New offerings percolate at JavaOne conference

Sun Microsystems Inc. previewed a simplified way to write Java applications for mobile phones, DVD players and Internet browsers at the JavaOne conference in San Francisco.
The developer unveiled JavaFX Script, a “radically simple” scripting language designed to expand the company’s Java technology onto more devices and platforms. Sun plans to make the offering available under an open-source license and has released an “early alpha version” of the language on its Web site.
“Consumer demand for content on any and every device is putting content convergence on a fast track,” said Sun CTO Bob Brewin. “The expanding universe of Java-based devices creates a unique opportunity to make the three-screen vision of unified content across computer, TV and mobile devices a reality.”
Nokia Corp. had news from the conference as well, showcasing a new edition of its Series 40 platform for developers. Series 40 5th Edition incorporates Java Micro Edition and is designed to allow developers to deliver streaming video, image rendering and mobile 3-D graphics on mass-market phones.
“This new platform for high-volume Nokia devices will leverage the latest Java-based functionality to provide a richer and more productive mobile experience to consumers and business users around the world,” said Lee Epting, vice president of Forum Nokia.