Java ME SDK 3.0

Danger Will Robinson! Danger Will Robinson! Techno geek speak and more acronyms than a week at Space Camp ahead.

As you can tell, things have slowed down quite a bit since I got back from Florida. There's a couple reasons for this. Really, there's just not much going on in my world as the job hunt plods forward. I'm also spinning up on some new tech to refocus my career. The new tech is Java ME.

Just like with Orlando, I recently quit talking and started doing. And, just like Orlando, learning Java ME is a big challenge with no idea how it will come out. Regardless, I'm really choosing something interesting verses picking something out of desperation for financial stability. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy 3D modeling and had several good experiences with it, but hind-sight being what it is, I should've gone web or programming instead. My last few weeks at my old job were spent training on ActionScript and Flash. While those specific languages aren't my favorites, the fact that it was programming, was very enjoyable.

That said, Java Micro Edition Software Development Kit 3.0 has been it's own adventure in a very different wrapper. Where I'm used to a typical language like C or C++ with code, some libraries, and a compiler, Java ME, though based on C++, etc, has a more complicated way. Java ME uses the "virtual machine" to be able to run on any computer, beit PC, Mac, or HAL 9000. (Just seeing if you were paying attention.) It also uses a few different "platforms" (in this case, emulated cell phones) to write and test software. Java ME, by the way, is one of several languages being used on mobile devices and may find it's way into smart appliances, TV OS's, etc. Aaaand, there are several different variations for certain jobs, and they all link up with each other. It's like saying you want to learn how to use a hammer, and someone hands you ten of them and they're all slightly different. You know you want the hammer to drive a nail, but sorting out which hammer drives it the best way is the trick. This hammer's blue. That hammer doesn't have a claw on the back. This hammer is a cleverly disguised +2 mace and let's you sprout multiple tentacles at will. You get the idea. This is exactly what I'm going through while learning. Well, minus the tentacle part.

Now, to make things MORE complicated, each platform supports particular connection standards and not every platform supports the same ones. Again, this is goes back to the hammer analogy but with multiple Beta verses VHS standards. Heh, I'm showing my age here. Try HD DVD verses BluRay. (Now the light bulbs come on.) Remember, over the past 12 years I've worked with C, C++, Visual C++, Visual Basic, VBScript, AppleScript, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Java, XML, ActionScript/Flash, HyperCard, and Unix. Even with all those reference points, Java ME is STILL bewildering! I still like the potential in the language and see several directions to go with it. Oh, it's going to royally kick my ass, but I'll learn quite a bit between aneurysms. ;)

The goal here is simple: Take what I've learned from using Blackberry, iPod Touch, and Java ME, and program for mobile devices. Games? Possibly. Social apps? Could be. Artificial Intelligence coupled with voice recognition or other robotic influences? Maybe so.

Now that there are some entrenched standards and the foundation to the mobile arena has been layed, it's a good time to jump in. There's a ton of potential and likely some radical technical shifts in how we do things day to day. Blackberrys, iPhones, and Droids, are just the beginning. To a gadget hound like me, it's worth learning and growing in these new directions, even at the cost of re-training and almost starting from scratch.

One last bit of food for thought here. In the past year and a half, this blog has served not only as a creative/artistic expression, but as a test area and learning tool with some of the above in mind. It's a perfect excuse to learn as well as keep the media skills sharp. Yes friends, there's method to my madness. Whether or not I'll sprout tentacles, remains to be seen. ;)