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by Kane Scarlett

News and New Product Briefs (1/15/98)

news
Jan 15, 199832 mins

Get ready for JavaOne 1998

Sun’s third Java developers conference, JavaOne 1998, is set to go on March 24 through 27, 1998 at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco.

Some of the industry’s leading luminaries will be speaking, including Sun’s own Scott McNealy, JavaSoft’s president Alan Baratz, and Java inventor James Gosling. Other speakers are expected, but none are confirmed now.

There will be seven session tracks, including:

  • 3 Technical tracks (55 sessions delivered by JavaSoft personnel) that will cover the core Java technology
  • 1 ISV track (15 sessions)
  • 1 Business track (15 sessions)
  • 1 Platinum Sponsor and 1 Gold Sponsor track (call Sun for details)

At press time, online registration wasn’t yet available. But you can register now by:

  • Calling 800-668-2741 (U.S.)
  • Calling 650-372-7077 (international)
  • Faxing 650-525-0199 (snag a .PDF registration form on site)

  • Mailing

    JavaOne Conference Registration

    P.O. Box 45295

    San Francisco, CA 94145-0295

If you want to exhibit, contact Michelle Sanfilippo at 650-378-1063 (msanfilippo@zdcf.com).

Together/Java 1.0 for simultaneous design-and-code Java editing

Object International announces Together/Java 1.0, its all-Java, UML (Unified Modeling Language), fully scalable, platform-independent modeler for enterprise-wide software development.

Together/Java 1.0 uses simultaneous design-and-code editing and works with source code so developers don’t have to build batch code (or reverse-engineer batch code). The software comes with physical and logical packages to help developers model code that can be used across large development sites.

And Together/Java really goes for beans — it automatically detects and displays JavaBeans. Whether the developer is looking at design or source, when he/she adds a public getter or setter to a class, the bean symbol pops up with a list of properties and events for that bean.

The parser in the package parses just the packages the developer is currently working on, which adds up to fast, synchronous, design-and-code editing. Other features include:

  • URL hyperlinking of diagrams and other design documents
  • Automatic HTML documentation generation
  • An all-Java implementation
  • Design diagrams (UML’s package, class, sequence, state, and use-case, and Coad’s object model and scenario view)
  • An inspector (that reduces keystrokes and context switches by eliminating the need to step your way through multiple dialog boxes)

Together/Java works with JDK 1.1 and JDK 1.0.2, and supports Windows 95, NT, and Solaris.

  • https://www.oi.com/tjava.htm

Digital Cat HRC for Java job seekers

Digital Cat LLC has started a Java job-seekers switchboard, the Human Resource Center (HRC), to match up Java professionals with jobs worldwide.

The switchboard is logically divided into two sections — on for companies listing jobs and one for individual Java professionals looking for jobs. For individuals, the listing service is free. At the moment, companies pay 00 a month to list their positions (although Digital Cat may run special offers for companies that are looking for lots of Java developers).

The switchboard is available in both the United States and Japan.

Java-optimized PC Prometheus from Indelible Blue

IBM reseller Indelible Blue is offering its customers Prometheus, a PC that’s been optimized for Java development across the Windows 95/NT and OS/2 Warp Server platforms.

Prometheus is pre-loaded with the three operating systems and IBM’s Visual Age for Java development environment. Customers can choose either a Pentium MMX 233MHz (lists at ,949) or Pentium II MMX 266MHz (lists at ,399) processor as the engine. Standard features include:

  • 128MB of RAM
  • Two 4GB hard drives
  • A 4MB Matrox Mystique video card
  • 24x CD-ROM drive with 16-bit sound card
  • A US Robotics 56K modem

Indelible Blue president Buck Bohac noted that Prometheus was designed with Java in mind. “Our customers work in cross-platform environments, and the need to code and test Java applications in each environment is critical to their success. Java has given developers the most promising opportunity so far for the long time dream of true cross-platform development.”

Get some Java-based Wyzdom to manage high-tech assets

DCC Technology Management Group debuts Wyzdom 5.0, a new, Java-enhanced version of its asset-management software.

Wyzdom 5.0 is the software component of DCC’s hardware/software asset-management service. It consolidates corporate-wide IT resource information, including physical, financial, and contractual data, into a single database for reporting and analysis.

The software’s new Java front end means that new software updates don’t have to be installed on individual desktops. Users can request new hardware over the Web; the software and system creates an interactive file that tracks the order.

