Just Subjects

Since Mac OS X is already my preferred platform for Java development, I was very pleased to experience that J2ME development for MIDP 2.0 has finally become reality. I can now develop, compile, verify, package, run, debug and deploy MIDP 2.0 MIDlets from within my Java IDE (IntelliJ IDEA). All thanks to Michael Powers mpowerplayer. Best way to start is to go to developer.mpowerplayer.com and download the SDK. But there is more.

The Mpowerplayer offers the tools familiar to J2ME developers: MIDP2.0 jars, the preverify tool and a MIDP2.0 emulator. Additionally, if your Mac has Bluetooth support, you can quickly deploy your MIDLet using the OS X Bluetooth File Exchange. To automate deployment I wrote a one-line script btsend.sh that is called directly from within Ant:


#!/bin/sh
/usr/bin/open -a "/Applications/Utilities/Bluetooth File Exchange.app" $1

and then from within Ant

<target name="deploy">
 <exec executable="${basedir}/btsend.sh">
   <arg line="${myproject.jar}"/>
  </exec>
</target>

The only manual action is to select your mobile device from the Bluetooth File Exchange list of devices. On my Nokia 6600 phone I receive an incoming message and the installer is run.

If you are developing Bluetooth-based MIDlets using the JSR-82 Bluetooth API you can additionally download, evaluate and acquire the Avetana JSR-82 implementation for OS X. This allows you to fully test Bluetooth-based J2ME apps from within your IDE on Mac OS X. For example, I was able to connect and test to the Delorme Blue Logger GPS

Just watched the video stream of Steve Jobs’ keynote address for Macworld Conference. What I found the most exciting announcement is the introduction of the Mac Mini, a barebone G4 for around EUR 500,-.