Java on Handheld Devices?

superfred queries: "I work for a Java-based software company, and have been tasked with researching Java on handhelds...I've managed to dig up information on which handhelds support Java (most of the major ones do), but what puzzles me, is if any company is actually *using* this for any reason (besides Java-based handhelds/phones). The Palm OS has apparently supported Java since the Palm V, but has anyone written any software to take advantage of it? Are there any major software developers working on Java applications for handhelds? It seems like a great deal of effort has been used in getting Java on these platforms, but nothing's really utilizing it."

Comments

Java on Palm OS

[ardiri]

Java on the Palm has not been a major success primarially due to the processor speeds :( a number of virtual machines have been available (KVM (now, official j2me), waba) - and, there was even a project called "jump" which would compile java code natively into m68k code on the palm (but, lacked a lot of support) - [find it on sourceforge.net].

i am a Java programmer myself, been doing so since mid 1995 (heck, remember the 1.0 beta) :P but, i have spent most of my development on the palm using C, and, where necessary for speed - resorting to native m68k assembly routiens. it just isn't possible to do something "impressive" with the Java engines are they are now - unfortunately :) but, it all depends on what you need it for.

Get to JavaOne

[deanj]

First, if you can do it at all, get yourself to JavaOne. It starts on March 25th, and usually has the handheld things that are either just coming out, or are about to come out.

Off the top of my head: Sharp Zaurus PDA, IPAQ (either running Windows or the complete Java replacement OS, the name of which escapes me at the moment), Palm (you know that already). Bigger "handheld" Windows devices, like tablets, can also run it, but you have to look at which chipsets these things support.

Phones can do this too... some are Palm based, so you can use those. Others, like Motorola's i85s (you can get this via NexTel) have been running Java for a year. No idea what the cost to run this would be for networked apps.... these phone companies like to charge out the ying-yang for service. There's a new wireless service in South Dakota that gives all you can eat wireless service for $50. Not sure how widespread that'll be, but hopefully it'll become more commonplace.

Nokia is building Java into all their phones,and Sprint is working on stuff too. I don't know if they'll have products announced at JavaOne or not, but they both have either regular sessions or "Birds of a Feather" sessions planned for during the conference.

good luck

J2ME MIDP & PDAP

[jon_eaves]

If you go and read the Sun Wireless sites, then you will understand what's going on.

The reason there has been a delay is that there is two configurations for J2ME. The MIDP (Mobile information device profile) is destined for the mobile phone/pager market. This has been implemented first, for reasons that I suspect have to do with the power of the phone manufacturers compared to the handset manufacturers, and because the phones have build in networking compared with the Palms which for the vast majority don't.

The MIDP doesn't work well on a Palm because the display capabilities are aimed at a mobile phone which is less sophisticated, as compared to a Palm.

However, the good news is that the PDAP (pda profile) has now reached the stage for community review which will mean that a fully fledged profile for use on PDA devices is now available.

Basically, there's been fragmentation (between KVM, MIDP and PDAP) for development on the Palm, and until now there hasn't been a coherent strategy for companies to follow.

I expect there will be a massive increase in development on these platforms with the support that is now available, and the direction of the profiles.

If you want to see what can be done, and a presentation that I gave about J2ME, then have a look at : my J2ME page

If you want to contact me directly, I can provide further information in this area.

Java on linux handhelds

[nowt]

Try here for more information on java for strongarm-based handhelds & pdas running linux.