Wyzdom 5.0 is integrated with automated asset-tracking tools from Tally Systems and Tangram Enterprise Solutions. It also comes with a consulting service called TCO Wizard. At installation, this feature establishes the current cost of owning technology and then benchmarks it. After several passes, users can start to recalculate the changes in TCO to determine return on investments.

Scheduled to ship in March 1998, the software and service for most businesses comes in at an average of 2,500. This price includes strategic asset-management analysis for 2,500 assets and concurrent access to the software for five users.

Natural Intelligence creates Java consulting unit

Natural Intelligence announces the creation of a Corporate Java Consulting Division. The new unit will focus on providing corporate clients with Java database connectivity in a smooth, almost transparent migration, so the company’s existing data architecture doesn’t have to be changed.

Director of Consulting Services John Magee said, “The consultants in this new division [Corporate Java Division] have designed, participated, and completed an in-depth exploration of the feasibility of Java for corporate solutions. Their conclusions clearly indicated that they will be very busy creating top-notch corporate Java solutions for years to come.” He added that the company is dedicated to Java technology and that they intend to spend a lot of time “getting to know the ins and outs so our clients don’t need to. Our clients can rely on us to implement lasting, stable solutions, and to support and expand them as their businesses evolve.”

MacOS 8.1 improves Java performance

In early January 1998, Apple introduced MacOS 8.1, and one of its new features is improved Java compatibility and performance.

The performance boost for MacOS 8.1 comes from the inclusion of Apple’s newest Java VM, the MRJ 2.0. MRJ 2.0 implements Sun’s JDK 1.1.3. Users can run Java applets or applications using MRJ 2.0 in a browser, or without a browser using Apple’s “Applet Runner” software. Also, MRJ 2.0 passes the 100%t Pure Java tests supplied by Sun.

And even though Internet Explorer 3.01 is set as the default browser, 8.1 also comes with Navigator 4.04.

MacOS 8.1 will be available in February and free to MacOS 8.0 customers.

  • https://www.apple.com/macos/8.1/

Research shows resellers hot on NCs, Java, and object DBs

The good news is that in-house research from VARBusiness magazine shows that NCs, Java, and object DBs are hot hot hot with resellers: 40 percent of the VARs surveyed said they plan to sell or resell (within six months) Java technology, 47 percent gave the thumbs up for for object relational databases, and 48 percent will make a move with network computers.

The news is not as good for the following technologies:

  • Gigabit Ethernet, 28 percent
  • Integrated/unified messaging, 28 percent
  • Data warehousing and data mining, 27 percent
  • Smart cards, 24 percent
  • Speech recognition, 24 percent
  • Clustered systems, 20 percent
  • Intelligent agents, 19 percent
  • OLAP, 19 percent
  • 3D data visualization, 17 percent
  • ADSL/DSL, 11 percent

Some reasons respondents cited for shying away from certain technologies: Difficulties in getting adequate vendor support, gaining market acceptance, showing value to the customer, and the lack of qualified personnel.

Nortel embeds VeriSmart Java card software into phones

Northern Telecom has decided to embed VeriFone’s VeriSmart Java smart card software into its PowerTouch screen phones. And it may also be embedding the software into some of its Millennium pay phones.

With the VeriSmart software, phone users will be able to use their smart cards to do online banking and make electronic purchases. Consumer trials are expected to start soon, and Nortel plans to ship products in May 1998 by the latest.

VeriFone director of business development John Menzel said, “This is [just] the tip of the iceberg. The telephone is the ubiquitous access device out there; everyone can use a telephone.”

  • Original article: https://www.zdnet.com/intweek/print/971222/268462.html
  • VeriFone press release: https://www.verifone.com/solutions/consumer/html/nortel_success.html

Micrografx snaps up WebKnight Java authoring tool company

Micrografx has purchased WebKnight Inc., the maker of the Instant Coffee Java authoring software, with plans to incorporate the authoring technology into its products.

Instant Coffee takes an animation and turns it into a Java applet, which can then be downloaded in about one-tenth the time of similar animations.

The Instant Coffee Java authoring system will be integrated into all of Micrografx’s graphic software to provide cross-platform capabilities, according to Micrografx development VP Bob Gutekunst, so that Micrografx-generated drawings, animation, and images are no longer tied to the Wintel platform. He said, “This is an opportunity to take many of the outcomes of those products and deliver them in a cross-platform manner.”

