The chalkboard in schools is obsolete--same goes for the whiteboard. Now there is the Java technology-enabled SMART board that lets teachers project interactive computer screens that are touch-sensitive so that students can learn on-the-fly with help from Java technology.

See:

Java Jazzes Up the Classroom Chalkboard

Here's a quote:

 Korte said the possibilities for 
 instruction are endless. "In my 
 mind, the boards let me turn the 
 math classroom into a lab.  I can 
 introduce things like color, 
 detailed diagrams, animated Java 
 applets that change before the 
 kids' eyes."

Hinkmond

In the battle royale of iPhone vs. Blackberry, you get non-Java ME technology-enabled versus Java ME technology-enabled. And that's important since there will always be a fight for developers. In this case, those smartphones with Java ME tech will win.

See:

Non-Java ME enabled vs. Java ME enabled smartphone war

Here's a quote:

 Some analysts predict a brawl 
 between iPhones and BlackBerrys; 
 others say the real fight pits 
 the smartphones against open-
 source handsets

Yo, Adrian!!!! Ain't gonna be no rematch!

Hinkmond

Let's ride with the family down the street. Through the courtesy of Fred's two feet. It took me weeks and several times listening to the Flintstone's theme song when I was a kid, before I figured out those exact lyrics.

But, it won't take you too long to figure out that Metismo's Bedrock, which was created to ease the task of programming in Java ME technology, will be a hit among Java ME programmers.

See:

Metismo's Bedrock makes Java ME easy

Here's a quote:

 The Bedrock is a set of 
 standardised coding abstraction 
 layers, processes and utilities 
 that help improve the 
 development and porting of J2ME 
 applications across multiple 
 handsets. Using the Bedrock 
 across multiple applications 
 also reduces the overhead for 
 coders/porters to get up to 
 speed with new projects. 

Hinkmond

Polycom (makers of those funky-butt conference phones) came up with the QSX phone which adds remote computer content sharing using Java technology on the remote side.

See:

Polycom funky-butt conference phone gets Java-enabled

Here's a quote:

   Participants see content in 
   one of two ways: QSX-enabled 
   rooms see the content 
   automatically though the 
   room’s projector or display; 
   locations without QSX can see 
   the content through a standard, 
   Java-enabled web browser.

Hey... Doesn't the Polycom conference phone look like one of those funky-butt spaceships from War of the Worlds? Coincidence...? I think NOT! ;-)

Hinkmond

This is the first time that I'm seeing positive reviews in the trade rags that actually say that a product from Sun can stand-up against Microsoft Windows.

And, I've see plenty of Sun's Windows competitive attempts in the past, like WABI and JavaStations. But this is the first time people actually don't think something from Sun totally sucks all that much.

See: http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=29100064

Eh. It's a step in the right direction. :-)

Here's an example of a cool use of Java technology. It reminds me of Harry Potter's Marauder's Map from the 3rd book/movie, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

It's an interactive map of the arriving and departing flights in and around San Jose Airport. Follow this link and click on the airplane to see more info about it.

See: http://www4.passur.com/sjc.html

The cool part is that it is a Java applet and J2ME CDC/Personal Profile can run the same bytecodes on a PDA or high-end smartphone.

It was almost 1 year ago when I got dragged in (kicking and screaming) into an open letter to Sun to try to get a free JRE for Pocket PC devices.

See: http://forum.java.sun.com/wireless/thread.jsp?forum=80&thread=408223&start=15&range=15&hilite=false&q=

If you scroll down to reply 28 of 147, you'll note that I'm "A Sun Engineer". <gosh>

Boy, not much changes in 1 year, eh? :-)

People still want free stuff (something for nothing).