Uh, What Happened to Java ME CDC on Smartphones?
Ok, most of you know that I’m a proponent for Java ME. I love writing applications for mobile devices, and I’ve been doing it for a LONG time (over 10 years). I like this stuff so much, I even wrote a book about it. Java ME is so popular, it on over a billion mobile phones (remember, there’s a difference between mobile phones and smart phones). One of the major benefits for Java and Java ME is platform independence, but I’m starting to see an alarming trend in the industry. So, as an experiment, I want to you think of the major *touchscreen* smartphones. Here’s the ones that come to mind for me:
- iPhone 3G
- Palm Pre
- Nokia N97
- Nokia 5800
- Blackberry Storm
- Samsung Instinct
- G1 (Google Android)
- HTC Touch Diamond
Alright, now your list may have +/- a few phones, but your list should be quite similar to mine. Now, back in the day, we were told that Java ME CLDC was the JVM platform for the mass market mobile phones, and Java ME CDC was the JVM platform for high-end smartphones with extra processing power. Now today, touchscreen smartphones are truly high-end, so which of the phones in my list (or your list) come enabled out-of-the-box with Java ME CDC?
Maybe two of them — maybe.
If the device is a Samsung Instinct or HTC Touch Diamond, and if it came from Sprint, then there’s a high probability that it includes Java ME CDC (via Sprint Titan). I’m not too familiar with Sprint’s success with the Titan platform, so I could be wrong. Even Nokia (which has been a huge supporter of Java ME) put Java SE 1.4 on their new flagship device, the N97.
Folks, if you ask me, this is not a good sign. What is the platform independent language for touchscreen smart phones? Did you know that Flash runs on more than 1/2 of those devices. Hmmm…
August 24th, 2009 at 09:46
The CDC platform lives on at Sprint. Sprint is poised to deploy it on all of their non-smartphones, as well as have a CDC runtime in their Android and Windows Mobile devices. Here’s a taste of what’s to come:
http://www.phonenews.com/instinct-hd-preview-sprint-titan-loaded-opera-mobile-deal-samsung-8760/
Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that other carriers have attached to CDC like Sprint has. But, with Verizon warming up to Java… there is potential for more widespread adoption.
October 3rd, 2009 at 19:46
Slightly confused by this post! Nokia’s N97 specs only include mention of J2ME/MIDP, there is no SE on there… http://www.forum.nokia.com/devices/N97
Secondly, although you make a fair point, in terms of sales those devices without J2ME are niche - the iPhone certainly is. They command very small market shares. Nokia outsells all the rest by a long, long way, and I am not aware of any Nokia handsets without J2ME/MIDP and a great set of JSRs, so I think things are still pretty good :)
October 5th, 2009 at 14:11
May be I am wrong, I never tried this, you can get a JVM for Palm Treo… Here is a link: http://jyoseph.com/palm-treo-ibm-jvm-download-and-other-tasty-abbreviations/