Expect the Instant Coffee-enhanced Micrografx products to surface in Fall 1998. The company has yet to decide whether to continue to offer the 5 Instant Coffee as a standalone.

Intel’s delivers product research with Java tool

Intel has launched Product Selector, a Java-based extranet tool, that consolidates several of its large product-information databases as a resource for design engineers.

Product Selector allows design engineers to quickly search a combined database of more than 1,600 Intel products and specifications to use when they’re designing products to run with, on, or under Intel products. Besides detailed technical specifications on Intel’s embedded processors, controllers, flash-memory devices and motherboards, the Product Selector links designers to authorized distributors to discover current prices and availability of Intel products. And the company plans to add more categories.

Intel Internet Product Marketing manager Clif Purkiser said, “We’ve taken care of the process of thumbing through the [print version] databook by speeding it up with this tool manager. The next step is the purchasing part, that’s the piece of the puzzle we’re going to solve next.”

Users can search for products by entering the type of part, a part number, or a simple keyword search.

Purkiser noted, “One of the areas we’re going to improve on is to better integrate with the distributors. We want to make it completely seamless, so when a designer clicks on a part number on the Intel site, and then gets transferred to the ‘disti,’ there will be some intelligence there. We haven’t implemented that yet, but we’re working with our major distributors — about a dozen of them.” He added that seamless integration with a variety of distributors was one of the reasons they chose to develop the Selector in Java.

Java/Microsoft war moves to new arena: Cable TV

Microsoft has finalized an agreement to supply the operating system (Windows CE) for some of cable operator Tele-Communications Inc.’s (TCI) new digital set-top cable boxes. This deal extends Microsoft’s reach into homes that don’t have PCs, but do have cable TV (about 35 million). But, according to sources close to the negotiations, there’s a snag — at least for Microsoft.

TCI has just inked an agreement with Sun Microsystems to integrate PersonalJava (P-Java) into the boxes as a standard software-application environment. TCI.Net president and CEO Bruce Ravenel said, “PersonalJava gives us the ability to have an applications environment for broadband networks without concerns for which processor or operating systems we use in the set-top devices.” He also added that Java afforded TCI the ability to accelerate the new boxes’ time-to-market because applications could be quickly written. (Ravenel is also a senior VP of TCI.)

This strategy follows the cable industry’s goal of using different vendors for the various technology layers in the new generation of set-top boxes, thus keeping any one technology vendor from controlling the emerging market. That does, however, frustrate a perceived Microsoft goal of being the market leader for this sector.

Also, according to sources, Microsoft had to abandon its plan to be paid for each transaction (made by Windows CE) for a royalty based on installed units. The deal calls for Windows CE to be installed in only 5 million of the 12 to 15 million boxes. And Bill Gates commented that the CE for the units will carry some of its WebTV subsidiary’s functions.

TCI has already entered an agreement to purchase 15 million advanced set-top boxes from NextLevel Systems Inc., but it hasn’t chosen suppliers for the processors and graphics. The boxes are planned to hit the market in 1999.

For additional information, check the following sources:

PersonalJava 1.0 released to licensees

Sun announced that the PersonalJava platform 1.0 reference implementation has been released to its licensees, so real products running P-Java should be popping up soon. And Sun also released a beta of Personal WebAccess, a compact browser designed to run on P-Java.

PersonalJava was designed for network-connectable consumer devices for communications, entertainment, and mobile computing, including set-top boxes, mobile hand-helds, and Internet phones. The P-Java platform includes the Java Application Environment (for creating device applications) and the PersonalJava Style Guide (a guide for developers to use to build consumer applications). More than 12 companies have licensed the PersonalJava 1.0 to develop consumer devices.

Spyglass has signed an agreement with Sun to participate in the development of Personal WebAccess, Sun’s small (750K) all-Java browser component for PersonalJava.

Personal WebAccess is a small-memory browser component, based on HotJava technology and built for devices with minimum memory resources. It supports HTML 3.2, HTTP 1.1, tables, frames, cookies, and the AU, GIF, and JPEG formats. According to Sun officials, Personal WebAccess has exceeded the original HotJava implementations by being even smaller.

Use of high-tech temp workers growing

TAC Worldwide, a provider of temporary technical, IT, and engineering employees, reports that a recently conducted survey pointed out that computer and auto manufacturers employed 20 percent more high-tech temp workers in 1997 than in 1996. And corporate respondents anticipate that percentage will grow in ’98.

