re interested in mini-books on Bluetooth technology!

Now, here’s something to get excited about. Last week, the Bluetooth SIG made an announcement about the next generation of Bluetooth technology. It’s probably WON’T be named Bluetooth 2.2, and it probably WILL be named Bluetooth 3.0. So why are the details so sketchy at this point? My guess is that they’re going to wait to make the big announcement at the CES show in January 2009. But anyway, here’s what we know:

• Bluetooth 10x will be the name of the spec that will utilize WLAN (802.11) radio technology
• Bluetooth 100x will be the name of the spec that will utilize UWB (Ultra Wide Band) radio technology

Since the radio technology for WLAN is widely available and ubiquitous, it makes sense that the 10x spec (and devices that implement the spec) will come out first. UWB is a tougher nut to crack, and I won’t expect to see any devices that use that technology until 2010 or 2011.

Of course, we have to wait until CES to see if any device manufacturers have done anything promising with UWB or Wireless USB.