“I love Java. A large part of my success as a software developer over the last decade is due to the fact that I was an early Java adopter. Java also allowed me to grow professionally and become a Software IT Architect at IBM,” Huibert Aalbers blogs.
“Over the years I have written many J2EE web apps, some J2SE applications and even one Java2ME program for a Sony-Ericsson handset,” Aalbers writes. “The fact is that I am totally convinced by the many benefits of Java and I do not feel attracted by any other language to write enterprise web applications. But seriously, Java for the iPhone? Why?”
“The iPhone [and iPod touch] is a device that lies somewhere between a computer and a phone. It has an amazing user interface that users expect applications to fully embrace. Java currently does not offer any solutions to work effectively with that aspect of the device. However, Java could still prove useful to help quickly migrate all those games written for other handsets to the iPhone. Is this important for Apple and iPhone customers? I doubt it. With over 100,000 SDKs downloaded in just over four days, it seems that the iPhone will not lack native software (including games),” Aalbers writes.
“I abandoned Java on the desktop for Objective-C years ago because Cocoa allowed me to get the most out of the Macintosh platform. The same applies to the iPhone. Objective-C is similar to Java in many ways. What makes the difference is Cocoa touch which is a great development framework and allows [me] to get to the guts of the iPhone without compromises. That is why I personally don’t care if Sun releases a Java SDK for the iPhone or not. I am quite sure most of those 100,000 developers who have downloaded the SDK agree with me,” Aalbers writes.
More in the full article here.
folks we have a winner…..
I wonder how many of those 100k iPhone SDK downloaders will never develop anything.
” . . . will never develop anything.”
I’m sure many of them will eventually get deeper voices and more hair all over.
I wonder how many of those downloads WILL develop something.
The trouble is the hair on these developers will begin to stop growing on top of their heads and start growing from the nose and ears. Difficult to download.
> I wonder how many of those 100k iPhone SDK downloaders will never develop anything.
I wonder how many just wanted to play with the iPhone simulator.
I’m sorry, but no liquids of any kind should ever be put on your iPhone! Liquids and electricity don’t mix!
For God’s sake, practice safe phoning, people.
Can I write a .NET application for the iPhone?
Wait, what are we talking about here? Sorry, haven’t had my Java yet today.
@ken1w,
The more important question is how many downloaded the iPhone stimulator just to play with it.
It is about choice. Yes Objective C is good and can be used to develop just about anything. But so is Java. If you want to develop for a single platform then it almost does not matter which you choose, but if you want to develop for multiple platforms and just have a small library of platform dependent code, then Java beats any C variant hands down.
By having Java on the iPhone it is extended further into the mainstream as a computing device. That is a good move I say.
For those who say it does not really qualify as a significant or powerful computing device, consider that not so many years ago corporate fortunes were made with computers that had lower screen resolution, slower processors, less RAM, less disk (persistent storage), and so on. It might be pocket sized and purpose designed for phone and PDA use, but it is still a very useful general purpose computer just like we used to use 10 years ago on our desktops.
Gimmee my Java please !!!
Ampar, that comment was below the belt!
I have no problem with Java on an iPhone.
I have a confession….I downloaded the SDK to play with the simulator. One day if I have time I will make some software for the darn thing……Maybe a 2D Finite Element Analysis code?…
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Just my $0.02
“I wonder how many of those 100k iPhone SDK downloaders will never develop anything.”
I agree that a large percentage of those that downloaded the SDK were just curios. But…
…I wonder how many MORE developers will download the SDK since there were 100k in just 4 days and…
…I wonder how many of those that download the SDK will develop MORE than one App.
Believe me, we will be flooded with a plethora (I never get to use that word!) of Applications when the App Store goes online.
To Ray and all who insist on valuing their comments:
Are ALL your opinions only worth 2¢?
To Wandering joe:
“Are ALL your opinions only worth 2¢?”
And is it adjusted for inflation?
PLEASE!!
If you have to add a dollar value to a comment, hit Option-4 and you’ll get this: ¢
Typing out $0.02 is freaking retarded.
¢ – egad!
If only 1% of the people who downloaded the SDK in the first four days develop apps that get distributed through the app store, that’s 1,000 new native apps for the iPhone. Not too shabby for 4 days worth of exposure. With the big names that have thrown their weight behind iPhone thus far, this sounds pretty conservative. If only 1% of those are killer apps, then that’s 10 new killer apps. Now take into account that there’s $100 million up for grabs for enterprising entrepreneurs, and imagine what will happen over a year!
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Fun!!!
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Look at all the fun option options!¡
Would having Java on the iPhone require a runtime engine? If so I imagine that would increase CPU load.
I’m sure a lot of people DLed the iPhone simulator thinking that they could make calls on it!!
“I’m sure a lot of people DLed the iPhone simulator thinking that they could make calls on it!!”
That sounds like the guy (possibly an urban legend) that held a piece of paper flat against his monitor in order to fax it to someone.
And oh yeah, suck on THAT, MAC dorks.
I’ve jailbroke my SDK iPhone emulator so I could run non-Apple SDKs.
Consider that over 750,000 Java developers have downloaded the Android SDK.
“It has been revealed that the number of downloads of the Android Software Development Kit have reached 750,000 since it was released to developers in November of 2007.”
(source: http://www.scenta.co.uk)
O.K. I’ve considered it and it is impressive. And it began four and a half months ago. The iPhone SDK surpassed 100,000 in four days.
What was your point?