“A growing number of companies rely upon high-tech contract labor as a means of managing head count, sourcing the highest-caliber talent, and containing costs within their organizations,” said TAC president Michael J. Iandoli.

U.S. Labor Dept. economist Sharon Cohany and the National Association of Temporary and Staffing Services reported that in November 1997, temporary workers in the U.S. totaled 2.6 million. And of those, 14 percent (364,000) were classified as technical workers — programmers, systems analysts, and software engineers.

Tandem Computer spokesperson Lori Beninger commented, “Contract labor enables us to produce quality products and adjust as markets change.” MCI senior manager Ken Kerrigan added, “Contract labor is critical in start-up areas, such as constructing our local market network.” High-tech contract labor allows software and hardware companies to beef up for product launches, make rapid changes in a volatile market, etc., without having to damage the bottom line by taking on new full-time employees.

Projectavision Digital Home Theater uses HotJava Views

At the 1998 Consumer Electronics Show, Projectavision decided to use Sun’s HotJava Views environment to demonstrate its Digital Home Theater (DHT) system.

Projectavision CEO Martin Holleran said, “We believe this exciting application for the HotJava Views environment can enhance the overall Digital Home Theater experience for consumers. The challenge has always been to make surfing the Web and playing online games a shared family experience in the living room or den. Our goal is to deliver a complete visual and audio entertainment experience whether the consumer is engaged in a favorite Web site or watching the Super Bowl.”

The DHT units are running with Sun’s Java Engine 1 board-level NC (an NC that, according to Sun, has no moving parts, makes no noise, and comes with color graphics, stereo, and a network interface). It is powered by the microSPARC 11ep processor on the hardware side and the low-memory-required JavaOS, HotJava Views user environment, and the HotJava Web browser on the software side.

The DHT unit is a digital projection system comprised of large front- or rear-screen VGA or SVGA displays, a 60-inch rear-projection TV, and a front projector that can illuminate up to a 240-inch, or 20-foot, (diagonal) section of wall or screen. It uses Texas Instruments dual-processor Digital Light Processing technology for a fully bright, non-flicker, non-distorted image.

The DHT retails for 0,000 (without the SOLO-1 front-projection unit, which is available separately for ,000).

Microware poised to sell PersonalJava with its OS

Microware Systems has decided to sell PersonalJava (P-Java) along with its OS-9 real-time operating system. The company has already integrated Java into its OS.

Microware embedded Java into the OS-9 RTOS for digital set-top boxes for NEC. And the company is working with Ericsson and Nortel to create Java-enabled wireless communication devices, planned for later in 1998. (For more information, see Nortel embeds VeriSmart Java card software into phones.)

Microware intends to sell PersonalJava to existing and potential customers for use when designing high-volume consumer electronics, such as digital TVs, set-top boxes, and mobile and smart phones. Microware COO Denis Connaghan said, “Our customers are readily embracing the combined technologies of Java and OS-9 because [of the] inherent similarities of the two. By now offering PersonalJava for the consumer market, Microware will advance our reputation as the leader in embedded Java.”

Visa supports development of Sun’s Java smart card architecture

Visa and Sun have reached an agreement in which Visa will contribute to the development and promotion of a Java-based smart card microprocessor core based on the Java Card standard.

To facilitate faster deployment of smart card technology, the companies plan to design the core specifically to increase performance and security capabilities while lowering the overall chip cost. Visa company officials say they agreed on the Java Card API because it has been adopted as a de facto standard by more than 90 percent of smart card manufacturers worldwide. They also cited Java’s interoperability, the ability to reuse code, and the capability to leverage existing resources, such as existing cards and card readers.

According to Visa International senior VP Philip Yen, “The Java Card architecture will provide the cross-platform compatibility and the multi-function capability needed to realize our vision for smart cards Ö lower chip costs and enhanced security. This offers our member financial institutions new opportunities to provide differentiated services, improve time to market, and enhance security.” Yen added that Visa intends to introduce Java smart cards in mid-1998.

Sun product marketing director Dhaval Ajmera noted, “A microprocessor designed specifically to support Java Card adds to the already significant momentum of Java Card in the marketplace. This is a great way for us to leverage our experience in Java microprocessors to develop an optimized processor core that meets the cost and increased functionality requirements of smart card vendors.” He added that this joint project adds to Sun’s earlier efforts to develop a smart card microprocessor with Siemens. Sun plans to license this result of this partnership — the Java processor core.

