New Nokia Phones - with Java

scrm writes: "Nokia just released a slew of new phones at CEBIT. Among them are two phones - a full-color phone and a cheap n' cheerful model - both of whose software can be upgraded with Java applications." And Haggis writes "Nokia are to use the Opera browser in the latest incarnation of their everything-plus-the-kitchen-sink mobile phone, the 9210i. Oh, and it will run Java applets too."

Already there ...

[dago]

It makes (at least) 6 months since SIM cards with java have been shipped to customer (in Europe).

So, it is already there in many phones and peoples already made some applets for them

• sun doc [sun.com]
• SIMagine contest [slb.com]

Re:multiplayer on PDA

[dzym]

Not too much longer. Games such as Doom and Quake that have had their source code released have already been ported to various PDA platforms, and I wouldn't think it's much more of a stretch to operate a wireless tcp/ip dedicated server for these things...

Applets?

[rbeattie]

Let's use 6 year old terminology shall we?

The Nokia 7210 and 3410 will both most likely be using Java 2 Micro Edition (J2ME) which is a subset of Java that runs on low power devices. They'll be able to run "midlets" which are like applets in the sense that they run in a sandbox, but don't derive from the Applet class and are made to run in low memory and be connected via wireless connections. It'll be good for small connected apps like stock quotes, email, and games. But with no support for multimedia now (sound) don't expect these games to be anything amazing.

The Nokia 9210i runs on Symbian which is a full-fledged 32 bit OS derived from the EPOC platform. The Java integration in Symbian is based on Personal Java, but the Symbian guys have integrated Java deeply in the OS, which means you can access all the same APIs and functionality as you can with C++ programming. These will run pretty much full-fledged Java apps (based on a modified JDK 1.1 spec) and can't be compared to applets at all.

-Russ

Re:multiplayer on PDA

[-brazil-]

Theoreticall, it is already possible right now. I've run Quake on my IPaq, in two-player over Ethernet (with the partner using a PC). It should work the same using Infrared and possibly Bluetooth.

Of course, the playability is very low. What we need for this to be really worth the bother is games that are designed for the small display and limited input ability of PDAs.

Re:Applets?

[jamesidm]

wow they have ported VNC to it already!

http://midlet.org/jsp/category.jsp?parentLevel=1 37

2nd from the bottom

"Nokia 6250: Built tough"

[haggar]

I figured this is EXACTLY what you need.

http://www.nokia.com/phones/6250/index.html

Enjoy :o)

Re:Phones? Bah.

[Combuchan]

Why? Well, most phones I've ever tried have been poor. Poor build quality ...

I don't know which phones you've used, but I've found Nokia's industrial design to be absolutely top-notch. I've dropped one of their ubiquitous 5100 series [nokiausa.com] from great heights, and the thing bounces back like a tennis ball ready for more torture. They're built like tanks--I've opened them up and marveled at the strength of the guts inside.

particularly in regard to securing the battery connection.

Tape it if it's broken. How often do you swap batteries? Lithium ion batteries last for hours and I used to carry around a charger in my pack and charge it where I found it convenient.

OK, so the 'lock keypad' function is used to get round one of those moans.

Which would you rather have? A flip-phone? Ever seen the ear part of the flip after it's been caught in a car door and bent 45-degrees backward? Phone engineers have to deal with the rigors of the environments in which their phones will be used. I'd much rather have to key in Menu Button, * than deal with a flimsy piece of plastic that could just easily break off.

... and the PC Suite [nokia.com] for it is hopelessly out of date and utterly useless.

I've never used PC Suite, but I assume anything that comes on 3.5" disks fits your description, and nor would it surprise me. My solution: Don't use it. Gnokii [gnokii.org] is an incredibly done application and served me quite well for the few months I had my 5190.

I'd sacrifice the entire lot for an industrial design that works as a basic phone without falling apart.

I think it's a tad premature to discount next-generation technology phones based on inexperiences with the myopic designs of the first generation series phones. Nokia, et. al. designed the 5190 and the 8850 to be talked on first, SMS'd with second. I would hope Nokia has overcome these interface issues with their more advanced phones as they come out.

It's totally moot to me--I won't see any of these phones for a long, long time as Nokia barely caters to the US market outside of AT&T Wireless's desires--a company I'd rather not deal with again.

Re:Questions: what can I get, now?

[LiamQ]

What Java phones can I get in the US now? The Motorola i85?

Motorola i85s, i55sr, i90c, i50sx, i80s.

Do any US Java phones let me send my own custom packets? Meaning, could I write a wireless tic-tac-toe game once I learn midlet programming?

Yes, but They make you jump through hoops [motorola.com] first.