Dr. Dobb's | Sun Releases JavaFX 1.0

Sun Releases JavaFX 1.0

Aimed at building RIAs with high-fidelity audio and video, rich text, vector graphics, animation and web services

December 04, 2008
URL:http://www.drdobbs.com/jvm/sun-releases-javafx-10/212201907

Sun Microsystems has released JavaFX 1.0, a runtime with supporting tools and technologies that enable content authors and developers to create new content that combines the best capabilities of the existing Java platform with new immersive media services, which can be securely accessed from mobile phones, desktop browsers, TV and other consumer devices. For more details on JavaFX, see Eric Bruno's blog.

"The Internet marketplace has evolved within and well beyond the traditional Web browser, fueled by an explosion of Java-powered smart phones and consumer electronic devices from RIM's Blackberry to Amazon's Kindle." said Sun CEO Jonathan Schwartz. "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."

Among JavaFX's features is the Java platform's Drag-to-Install feature, letting end users for the first time ever simply drag-and-drop JavaFX applications from their browsers onto their desktops. End users will now be able to move applets that are running in their browser directly onto their desktop, providing users the most simple install experience for Internet applications and content.

Sun claims that JavaFX offers a shortened production cycle for both Java developers and Web designers and makes it easy to create applications integrating graphics, video, audio, animation and rich text. JavaFX is unique in that it provides a unified development and deployment model for building expressive RIAs across desktop, browser and mobile. In addition, using the new JavaFX mobile emulator, developers can also preview their applications on the forthcoming JavaFX mobile platform, which will be available to Sun's mobile partners in spring 2009.

The JavaFX 1.0 release includes video support and three key components:

JavaFX Development Environment includes the compiler and runtime tools, graphics, media, Web services, and rich text libraries, along with the NetBeans 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.
JavaFX Production Suite is a set of tools and plug-ins that allows Web designers to dramatically 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, providing users the most simple install experience for Internet applications and content. Consumers, developers, and partners can download Java SE 6 Update 10 at: http://java.com.

JavaFX Video Support is new, with JavaFX 1.0 software introducing comprehensive, cross-platform video capabilities, using On2 Technologies' video codecs. On2 Technologies is also announcing support for JavaFX video has been integrated into its On2 Flix encoder line of products.