Xlator debuts PremierJ interactive electronic reference for Java

Xlator introduces PremierJ 2.0, an interactive electronic reference book that teaches Java. With PremierJ, would-be developers can learn to:

  • Create components then add them to containers
  • Generate events and add listeners to components
  • Arrange components using the Layout Manager
  • Use multiple threads to control animation
  • Use the Reflection classes

PremierJ uses multiple techniques to quickly teach users about Java, including:

  • Visual Learning (animation and visual representation of Java classes)
  • Demonstrative (click on dynamic APIs to see what they do)
  • Sample Code (actual source code for each API)
  • Documentation (a quick jump to Sun documentation from within the instructions)
  • Notes (a guidebook of information, tips, and when to use a Java class)
  • Feedback (for every API in a Java class)

“Current methods of learning Java attempt to explain the programming without demonstrating Java’s dynamic capabilities,” said Xlator project manager Ray Stevens. “With PremierJ’s innovative technology, learning Java is as easy as click, watch, and learn.”

PremierJ 2.0 costs 9 for each license (1 to 9 seats; 9 each for 10 or more).

The current “bi-polar” Java chip strategies

Current corporate strategies for including and implementing Java-specific microprocessors run the gamut from “Not gonna do it” to “All Java, all the time.” But most are clustering around the middle ground — leaving options open by:

  • Optimizing other-language chips for Java
  • Optimizing Java chips for other languages

Neoware and IBM provide examples of both strategies.

Mike Kantrowitz, executive VP of NC maker Neoware Systems, says, “Java is one language, and a very important one that we are committed to, but Java is just one element of what people want in a computer. Our computers run the Navigator browser. That is a C language program. We [on our NCs] also allow people to connect to any Windows application. We don’t think customers are going to throw out their Windows applications and mainframe applications.” Consequently, Neoware is not adopting (and adapting) Java chips (from such manufacturer’s as Samsung and LG Semicon) for its NeoStation NC. The company has instead opted to have Motorola optimize a version of the PowerPC processor by hard-coding the Java VM onto it.

Java (and network computer) supporter IBM has different plans. Looking at Java as the best way yet to make its disparate but highly used technologies (PC-based, object-oriented apps, main/miniframes, for example) a smoothly functioning single system, IBM plans to integrate specially designed Java chips into its PC line in 1998. The Java chips will have room on them for other languages, according to IBM development VP Phil Hester.

And software manufacturers seem to be taking the same tack: For example, Cloudscape’s database management engine that includes an integrated Java VM (currently in a restricted-test beta version). The engine works with such distributed applications as sales tools, smart catalogs, e-mail, and PIMs. And it is designed to operate on traditional x86 systems as well as NC architectures. According to Cloudscape marketing VP Malcolm Colton, this strategy allows for a product that can run on older (or more traditional) hardware architectures, but doesn’t obsolete the hardware if Java does explode into a universal operating system.

  • Original article: https://www.wired.com/news/news/technology/story/9404.html

What’s Java doing to (for) Sun?

So far, Java accounts for 30 million of Sun’s .6 billion in revenue (62 million in earnings, year ending June 30, 1997). And not one cent of that may be profit.

Despite that, Java use seems to be growing at a rate (and in diversified directions) that pleases Sun — more developers crafting more apps using more devkits; a higher level of Java-system deployments; C++-level performance enhancements; Java-specific microprocessors; and smart cards, operating systems, handheld devices, and cable boxes.

Developers Sun officials claim more than 700,000 developers are now developing applications in Java. (And Microsoft officials will concede to 300,000 of that number.)

Deployment Several large entities have deployed Java/network computer systems, based on Java’s capabilities and the lower costs of ownership and maintenance inherent in network computing systems. Those companies include (but are not limited to):

  • Scottish Telecom
  • CSX
  • Nomura Securities
  • The University of North London
  • The Sabre airline reservation system
  • DialAmerica Marketing
  • The Ontario College Application Service
  • Los Alamos National Laboratory
  • New South Wales Roads and Traffic Authority
  • Arch Communications Group (a nationwide paging service)
  • Banco do Brasil
  • Federal Express (still planning, but on hold for now)
  • The U.S. Postal Service

Java chips

Fujitsu Microelectronics plans to license the picoJava I microprocessor core from Sun to incorporate into its own picoJava designs. And other major semiconductor manufacturers (Lucky Goldstar, NEC, LG Semicon, Samsung, and Siemens) are making Java chips.

