Sun shows iPhone-like Java Mobile FX platform

Sun is again trumpeting Java from the top of its lungs -- and we're not talking about speweing coffee here here -- showing off what appeared to be flashy new cellphone software at the JavaOne conference this week. Not big news there, except that the Sun software apparently looked eerily like the Apple iPhone's software; in fact, the platform Sun CEO Jonathan Schwartz showed off is already being dubbed "jPhone" based on the striking resemblance to Apple's goods. The actual product name is Java Mobile FX and it's based on code from SavaJe, a Java-centric mobile OS company Sun just completed acquiring last week. The required specs to run Java Mobile FX aren't too slouchy: 32 megabytes of RAM and a 200 megahertz ARM processor are in the spec, so forget those entry-level Nokia and Sammy handsets. Even Sun Chairman Scott McNealy alluded to the copying of Apple's modus operandi by wearing a black t-shirt (ala black turtleneck territory from Steve Jobs) and saying "we have our own shirtsleeve version of Steve Jobs announcing a phone." Har har.

[Chrisphillers @ May 10th 2007 2:29PM]

The iphone is alreday beaten on spec by the N95. If the iphone was 3g, then it would get my interest, without it, its pretty much useless.

[mike @ Sep 21st 2008 11:57PM]

I have a Iphone clone the back side says its a lcphone888 does anyone know if this has JAVA and if not how can one go about putting java in a mobile phone. do i need java to download and run applications and games?
thanks

[Argot @ May 10th 2007 2:11PM]

I don't know. Looks more like the orignal, you know, that LG phone that Apple copied ...

[HZC @ May 10th 2007 9:59PM]

Doesn't matter who copied who. The LG phone's interface sucks and the phone is ugly - the borders are too thick.

[3rdsun @ May 10th 2007 3:55PM]

LG makes the frigging iphone u dweeb.
Cant it be a pear that looks like an apple

[HZC @ May 10th 2007 9:49PM]

3rdsun, no need to get testy. It doesn't matter which part of the iPhone LG is responsible for, it still doesn't look as good as the iPhone and I've seen the interface in action and it's simply not as innovative as Apple's. And exactly what do you mean when you say LG makes the iPhone? Are you saying that they wrote the modified OS X on which it is based or that all those developers that were taken from the Leopard team to work on the iPhone are actually LG employees? I don't think so! So, why don't you just go buy yourself an LG, uhhh, I mean iPhone, and shove it... YOU dweeb.

[Emceay @ May 10th 2007 4:32PM]

Unless it has multi-touch, nothing is trumped to me. That's really the only reason I'd consider getting it - it's a paradigm shift to user interactions. Though, if this jPhone has some crazy accelerometer action, I might think twice.

[rdrr @ May 10th 2007 5:38PM]

This is misleading... they announced Java FX mobile software which can run on multiple platforms, they demonstrated it on a Nokia internet tablet and another nokia phone. If it is possible to flash the iPhone with Java FX mobile then it will look like your picture that you posted with the story.

[k0a10 @ May 10th 2007 5:51PM]

This is just a demo, they created several demos based on existing full featured sites/interfaces simply to demo that Java Mobile FX is up this kind of task.

eg:

http://download.java.net/general/openjfx/demos/studiomoto.jnlp

http://download.java.net/general/openjfx/demos/tesla.jnlp

(both require Java Web start, which should work if you have a recent Java installed).

Re: multi touch: those who believe new gimmicky features are going to be the be all are usually bound for disappointment.

[rp @ May 10th 2007 7:30PM]

I don't really see how multi-touch technology is a gimmick. Please elaborate.

[k0a10 @ May 10th 2007 9:01PM]

Some devices have touch screens, some don't. Actually, touch screen is quite a significant tech. But some devices get by without it.

Multitouch isn't proven at all. It looks great in demos - so novel! But does it really mean as much as, say, a keyboard, in practice?

What can you really do with multitouch, aside from 'grabbing' something from two points at once? Resizing. Wooppee. It's not like it's more useful than a keyboard, which the iPhone doesn't have.

[Shunnabunich @ May 11th 2007 11:52PM]

Has anyone else noticed the glaring fact that this is Java-based? Enjoy taking 10 minutes to dial a phone number.