Simon Morris's Blog: J2ME Archives

No sooner had the words slipped from James Gosling's lips than programmer friends were emailing me with "I told you so" messages. Later clarifications will no doubt do little to rein in the idea that Java ME is on the way out, to be supplanted by JavaFX Mobile. Yet for all the good it will do to protest that the latter is merely a layer atop the former (well, more or less) it must be acknowledged that JavaFX has made mobile Java development seem somewhat sexy (again?)

There used to be an old programming motto, "every program expands until it can send mail." A modern equivalent might be "every user interface gets prettier until it requires 3D graphics hardware." If the iPhone has proven anything, it's that the mobile space has outgrown the functional card-based UI's of MIDP's LCDUI, and ventured into the glossy world of tilt sensors and swishy transition animations. And the public are clearly all too willing to get excited about a product merely on the basis of tilt sensors and swishy transitions — because, let's face it, sans UI gimmicky the iPhone is actually a decidedly under-achieving phone.

If nothing else there is one strong factor qualifying Java ME's continued existence: no matter how small the gap between the silicon in your hand and on your desktop, ultimately hand helds are, erm well, hand held! Take for example Sony's Playstation Portable. Whether you're a fan of the brand or not, one has to admit that for a box of that size the PSP delivers quite a solid CPU and graphics punch. Yet the PSP's XrossMediaBar (XMB) navigation is a far cry from what one would normally expect on a desktop application, combining simplicity and clarity with just a hint of bling.

Clearly, sitting somewhere between the uninspiring card UI's of MIDP and the rich keyboard/mouse driven UI's of the desktop, there exists a middle ground. A place where simplicity is paramount, and intuitive-ness (new word!) is king; where developers lack the luxury of a desktop screen/keyboard/mouse, nor can they expect users to lug around a 400+ page user manual. With room to show only one aspect of an application at a time, UI designers must work harder to provide a sense of how all the components fit together. Powerful yet simple navigation is the key: where am I?, how do I get where I want to go?, and how might I get back again once I'm finished?

This is fertile ground into which a rejuvenated Java ME can grow...

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