Performance fixes

Although performance complaints have been justified, many of them came when the Java virtual machines were still simple Java bytecode interpreters. With the new Just-In-Time compilers (JIT), speeds are now comparable to C++. (For more information on C++ vs Java on performance, see Java performance vs. C++: We found it Just In Time.)

Smart cards

Visa and Sun are designing a Java smart card. And smart card giants Schlumberger, Gemplus, and VeriFone all have Java cards in the works or on the market.

Operating systems and handheld computers

Apple dropped Next Software’s Objective-C (replaced with Java) for a development environment in the Rhapsody OS (MacOS 8). Lucent added PersonalJava to its Inferno and Microware added it to OS-9 — two small-footprint, small-device OSes. Several companies are planning to market Java-based handheld devices in 1998.

Cable television.

And now, Java is poised to enter the millions of U.S. homes that don’t have personal computers, but do have cable television. Sun just inked a deal with TCI to provide a Java layer for the next generation of interactive cable boxes. (see Java/Microsoft war moves to new arena: Cable TV for more information.)

But, says John Jones Jr., an equity analyst with Salomon Smith Barney, “Java’s greatest success is in giving Sun the aura of a company that has got something no one else has got” He also predicted that “By the end of 1998, you’ll see a new revenue stream for Java microprocessors as well as software.”

Sun is debuting the Java Application Command Language (JACL), a scripting language designed as a cross-platform interface for linking JavaBeans components, at the JavaOne conference in March.

JACL (pronounced “jackel”) is based on the high-level Tool Command Language (TCL), a scripting language like Perl, Rexx, and Visual Basic. These other system-level languages are all designed to connect and arrange components.

The first iteration of this free (for now) product will be a JACL bean for JavaStudio that automatically writes TCL code to link JavaStudio beans, according to Sun Labs JACL product manager Ray Johnson. Sun Labs will also launch:

  • JACL 1.0, a Java version of TCL
  • TCL Blend 1.0, a product that enables a TCL VM to load and manipulate Java or lets a Java VM load and manipulate TCL code
  • The Java Package, a set of TCL commands that enable the creation of TCL events or JavaBeans
  • The TCL extension APIs for Java

A Microsoft official acknowledges that Microsoft discussed writing a TCL version of its own scripting engine with Sun Labs.

  • Sun releases scripting technology for Java (JavaWorld December 1997)

Macintosh developers increasingly working in Java

According to former Apple software development exec Heidi Roizen, Macintosh-based software developers are doing more of their developing in Java so they’re not tied to a single platform, and don’t have to worry about cross-platform rewrites.

Dori Smith and Tom Negrino, programmers and authors of JavaScript for the World Wide Web, are just two who are working smarter by using Java’s cross-platform capabilities. Smith agrees with Roizen: “Especially from my perspective, it’s a very valid statement. When I program in Java or JavaScript, the platform doesn’t matter.” And Negrino cautions that Microsoft’s attempted co-opting of Java would reduce Java’s value by making it just another Windows app-development environment.

Both caution though to remember that Java is just a language, still in its infancy. Smith said, “Java was hyped as The Second Coming. People are finally understanding it’s just a computer language.”

PaceWorks ObjectDancer 1.5 supports vector animations as Java files

PaceWorks announces ObjectDancer 1.5, the newest version of its Web type/graphics animation, video/sound software.

Among other enhancements, this version delivers extensive support for vector-based animations exported as Java and QuickTime 3.0 files. Vector-based animations are important to Web content because they can be scaled, making for smaller file sizes for faster transfers. The support comes from PaceWork’s Vectorium technology.

According to the company, Vectorium allows users to create animations that are up to 10 times smaller than bitmap versions. And this version includes a Java-based Vectorium playback engine, so no client plug-ins are necessary. The animations generated a streamable, so only a portion of this animation needs to be downloaded before it can start playing.

And animations can be exported into Java — all the files placed in a self-contained folder — with a single mouse click on the “export to Java” command. ObjectDancer also stores objects and their animation descriptions as separate library items, so existing actions can be attached to new objects, and vice versa.

Product design VP Philippe Cailloux said, “The Java features in ObjectDancer 1.5 have been redesigned from the ground up. The animations produced support all animation attributes, including position, rotation, skew, scale, transparency, color, and real-time anti-aliasing. Also, the Java classes developed by PaceWorks are very small and only need to be downloaded once, after which, they’re cached by the browser.”

