Chet Haase's Blog

Get GetJava

One of the issues for Desktop Java developers is that the Java platform isn't everywhere, meaning that you cannot count on everyone having the latest/greatest release (although a vast majority do have some version of Java). The only solution to this is to make getting Java as easy and seamless as possible for your users.

So without further ado, please let me introduce ...

The GetJava Logo!

I signed up for this one at http://logos.sun.com/spreadtheword. You go through a simple registration process and then you receive the html blurbs to stick on your site, which include the link to the image and to the JRE download site.

But that's not all! There are three sizes available:

But wait, there's more: If you order now, you will also receive another variation that you can use in your applet tag so that the GetJava button shows up when the applet cannot; if your user can't see your applet because they don't have Java, wouldn't you like to give them a convenient way to get it?

I've got mine. Sign up now and get yours at http://logos.sun.com/spreadtheword.

Operators are standing by...

Comments

• I'm interested in the Applet part - Sounds like this would be useful for creating a kind of a "Do I Have Java?" screen/applet, which would result in the downloading of Java if the user didn't have it. Would that be easy to do with what you've described?

  G.

  Posted by: grlea on January 31, 2006 at 01:56 PM

• Hey Chet, does this promotion come with a free t-shirt and a chance to win an Ultra 20? :)

  Posted by: pcox on January 31, 2006 at 10:15 PM

• This is the part that i never understood - i'm helping to spread Java, but first i have to go through the registration process? It doesn't matter how simple that process is, it's an instant turn-off (and this is not the first time that Sun tries to do this in the same way)

  Posted by: kirillcool on February 01, 2006 at 12:10 AM

• I've created a Swing application that gets used in a corporate environment. I use an executable wrapper (Launch4J), and JDIC for excellent desktop integration, and have also used JIDE components. Users are really happy with it, but one or two "power users" keep assuming it's written in Visual Basic (because that's all they've heard of). Furthermore, my application is very fast (as I've taken the effort to understand how to use the Event Dispatching Thread amongst other points), and accessible.

  Basically, it's a great showcase for Java and Swing, but I can't really say that (if I understand all this legal stuff correctly), because I can't mention the word "Java" or show a Java logo without potentially having legal problems. I'd like to add a "powered by Java" or "powered by Java Swing" in my splash screen, could this be made possible too?

  - Chris

  Posted by: chris_e_brown on February 01, 2006 at 01:28 AM

• @Chris: sure thing, see here : http://java.sun.com/logos/

  Posted by: gfx on February 01, 2006 at 01:31 AM

• Merci Romain! On the other hand, on the "logos" page, there's a sentence "This logo is expressly *not* for use on products or marketing materials dedicated to specific products", which is ambiguous. And then it goes an contradicts itself further down the page...

  Any explanation or clarification possible?

  Thanks again,- Chris
  

  Posted by: chris_e_brown on February 01, 2006 at 04:07 AM

• I'm interested in the Applet part - Sounds like this would be useful for creating a kind of a "Do I Have Java?" screen/applet, which would result in the downloading of Java if the user didn't have it. Would that be easy to do with what you've described?

  Yes, it is that simple. There's an example for embedding the button within the applet tags (It is the 4th HTML sniplet). There will be an article on java.sun.com soon about this. Stay tuned.

  This is the part that i never understood - i'm helping to spread Java, but first i have to go through the registration process? It doesn't matter how simple that process is, it's an instant turn-off (and this is not the first time that Sun tries to do this in the same way)

  I agree with you. In fact, it took us 3 months working with legal to simplify the signup process to this point. I think we've taken it as far as we can go.

  The registration info is used for tracking purposes. We're tracking the # of referrals sent by your button. We'd like to recognition contributors. There will be awards, prizes and recognition. Stay tuned.

  Thanks,
  -Ken

  Posted by: kchen on February 01, 2006 at 11:32 AM

• GetJava Power and other java logos are available on logos.sun.com.
  http://logos.sun.com/logosite.jsp?Category=third#java

  Posted by: kchen on February 01, 2006 at 11:44 AM

• 
  Grlea

  There's actually some pretty cool technology available and under development to help out here. You might want to check out the ActiveX component that facilitates JRE availability and version checking, and starts the install if appropriate. It's documented in the javaws release notes for Tiger. As Ken mentioned, there's also an article on this in-process.
  

  Posted by: chet on February 01, 2006 at 04:41 PM

• I strongly agree with what some others have said: the registration process is shooting yourself in the foot. It's good that you talked the legal guys down from more, but what you have now is ludicrous in the age of the citizen empowered internet.

  If something is everywhere it's impossible to track everything about it. Java should (will?) be everywhere, so forget the tracking data and let us spread it everywhere as easily as possible.

  Posted by: dustin on February 03, 2006 at 01:25 AM

• I'm still unclear as to whether I can use this in an application, because of the contradictions I mentioned above. Is clarification of these apparent contradictions possible?

  - Chris

  Posted by: chris_e_brown on February 07, 2006 at 04:13 AM

• 
  Chris,

  Sorry for my tardy reply; someone in branding just saw this thread and sent me some clarifying info, which I'll attempt to pass on here...

  First, I think your confusion over whether you can use the Powered logo in an application comes from the unfortunate similar naming and locality of the "Java Get Powered" logo and the "Java Powered" logos. The logos site states that the "Java Get Powered" logo is specifically not for use with specific products, but is rather for general "I think Java is cool!" promotional purposes. But the logo that you want is the one right below that: "Java Powered"; that logo is specifically for products and their packaging.

  
  Check out the details on the logos website for more information, but here's some text that talks about the requirements for using that logo:

  Developers marketing an application that uses current desktop Java
  software, specifically the J2SE 1.4.x (or higher) compatible Java runtime
  environment, can apply to use the Java Powered logo by joining the Sun
  Partner Advantage program (free) and registering their application.

  Finally, you can find more information about branding at the branding website and questions about any of this can be emailed to javalogo@sun.com.

  Chet.

  
  

  Posted by: chet on March 30, 2006 at 04:23 PM

• Chet,
  I registered with the Sun Partner Advantage program, but can't find the logo anywhere on that site (it might be there, but it's not at all obvious where). As you suggested, I wrote the the "javalogo" e-mail address, but thought I'd mention it here...
  - Chris

  Posted by: chris_e_brown on March 31, 2006 at 12:51 AM

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