Keeping you abreast of the ever-changing Java world
Index of news briefs
Cedar Ridge upgrades grid control tool
HDS introduces network computer
Microsoft and Oracle release beta versions of Java-enabled browsers
Sun attempts to enforce Java trademark
VRML browser available for Windows 95/NT
WebSite Professional brings Java to server-side programming
Widgets Pro available from Connect Corp.
W3C posts alpha of Java server
Sun Microsystems is staking its claim to Java’s use in Internet domain names. Sun attorneys recently began contacting businesses that use the word “java,” asking them to cease and desist such usage in their domain names and the names of their businesses. Sun trademarked the name Java last year. Javanco, a Nashville electronics business that Sun confronted in May, has been a trademark for over 10 years. In a letter posted at the JavaSoft Web site, JavaSoft president Alan Baratz explains Sun’s concerns and apologizes to Javanco and others, explaining: “Unfortunately, in our haste, letters were sent to some individuals who obviously were not infringing on the Java trademark. … It was a mistake on our part.”
Others Sun has confronted with the alleged trademark violation include businesses that sell coffee and individual Web-site owners, some of whom provide Java programming language-related information. One such site, https://www.javac.com/, has been transformed into a resource site for information about Sun’s actions. According to www.javac.com, there are 166 domain names that use the word java. Sun has posted its Java-related trademark guidelines at https://java.sun.com/trademarks.html. The Alan Baratz letter about the Java trademark can be viewed at:
https://java.sun.com/java.sun.com/aboutJavaSoft/clarification.html.
The HDS @workStation, a 50 “network computer” that combines integrated Internet access, Java, and the ability to run PC, Unix, and mainframe applications, was unveiled by HDS Network Systems Inc. Touted as ideal for Web-site development, schools, and various client-side uses, the product comes with a Java Virtual Machine, a Netscape-compatible Web browser, and an HTML interface. It runs the HDS netOS, an HDS-developed operating system which, unlike PC operating systems, is specifically designed for network computing environments. The HDS netOS, according to the company, requires only 300 kilobytes of memory. HDS also has announced it is willing to license the operating system to other manufacturers to enable them to manufacture network computers.
In an effort to loosen Netscape’s hold on the Web browser market, Microsoft released an add-on that adds Java capability to current beta versions of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. Hoping this interim beta version will satisfy users who expected Java support for Explorer to be available in May, the company plans to incorporate Java support into a new beta version, scheduled for release next month. The Java-enabled version also will have a built-in just-in-time compiler, which Netscape is planning to integrate into its Navigator browser software by the end of the year.
Oracle released a Java-enabled beta version of its Web browsing software. Dubbed PowerBrowser 1.5, the product sports a drag-and-drop Personal Server and built-in Java and Basic scripting, as well as support for Netscape plug-ins. It also includes a Database Wizard that helps users create database-enabled Web applications. The browser currently runs on Windows 3.x, Windows 95, and Windows NT, with Macintosh and Unix versions to follow.
The beta version of Internet Explorer’s Java add-on software is available from Microsoft’s FTP site.
ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/ms download/msjava
The beta version of PowerBrowser is available from Oracle’s Web site.
O’Reilly has released the first book in its Java documentation series. Called Exploring Java, the book offers a hands-on introduction to the language. Topics covered include the history and principles of Java, how to write simple applets, how to integrate applets into the Web, Java class libraries, using threads, using arrays, network programming, content and protocol handling, using the abstract windowing toolkit (AWT), and writing a security manager. The company has posted Chapter 6, “Threads,” on its Web site.
Cedar Ridge Software announced the release of HypheGrid 2.0, a scrollable grid control for Java. New features in version 2.0 include support for a variety of cell types (single-line and multi-line text, choice box, button, and image), support for cell level attributes (color, font, alignment), and support for row and column selection. According to Cedar Ridge, the code footprint for the objects is minimal: A simple grid object requires only 70 kilobytes of Java bytecode, and the most complex grid needs only 150 kilobytes. Commercial release of the product is scheduled for June 30. A demonstration of HypheGrid is available at the company’s Web site.
http://www.cnct.com/~rowland/ cedarridge
Cosmo Player, SGI’s VRML 2.0 browser for the Web, is available for Windows 95 and Windows NT. VRML capabilities expand the realm of content and applications for the Web to include things such as virtual showrooms, online gaming, and “cyber cities.” Like Java, VRML is compact and platform-independent. VRML 2.0 files have a small footprint and are optimized for the Web, allowing for complex, interactive experiences with small download requirements. Beta copies of Cosmo Player are available on the Web.
WebSite Professional, the second generation of O’Reilly’s WebSite server software for Windows 95 and NT, is shipping with a Java programming environment. The product includes a fully-documented and comprehensive Java software development kit (SDK), which provides support for server-side programming. This allows the use of Java to develop server-side applications or applets that extend the server’s capabilities.
Connect Corp. announced Widgets Pro, the latest in its series of Java-related programming tools. Widgets Pro is a collection of pre-built, reusable components. Its components include picture fields with formatting and validation, a group box panel, a multi-column list box, grid control, a scrolling panel, a calendar, a progress window, and a splitter panel. The product is scheduled for commercial release in July. Demonstrations of the beta version are available at the company’s Web site.
http://www.connectcorp.com/ widgetpro.html
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) has posted an alpha version of a Java-based HTTP server. The server, dubbed Jigsaw, is available as freeware, and the W3C is banking on feedback from users before they freeze the current set of APIs.
“Jigsaw lets us demonstrate a lot of the ideas that have been on the drawing board for years,” said Tim Berners-Lee, W3C’s director. Some of those ideas include HTTP-NG (Hypertext Transfer Protocol-Next Generation), which the W3C hopes will boost Web server performance, and a new method of server extensibility to replace or complement CGI scripts. The server runs on any platform that supports Java, and can be downloaded from W3C’s Web site.
Symantec released its Symantec Cafe 1.2 visual Java development tool. According to the company, the update includes several new features, including JDK version 1.0.2, remote debugging, debugger support for exception handling, an integrated just-in-time compiler, and speed improvements in the debugger. The product is available for download and purchase from the company’s Web site.
