Jeremy Wakefield

For Java technology to fulfill its promise, it should be possible to test a Java application on just one device and, if it works properly, assume that it will run well on any other. J2ME, in its most familiar guise of MIDP, comes closer to this ideal than either the Standard or Enterprise edition because there's only one version of the specification. Although there are different implementations, as far as the Java application is concerned it isn't able to tell which platform it's running on. There is a fly in the ointment, however. While MIDP offers a highly consistent runtime environment and so consistency of functionality, user interfaces vary wildly. Meanwhile, on Planet Earth... Real-world marketing issues mean that manufacturers produce phones in a range of shapes and sizes, with capabilities to suit every pocket. Can developers be blamed for wanting to take fu... (more)