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Java releases at Oracle are becoming a clockwork operation. As planned, JDK 7u4 is now available, along with JavaFX 2.1, and new versions of Java SE for Embedded. Specifically:
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- For the first time, official support for Mac OS X
- Includes the highly anticipated G1 (“Garbage First”) garbage collector, improving memory management for very large applications
- Next step in converging Oracle JRockit and HotSpot VMs, offering the best features of both technologies
- Numerous performance improvements to the JVM
- OpenJDK continues to host the development of Java SE 7 on Mac OS X and the JDK 8 reference implementation
- Available for Windows and Mac OS X (with Linux support currently as preview release)
- Includes playback of MPEG-4 multimedia containing H.264/AVC video and AAC audio
- New WebView support for JavaScript to Java method calls, which enables JavaScript content to leverage Java for demanding operations
- Support for enhanced font rendering on LCD displays, including sub-pixel rendering
- Additional UI enhancements such as combo box, stacked chart, and application-wide menu bar
- Bundled with the Java 7u4 release
- Oracle has started the OpenJFX project in OpenJDK as part of the plan to open source JavaFX
- Java SE for Embedded is the product line that brings Java SE to a number of embedded platforms and includes many features and performance enhancements targeted to embedded requirements, such as low footprint, power usage, and performance
- Java SE 7u4 Embedded and Java SE 6u32 Embedded 6 releases are now available, following Java SE releases in lockstep
- For more details, see here
For information, see the press release. For more details and a Q&A, check Henrik Stahl’s blog.
To download, go here.
Cheers,
— Terrence
Nokia’s Series 40 phones are powered by Java and have a huge installed based around the world. The S40 platform includes cutting-edge technologies and services that enable developers to build rich and engaging applications in Java.
Nokia has always been putting a lot of effort into developer education and support and I’ve been in touch with Nokia lately on a couple of new and upcoming programs and events you should check out:
- Nokia is a Diamond Sponsor at JavaOne India next week. Nokia will be present with a keynote, two talks, and more. Central focus will be on mobility for enterprise apps as well as monetization strategies for application developers.
- Following up on JavaOne India, Nokia and Oracle will be doing a joint JUG event in Bangalore.
- The Nokia Developer Program has several upcoming webinars for Java developers starting May 2nd. Topics covered are “User-Centric Design of Series 40 Applications” and “Introduction to App Development with Nokia Maps for Series 40 phones”.
- Also on the Nokia Developer Program you’ll find a host of other learning resources for Java developers across a wide range of topics.
- Last but not least, the Nokia Developer Program also features a remote device access service which enables developers to test their applications on live devices over the Internet – for free.
Enjoy!
Cheers,
— Terrence
Update 5/4/12: Change in Venue for the Bangalore JUG event, new events added (Pune JUG, Mumbai and Delhi OTN Dev Days)
Getting ready for India … (and 40 C weather 😉
May 3+4 brings JavaOne to Hyderabad. Check out the tracks, schedule, and keynotes. Download the complete agenda of sessions. JavaOne India is shaping up to be a great event, bringing together the energy of the Indian developer community with key content, speakers, demos, and excitement from JavaOne around the world. Register here.
Also, there will be several local JUG events and Oracle OTN Developer Days right after JavaOne.
Details:
Bangalore JUG meeting, May 5th, 11:30 am
More information
Pune JUG Meet Up, May 5th
More information
Chennai JUG Meet up, May 5th
More information
Mumbai Oracle OTN Developer Day May 7th
More information
Delhi Oracle OTN Developer Days, May 8th
More information
Cheers,
— Terrence
Something strange is happening … Client apps are becoming sexy again!
Wherever we go these days, there is huge interest in JavaFX – developers are getting increasingly excited about the quantum leap that JavaFX 2 provides. Stuff like:
- Super-fast and eye-popping graphics
- Feature-rich, styleable, and extensible UI components
- Full HTML5/JavaScript/CSS integration and interoperability
- High-definition cross-platform media support
- Ability to leverage JavaFX with alternate languages such as Groovy, Clojure, Scala, Fantom, and Visage
- Easy migration from Swing and SWT
- Full integration into the Java runtime and ecosystem
- … and much more
JavaFX 2 is much more than just eye candy – it enables developers to reinvent their client applications and integrate technologies in ways not possible before. Check out this video (recording by JavaOne attendee) – especially the last 2 minutes .
