Articles

An Introduction to the Lightweight User Interface Toolkit (LWUIT)
Java ME may promise consistent behavior across devices, but not consistent appearance, which makes it difficult to create GUIs that work everywhere. The Lightweight User Interface Toolkit addresses this problem by taking a Swing-like approach and rendering all components in Java. In this article, Biswajit Sarkar offers an overview of LWUIT's functionality and design. Aug. 14, 2008

A Customized User Interface for Mobile Phones
GUIs vary from one Java ME implementation to another, from attractive and functional to nearly unusable. What's a developer to do? In this article, Biswajit Sarkar makes the case for developing your own text display and menu class by custom painting a Canvas, thereby delivering the same experience on all ME devices. Jun. 5, 2008

Launch Java Applications from Assembly Language Programs
Java to assembly is one thing, but what about calling Java from assembly language? Biswajit Sarkar says he's worked on assembly programs where the most effective way to incorporate higher-level functionality was to create and invoke a JVM. In this article, he shows how it's done. Oct. 4, 2007

Scalable Vector Graphics on Java ME
SVG Tiny Profile is spec'ed for Java ME in JSR 226, and it will be a requirement in upcoming ME handsets. In this article, Biswajit Sarkar has an introduction to drawing, loading, and animating SVG images in ME. Jul. 10, 2007

Working with the Java ME FileConnection API on Physical Devices
Record stores not enough? Some Java ME devices support JSR 75, an API that allows for a deeper level of file-system access. But even though it's spec'ed by a JSR, its implementation across devices offers a variety of hazards to watch out for. In this article, Biswajit Sarkar takes a real-world look at this FileConnection API. Mar. 29, 2007

Implementing Copy and Paste for the Java ME TextBox
Text entry is difficult on phones, so it's possible your Java ME users will want to copy and paste to save some keypresses. However, the ME TextBox doesn't provide this functionality out of the box. Biswajit Sarkar shows you how to implement it yourself. Jan. 18, 2007

Access Desktop Data from Mobile Devices
Your data's on the desktop, and you've got a mobile. Not a problem. By combining an ME midlet with an EE servlet running on the desktop, you can retrieve desktop data, send it to the phone, and work with it there. Biswajit Sarkar offers a simple example of how this arrangement can work. Nov. 30, 2006

Invoking Assembly Language Programs from Java
Nearly everything written about Java Native Interface (JNI) assumes that your native code will be written in C or an offshoot like C++ or Objective-C. But this isn't the only option. For high performance and close-to-the-metal coding, you can call assembly language from JNI. Biswajit Sarkar shows how to do it. Oct. 19, 2006