Thursday February 28, 2008 Google's Android no match for Java ME technology
Oh, the potshots keep flying at Google's Android. Blam! Android takes one in the arm. Blam-blam, one to the leg. Blam-blam-blam, one in the 'ol keester. Here's an article from NetworkWorld that questions the viability of Google's Android. See: Here's a quote: My biggest concern with Android is that I find nothing compelling in it that sets it apart from other handheld OSes.If you are trying to overcome the "shortcomings" of Java ME technology, you better have something a lot better than Java ME technology. Otherwise, the rest of us will be working on fixing the Java ME problems directly, instead of trying to boil the ocean. |
Hinkmond
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Isn't the problem that Google is trying to address the financial concern of writing applications for Java ME? From my (very limited) understanding if you write a commercial Java ME application you have to pay Sun licensing/royalty fees which google doesn't want to do. We could go back in time and your same statements could be said about when Linux hit the scene and Solaris was still a pay for RTU license. Maybe a little competition is good. It did wonders for Solaris. Granted Linux has not caught up to Solaris still but you see my point. However the ubuntu distro I am running seems like the first real threat to displace M$ on the desktop.
If I wore a Sun badge my perspective may be different.
Posted by Derek on February 28, 2008 at 12:21 PM PST #
Hi Derek,
No, there is no Sun licensing/royalty fee when you write a commercial Java ME application. Google wrote GMail and Google Maps using Java ME without paying any fees to Sun.
Google is trying, however, to break the hold the wireless carriers (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, etc.) have on who gets to distribute Java ME apps on their networks and how (which with some involves fees). So, you might be thinking of the fees and royalties paid to the wireless carriers, not to Sun.
Google may have found a way around those roadblocks for Java ME app developers with the new spectrum up for bid, where it will be open to any apps to run on that network. If they win the bid, it will be a good thing for Java ME app developers. Even, if they don't win the bid, the bid amount has reached a level high enough to kick in the clause that the network must remain open, even if one of the other carriers like AT&T or Verizon wins. But, it remains to be seen how a company other than Google will honor that clause.
So, yes, the barriers to entry for Java ME app developoers on the current wireless networks is a problem. But, it is not solved directly by Android and it is _not_ in any way caused by Sun Microsystems or Java ME technology.
Hinkmond
Posted by Hinkmond Wong on February 28, 2008 at 12:40 PM PST #
Hinkmond.
I appreciate the insight. The reason that I was led to believe Java ME commercial applications require licensing fees was from the Sun Engineers talk on Sun SPOTS. I don't remember the exact quote but it was something like "we created the Sun SPOTS and affordable SDK to foster development of commercial applications which we will make money on from Java ME royalties". I appreciate yo u pointing out google mobile gmail/maps as obvious java applications which I use on my blackberry for free:) Obviously I had not understood the entire spectrum of business implications involved with the carriers. Well i now back away from business topics beyond me to the comfort of Solaris and ruby:)
Thanks. Derek.
Posted by 76.105.181.56 on February 28, 2008 at 08:43 PM PST #
Post writer i wonder what u gonna blog about when Android takes off lol don't like what Google did then go put a sock in it man. Google's influence will make Sun shudder, and yourself
Posted by Vamien McKalin on February 29, 2008 at 09:01 AM PST #
Hi Vamien,
Thank you for your insightful and intelligent comments. :-) Google's number of shipping Android phones (which is zero) does make me shudder--shudder with embarrassment compared with the over 2 billion Java ME phones that have shipped. :-)
You may want to reconsider your medication levels--maybe time to up your lithium. ;-)
Hinkmond
Posted by Hinkmond Wong on February 29, 2008 at 09:10 AM PST #
Hi Derek,
The Sun engineers may have been talking about Java ME fees paid by OEMs that include Java in their devices.
OEMs do have to pay Sun fees for including the Java ME platform on their manufactured products, but Java ME app developers do not have to pay anything for just programming Java ME apps.
Perhaps that's what the engineer was speaking about.
Hinkmond
Posted by Hinkmond Wong on February 29, 2008 at 09:14 AM PST #
i do not care how much phones java me has been shipped in. Android represents the openness of the mobile phone industry, so rather than flaming Google you should rally around the task of mobile industry openness. It seems to me you love to be locked down like a mouse in a cage
Posted by Vamien McKalin on February 29, 2008 at 09:27 AM PST #
Hi Vamien,
You're right. I must admit, openness is good. But, I'm not locked down to any one type of openness. I love wherever Java ME technology is found. It's all good! :-)
Take my latest post:
http://blogs.sun.com/hinkmond/date/20080229
Hinkmond
Posted by Hinkmond Wong on February 29, 2008 at 09:45 AM PST #
i read your next post, i am beginning to like the little debates we have. Dont be surprised if one day i counter you with a blog post of myself lol
Posted by Vamien McKalin on March 03, 2008 at 03:09 PM PST #
Please feel free to. If you've been reading my blog, you'll notice it is about Java ME technology. I do not blog solely about the deficiencies of Android. ;-) Others do. :-)
Hinkmond
Posted by Hinkmond Wong on March 03, 2008 at 03:15 PM PST #