JavaFX 2 is coming in rapid-fire succession: JavaFX 2 was released in October of last year, JavaFX 2.2 is now in Developer Preview for Windows/Mac/Linux, and the JavaFX Scene Builder 1.0 is now also available as a Developer Preview. JavaFX 2 is bundled with JDK 7 and JavaFX will be a standard part of JDK 8 going forward.
For developers, the question is no longer “Is JavaFX real?” but “JavaFX is here to stay – How can we reinvent our client strategy?”
To help you ramp up quickly and catch up with the latest JavaFX 2 developments and information, I’ve collected a bunch of links:
- Your starting point for JavaFX 2 technology is the JavaFX Main page on OTN. On the overview tab you’ll find links to all the latest downloads as well as a series of short videos (5-10 mins each) walking you through the various features and components of JavaFX 2.
- Next, check out the JavaFX Documentation page. Here you’ll find tutorials, the full API docs, technical articles, FAQ, and more. Also, a tutorial video on building your first application with JavaFX using NetBeans 7.1.
- The JavaFX Tools page goes deep into the Scene Builder tool, with documentation and a tutorial video.
- Check out the JavaFX 2 samples on the JavaFX Samples page: Ensemble, a interactive gallery of over 100 sample applications with source code, the Henley Sales Dashboard, a enterprise-class client-server application demo, and a sample of how to embed JavaFX components in Swing applications.
- There are two books available on Java FX 2: JavaFX 2.0: Introduction by Example, by Carl Dea as well as Pro JavaFX 2 Platform, by Jim Weaver, Weiqi Gao, Stephen Chin, Dean Iverson, and Johan Vos.
- The two official JavaFX blogs to bookmark are The JavaFX Blog and FX Experience. Both indispensable for the latest information and insider tips and tricks on JavaFX 2. Two more good blogs are Jim Weaver’s Rich-Client Java blog and Stephen Chin’s Steve on Java blog.
- For questions and discussions on JavaFX 2 amble over to the JavaFX 2 OTN forum.
- Also check out some of the latest episodes of the Java Spotlight Podcast, such as episode 76 (on the Pro Java FX 2 book) and episode 78 (on the JavaFX Scene Builder).
- The developer community has jumped on the JavaFX 2 train with a number of projects. To name a few: e(fx)clipse, DATAFX , scalafx, GroovyFX, JFXFlow, jfxtras, Visage, and more.
- If you want to see some neat-looking custom controls, check on the YouTube channel of Gerrit Grunwald.
- Finally, you can follow the latest JavaFX-related tweets at @javafx4you
As you can see, there is no shortage of information and help to get started and do something sexy with Java!
Cheers,
— Terrence
Just a quick note: I’ll be speaking at the JAX conference in Mainz, Germany, tomorrow:
- “JavaFX 2: Java, RIA, Web, and more”, April 17, 18:00
The talk will be giving an overview of JavaFX 2.0, top features, demos, tools, and the roadmap of what’s in store for the technology in 2012 and beyond.
Also, be sure to check out the other Oracle sessions:
- “Java everywhere – The Vision becomes true, again”, Dennis Leung, April 17, 9:00
- “Die Oracle-Java-Plattformstrategie zeigt klare Konturen”, Wolfgang Weigend, April 18, 17:30
- “Lambdas in Java 8: their Design and Implementation”, Maurizio Cimadamore, April 18, 17:30
- “OpenJDK Build Workshop”, Frederik Öhrström, April 18, 20:45
- “The Future of Java on Multi-Core, Lambdas, Spliterators and Methods“, Frederik Öhrström, April 19, 10:15
For a complete list of all sessions, see here.
Cheers,
— Terrence
The Call for Papers for JavaOne 2012 in San Francisco has been open for three weeks now. Last year’s conference was a resounding success and a turning point for the Java ecosystem. Now that Java is picking up steam again, this year should be better yet.
If you have been procrastinating and not submitted your paper yet, you have a few more hours to do so. The Call for Papers closes TODAY (Monday, April 9) at 11:59 pm PDT.
All the infos are here. As one of the track leads for the Embedded Java Track I am looking forward to your informative, cool, or downright wacky submissions in the vast space that is Java in embedded.
Submit NOW.
Cheers,
— Terrence
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