ObjectDancer 1.5 requires a PowerMac system (System 7.5, QT 3.0, 9MB RAM). It will be free (and downloadable) for registered users of version 1.0 or 1.1 sometime in February 1998. Cost to new users is 00.

StarNine WebSTAR server integrates Java servlet API support

StarNine Technologies is bundling Live Software’s JRun 2.0 into release 3.0 of its WebSTAR Web server.

JRun will give the server software support for the Java Servlet API. (Java servlets are platform-independent, server-side programs written with the Java Servlet API. Servlets can replace CGI apps written in Perl or C++.)

WebSTAR product manager Eric Zelenka said, “Java servlets are a great way to add new features to WebSTAR sites. With JRun and WebSTAR, our users can use off-the-shelf Java servlets or quickly develop their own.” And Live Software president and CEO Paul Colton added, “StarNine’s inclusion of JRun gives Mac webmasters a powerful solution for adding Java to their sites.”

A beta version of WebSTAR 3.0 with JRun 2.0, is available for free download.

McNealy’s CES keynote

Sun Microsystems chairman and CEO Scott McNealy’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) address described a future full of the promise of Java computing. Highlights from the talk:

  • A demonstration (in skit form) of new and existing Java-based products.
  • An emphasis on Java’s fit for a range of consumer devices.
  • A virtual dismissal of Windows CE as being too top-heavy and complex for mass-market devices.
  • Comments on Sun’s newest ventures: The Visa smart card agreement and the TCI cable box agreement. (See Visa supports development of Sun’s Java smart card architecture and Java/Microsoft war moves to new arena: Cable TV, respectively.)
  • A discussion on how the consumer electronics and the high-tech industries were merging, and PersonalJava was Sun’s cover charge into consumer devices.
  • Java products, including:
    • A Nokia 9000 Web phone
    • An OpenTV set-top box
    • Audible, an online database that allows users to find and buy products
    • A Java-powered cash register
    • A video of the Java Networked Car
  • Original article: /cgi-bin/displayStory.pl?980112.emcnealy.htm

Finjan SurfinSuite: Designed for total enterprise and mobile code security

Finjan introduced the SurfinSuite Java/ActiveX security system, software that links desktop and gateway mobile code security into a single security package for the entire corporation, at the recent RSA Data Security Conference.

SurfinSuite incorporates the gateway-based SurfinGate software with the enterprise-level SurfinShield Corporate software to create a single integrated, scalable mobile code security system, designed to filter out bad Java, ActiveX, JavaScript, Visual Basic Script, cookies, and plug-ins.

The suite includes a number of new features:

  • It combines two different types of Finjan mobile code security into a central offering.
  • It offers mobile code content inspection and smart filtering at the gateway, as well as runtime monitoring at the desktop level.
  • It enforces an easily modified corporate-specified security policy, including policy options for smart filtering of plug-ins and cookies protection.
  • It ensures that mobile users run the SurfinShield Corporate component whenever connected to the network.
  • It combines bad code attack information from all entry points (desktop, gateway, for example) into a centralized database, as well as centrally logging security data for audit trails.

No detailed information on the suite was available on the Finjan site at press time.

  • https://www.finjan.com/products.html

Sun licenses Headspace Beatnik to be the sound of Java

Sun has licensed Headspace’s Beatnik Internet audio technologies to be the official sound of Java.

Beatnik doesn’t send rigid sound files like other streaming audio methods (many Internet audio technologies do) — it plays arrays of small packets of audio via a real-time software synthesizer. The sound packets can be located anywhere on the Net and then reconstituted on the client as the user browses, delivering continuously flowing, high-fidelity music that responds to user input.

And to protect composers and publishers, Beatnik files include 40-bit encrypted copyright information.

Once Java 1.2 is released (and Java-related software becomes compliant with it, such as Netscape Communicator), Java-enabled desktop will support Beatnik files.

  • https://www.headspace.com/beatnik/index.html

ATI and NSI Com build a real-time, embedded Java VM

Accelerated Technology Inc. (ATI) and NSI Com have paired to create Nucleus JVi, an EmbeddedJava-based embedded Java virtual machine.

