Java ME on Windows Mobile
First of all, let me just say this: if one is using a Windows Mobile device, why would they need a J2ME / JavaME application? Unless maybe it’s a game…
Windows Mobile devices don’t always come with JVMs, which only makes it hard for both developers and users. The problem is that there are not too many options out there. Not free at least. Here are the implementations that I am aware of:
- IBM Websphere Everyplace Micro Environment (former J9)
- CrE-ME
- Jeode (discontinued) in favour of the more expensive Jbed
- Jbed
- JBlend
- JV-Lite2 Wireless Edition
As a developer one can probably only hope to get IBM’s implementation or CrE-ME, as the other ones are mostly sold to device manufacturers. I know it hurts to pay money for a Java ME implementation but if you google long enough you’ll find some free versions on some forums.
The other problems that I’ve found with these implementations is that you can’t get too fancy with your applications. Sometimes the SSL certificates are not available to these JVMs, other times if the application is served as a stream from some server the JVM (AMS) won’t install it. Other JVMs will read the URL and name the application after whatever follows the last forward slash “/”. Problems everywhere.
So why does SUN not step up and provide an implementation to help the Java ME developers out there? There is no official JVM for the iPhone, no JVM for the Android platform… Is SUN giving up on the Java ME platform?
Windows Mobile (CE) and Java have been on the market for a long time, yet they have not worked together and other platforms have stepped up and conquered the developers’ hearts. I really cannot see an iPhone developer switching to Java ME. I can imagine though lots of Java ME developers really looking forward to moving the Apple’s platform. And all this right before Google realease some final version of the hyped Android platform.
What do you think?
Cheers…
By Nick | 13. Aug 2008 | Java, Rant | 3 Comments »
You caught really a good point. Sun should distribute WM binaries so that WM users cab have a good JVM for free.
We shouldn’t have to buy them from someone else, Java is free even in desktop, so why not in WM.
In fact to reduce fragmentation it started to do it with HP iPAQ 900, Sun integrated its own JVM into this device.
Instead it should make more binaries available for WM.
There already have been WM binaries available for quite a while now. Check out this post: http://weblogs.java.net/blog/terrencebarr/archive/2008/04/alive_and_kicki.html
Thanks for the comment Jerri.
It is my understanding that phoneME has not yet fully implemented the MIDP spec. https://phoneme.dev.java.net/content/phoneme_advanced_r2.html
I hope I am wrong. Will try to make some time and build the project.
Cheers