Just a minor detail: IMO, while Android is good, the design undershoots rather than challenges the technology -- it's a bit too primitive/limiting for the hardware of 2 years from now.
And I don't think that Oracle is trying to claim that bytecode/JVM is their invention. Rather, they probably have several patents on specific details they hope to cash in on. A good patent engineer can always find a crack in existing patents in which to claim some new territory. On Aug 20, 12:25 am, gosh <[email protected]> wrote: > The Irony of Java's success on the device UI via Android > > There's lots of irony in the successful use of the Java 'language' > within the phenomena that the Android OS has become. E.g. > Java began life at Sun as Oak which was meant to be a language for > small devices up to set-top boxes. It went on at Sun to become a whole > 'platform' of APIs too, that technically challenged other OS's such as > Windows, and whole server stacks of all persuasions - to the point > where Microsoft had to then develop the .Net platform to stay ahead in > the game. (I use that unfolding Java scenario as the ultimate case of > 'scope creep' to my students). > Ultimately Java made its name and market running server-side, away > from user-interfaces. Desktop-wise, Swing was too much too late. > Mobile-wise ME was too limited, too rigid, too early. > The Android user UI classes and widgets (which are nothing like Swing > or AWT - I know, as I tried to convert lots of swing code to them - > and a total rewrite was required), have hit a sweet-spot on mobile > devices, just when processing power, interactivity and screen > presentation can provide a 'user experience', that the modern user now > demands of their daily devices. > Java the language, via Android the GUI OS, has finally fulfilled > Oak's original goal from way-back, of running on small devices and > attracting a huge market there-on, in the process. That's Irony with a > capital 'I'. > > As for the originality of byte-code and virtual machines - the P- > System was doing all that with p-code, back in the days of 8-bit > micros, before some fool at IBM chose MD-DOS over it as their standard > OS for the new 16-bit Intel processor - and an eon before the > invention of 'software patents' themselves. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Android Developers" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers?hl=en