Nucleus JVi is an EmbeddedJava (E-Java) VM designed by incorporating NSI Com’s Encapsulation technology (which allows Java application threads to execute as a single task) into ATI’s Nucleus PLUS real-time embedded-device operating system (which includes JSCP, the Java Software Co-Processor). This combo allows Nucleus PLUS-based embedded devices to run standard Java apps while also running non-Java ones, transparently.

JSCP is a group of ATI products designed to optimize Sun’s Java for embedded environments and to facilitate a smooth coexistence (and non-conflicting concurrent use) between Java and non-Java applications, using NSI Com’s Encapsulation.

ATI president Neil Henderson said, “NSI Com has placed a great deal of emphasis on ensuring that the Java virtual machine is seamlessly integrated with the Nucleus PLUS kernel and Nucleus NET TCP/IP stack. Their approach of including the entire JVM in one task is innovative and permits the preservation of a real-time system.”

Java licensees pay no royalties to include Nucleus JVi in an end-user product once an license for the individual product line is purchased (starting at 0,000). ATI builds source code and non-royalty-based Real-Time Operating System products. NSI Com designs Java implementations in the embedded-device market.

IBM is creating a Java-based prototype for the Eddie Bauer clothier to incorporate its three commerce channels — the more than 500 U.S./Canadian retail stores, the catalog, and the Internet-based interactive media — into one system.

The goal of the prototype is give Eddie Bauer customers multiple points of entry to shop and receive their purchases, delivering consistent customer contact no matter which avenue in they take. The prototype will deliver product information and images, and customer profiles.

To prototype is built using the VisualAge for Java IDE on an RS/6000 server. The company chose DB2 Universal Database for data management and the IBM MQSeries software that will allow data exchange across more than 25 different platforms.

IBM Java Software GM Patricia Sueltz said, “Eddie Bauer’s integrated system project provides an excellent example of how IBM can help to integrate separate systems to build a flexible application using Java.”

Insignia Solutions delivers embedded VM for Java

In late 1998, Insignia Solutions plans to deliver the Embedded virtual machine (EVM), a feature-rich, tool-supported, RTOS VM designed for the rapidly growing Java embedded systems market.

The EVM will also be designed to offer a migration path compatible with legacy systems.

Insignia president and CEO Richard Noling said, “We have capitalized on the technology we have developed over the past few years to create a leading-edge embedded virtual machine that is uniquely positioned to meet the needs of Java-based embedded systems developers.”

  • https://www.insignia.com/Corporate/Releases/NTRIGUE/Java_980112.html

Sun offers early-access release of newest Java Cryptography Extension

Sun is offering and early-access version of its latest Java Cryptography Extension software, JCE 1.2. JCE is a standard encryption extension to the JDK.

JCE 1.2 is a cryptography toolkit that developers can use to create a standard set of advanced Java-based encryption APIs. JCE 1.2’s ability to ensure security for data transmitted outside of an enterprise network enhances the newest JDK’s security feature — permission-based access control of applets and applications.

The algorithm-neutral JCE package includes:

  • Standard encryption tools, such as symmetric cipher (using DES and triple-DES) and key agreement technology (through Diffie-Hellman)
  • Secure Java streaming, which allows data transfer across platforms as well as across protocols (http, network I/O, file I/O, etc.)
  • Object-encryption capabilities

JCE is available for free public download in the U.S. and Canada. Currently, the technology is not allowed for export outside of these countries.

DeNova J’Express installs and distributes x-platform Java apps

DeNova introduces J’Express, a pure Java installer and distributor that allows developers to build cross platform Java installations that can be installed over the Web by a single button click.

The highly configurable (by Java or other languages) J’Express also automatically selects the exact classes the Java app or applet needs, builds the zip files and directory trees, bundles everything together, and then distributes the app. And being Java, customers just download and automatically install it — no plug-ins needed.

Developers can use Java to add included or build custom fully integrated WizardPanels. WizardPanels let you call native code, run other programs, whatever you need to do during the installation — without a special scripting language.

And J’Express allows developers to automatically update customers. They can also add a cross-platform menu item so if a customer installs your Java application on a Unix machine, J’Express automatically creates a launch script to start the app. It also adds a Windows shortcut if the customer ports your app to a Windows 95 or NT machine.

J’Express costs 99 (with six months free support). Customers can also sign up for various support options. Before January 23, 1998, customers get 50 percent off the price. A 30-day free trial is offered.

  • FAQ: https://www.denova.com/java.html
  • Trial copy: https://www.denova.com/download.html
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