Thursday November 29, 2007 Do as I do, not as I say: Google uses Java ME tech, not Android platform
When Google wants to run their latest Google Maps with My Location technology on the most number of cell phones, what mobile platform do they turn to first? I'll wait for you to mull this over a bit... The answer is Java ME technology, which is on over 2 billion phones. How many phones does Android run on? Zero. Zip. Zilch. Nada. Goose egg. There are no shipping devices where you can run Android apps on currently and not for some time to come. You can only run on an "emulator" (fingers making air-quotes) and will be true for the near future. So, why, as a prudent for-profit mobile programmer, would you program to a vapor platform, that Google promises to be on phones later in 2008 (what at best could be a couple thousand, maybe a hundred thousand???), when you can program to over 2 billion phones today and for some time to come? Google picks Java ME, not Android because the reality is that if you want to reach billions of handsets today, you program in Java ME technology. See: Google chooses Java ME to reach most cell phones Here's a quote: Where am I? New! Google Maps with My Location. Learn More. ... Available for most web-enabled mobile phones, including Java...OK. There is that $10 million in prize money that you can win in their silly programming contest (as a way to buy developers with payola). So, if you do want to program for Android, that's fine. But, if those math quants over at Google ever care to review "Game Theory" they'd realize that mobile developers will choose a platform to maximize their return (i.e. be able to run on most phones), and that will be Java ME technology for now and for a long time ahead. The Google engineers who just launched Google Maps with My Location technology did. We all should learn from this... |
Hinkmond
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Considering your employer, I can understand why you're extremely hostile toward Android, but this post takes the cake in the zealotry category.
A few more posts with this tone and you can be sure that your only readers will be Sun employees.
Posted by x@y.com on November 29, 2007 at 10:01 AM PST #
Well, then you could take the same tact with Java FX Mobile ? How many apps are there? Emerging technologies are emerging technologies.
Posted by Ken Walker on November 29, 2007 at 10:22 AM PST #
Me? A zealot? Nah. I am like Switzerland: landlocked, lots of holey cheese, lederhosen, bratwurst, and total and complete neutrality... as long as the reality about Java ME is presented in a fair light. :-) I apologize if that comes off as zealotry. That's not my intent.
I'm a proponent of Mobile Developers in general and don't like seeing the little guy get hosed, whether by regular hosing or lederhosing.
'Cause that's how I roll.
Peace,
Hinkmond
Posted by Hinkmond Wong on November 29, 2007 at 12:54 PM PST #
Here is a reality check for you:
http://alblue.blogspot.com/2007/11/java-death-of-jsr.html
Posted by Ray Sun on November 29, 2007 at 10:15 PM PST #
Hi Ray,
Thanks for the URL link. Yes, there are obvious flaws of Java ME. Yes, developers have to port to many different devices still, and I agree that is painful and must be fixed. The reality check remains for now and years to come: If you want to reach the most cell phones, you should program your app with Java ME.
It's a little early to say anything is dead... except my butt did get a bit numb having to read through that long-winded blog post in the link. He needs an editor. :-)
Hinkmond
Posted by Hinkmond Wong on November 30, 2007 at 09:25 AM PST #
Judging from these posts, it looks as though Google's Android is already beginning to fracture the Java mobile community. From reading a number of blogs, it also looks as though Android has become a platform for railing against Java ME.
The problem, as I see it, is that Google has not disclosed its strategy, if any, for solving the "Java ME" issues of fragmentation and carrier openness. And from a technology standpoint, Android is only marginally better than CDC/Foundation Profile.
To avoid repeating myself, my long-winded views are here: http://www.jroller.com/random7/entry/one_developers_take_on_what
Posted by Shane Isbell on November 30, 2007 at 04:28 PM PST #
Hi Shane,
Good comments.
I don't think blog comment posts in general are totally indicative of an entire community's sentiments, though. It's just a sampling of a few skewed people who happen to read this blog. ;-) :-)
But, as you point out, be very wary of Google and keep an eagle-eye for the exact details on what they say will solve the "Java ME" issues of fragmentation and carrier openness.
It's very pollyannish to think these problems can be wiped away clean with a new platform. It's more logical that an evolving present open source platform like Java ME can grow to meet developers needs, instead of a benevolent oligarchy who wants ad revenue in the end.
Hinkmond
Posted by Hinkmond Wong on November 30, 2007 at 04:42 PM PST #