Sun Microsystems unveils JavaFX 1.0 4 December, 2008 By Erin Bell

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Sun also plans to deliver JavaFX for mobile in spring 2009, and versions of JavaFX for other screens and devices including TV.

According to Sun Microsystems, Java technology is currently on more than 90 per cent of desktops and laptops worldwide, as well as 85 per cent of mobile devices. The technology also figures in next-generation TVs, Blu-ray players and TV set-top boxes. There are more than 6.5 million Java software platform developers around the world.

"The Internet marketplace has evolved within and well beyond the traditional Web browser, fueled by an explosion of Java-powered smart phones and consumer electronics devices, from RIM's Blackberry to Amazon's Kindle," said Jonathan Schwartz, Chief Executive Officer and President of Sun Microsystems. "Sun's newest JavaFX platform unifies Java technology across billions of such devices, with an easy to use, open source platform now enabled with high quality video and audio, targeting consumers and content owners across the world  and across the Internet."

JavaFX introduces the new Drag-to-Install feature, which lets users drag-and-drop JavaFX applications from their browsers onto their desktops. JavaFX will offer developers and Web designers a shortened production cycle, a unified development and deployment model for building expressive rich Internet applications (RIAs) across desktop, browser and mobile platforms, and the ability to preview applications on the upcoming JavaFX mobile platform.

The JavaFX 1.0 release includes video support and three key components, the JavaFX Development Environment, the JavaFX Production Suite and the JavaFX Desktop.

JavaFX video support introduces cross-platform video capabilities using On2 Technologies' video codecs. On2 Technologies has integrated support for JavaFX video into its On2 Flix encoder line of products.

The JavaFX Development Environment includes the compiler and runtime tools, graphics, media, Web services, and rich text libraries, along with the NetBeans Integrated Development Environment (IDE) 6.5. It also includes JavaFX plug-ins for both NetBeans and Eclipse IDEs. In addition, the JavaFX Development Environment includes a mobile emulator for developers to preview building mobile applications for the JavaFX platform.

The JavaFX Production Suite is a set of tools and plug-ins that allows Web designers to reduce production times. Single-click conversion for media formats allows graphics assets from design programs, such as Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator, to be easily incorporated into JavaFX applications.

Using the JavaFX Production Suite, developers can collaborate more efficiently with graphics designers through a simple exchange of media assets. In addition, the resulting applications will maintain a consistent look and feel across all browsers on multiple platforms.

JavaFX Desktop leverages the major features of Java Platform Standard Edition (Java SE) 6 Update 10, such as the new implementation of the Java plug-in, which enables end users to drag applets that are running in their browser and drop them directly onto their desktop.

Sun is offering a in support of the JavaFX platform for Web developers and Java programmers. Additional courses on creating a JavaFX GUI for Swing developers is planned for mid-winter, and formal training forgrapihc designers is expected in spring, 2009.