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Sun Microsystems Extends the Power of Java with New APIs

Articles and Tips: article

01 Jul 1997


Java Sound, Java Advanced Imaging, and the Java Input Method API

Sun Microsystems, Inc. recently announced three new application programming interfaces (APIs): Java Sound, Java Advanced Imaging, and the Java Input Method API. These APIs bring additional functionality to the feature-rich Java platform. In related news, Sun announced APIs for mobile devices such as phones, pagers and smart cards. (See the accompanying article.)

"We've committed to our developers that we can deliver a comprehensive Java platform for building world-class applications," said Jon Kannegaard, vice president of software products at JavaSoft, a business unit of Sun Microsystems, Inc. "In the last twelve months we've made significant progress by collaborating with the entire technology industry. Today's announcements reflect the work we've led."

The Java Sound API will provide access to a sound engine for control of sound synthesis, mixing and audio rendering. This API will be implemented on top of the Java Sound engine, which is based on technology licensed from Headspace, Inc.

Java Advanced Imaging API allows developers and users to easily manage and work with very high resolution images in Java applications. This is particularly important for professional graphics, medical and technical imaging and GIS.

Both Java Sound and Java Advanced Imaging are part of the Java Media and Communication API suite.

The Java Input Method API will allow developers to deliver sophisticated Java applications, such as word processors and spreadsheets, to the Asian marketplace. It also provides a framework for Java-based network computers to include input method engines for Asian languages including Japanese, Korean, and Chinese.

These APIs come on the heels of the Java Naming Directory Interface API announced at Spring Internet World in March and the Java Servlet API, also announced in March. "Our single-minded objective is to continue to collaborate with industry partners to exceed developers' expectations with creative solutions they'll use in creating enterprise applications," said Kannegaard. "This is not an idle, lofty goal. It is our mandate."

Java Platform API Roadmap


API and Description
Public Spec
Beta Available
Final API Available

Java Applet

The basic building blocks for creating fully functional Java applets

Now

Now

JavaBeans

The Java component architecture; provides interoperability with other component architectures like ActiveX

Now

Now

Now

Java Commerce

An extensible framework for developing secure electronic commerce applications in Java for both Internet and corporate intranets.

Now

Now

Q2 1997

Java Management

Standardizes the integration of system and network management applications for the enterprise

Now

Now

Q3 1997

Java Enterprise

Seamlessly connects Java to enterprise information resources. This includes the following APIs:


API and Description
Public Spec
Beta Available
Final API Available

JDBC

SQL-based database access which provides database-independent connectivity between Java and a wide range of databases

Now

Now

Now

Java Naming and Directory Interface (JNDI)

Provides Java applications with a unified interface to multiple naming and directory services in the enterprise.

Now

Q2 1997

Q3 1997

Java IDL

Enables Java applications to communicate with CORBA (Common Object Request Broker Architecture) -based systems using the industry-standard protocol, IIOP (Internet Interoperability Object Protocol)

Now

Q2 1997

Q3 1997

Java Transaction Services (JTS)

A low-level API compliant with OMG's CORBA OTS that provides open, standard access from Java to Transaction Services

Now

Q3 1997

Q4 1997

Enterprise JavaBeans

Extends JavaBeans component architecture for transactional business applications

Q3 1997

Q3 1997

Q4 1997

Java RMI

A simple-but powerful interface for Java objects to access Java objects in a different Virtual Machine

Now

Now

Now

Java Security

Enables secure Web communication, providing implementation-independent interfaces that support privacy, authorization, authentication, encryption and code containment

Now

Now

Now (encryption available separately)

Java Protected Domains

Extends the Java sandbox protection to the file system, add fine grain access control and multiple protection domains

Q2 1997

Q2 1997

Q3 1997

Java Input Method *new!*

Facilitates sophisticated Java applications like word processing and spreadsheets being made available to Asian markets

Q2 1997

Q3 1997

Q3 1997

Java Message Service

Will enable Java applications to interoperate with enterprise messaging systems

TBD

TBD

TBD

Java Servlet

Provides server andnetwork-class objects, called servlets, that can be created and work in conjunction with a servlet-enables server todynamically extend network services

Now

Now

Now

Java Media & Communication

Provides a wide range of interactive media and communication types. It includes the following APIs:


API and Description
Public Spec
Beta Available
Final API Available

Java 2D

(Included in next JDK) For creating high quality, device-independent 2D graphics

Q1-2 1997

Q3 1997

Q3 1997

Java 3D

Java API optimized for high performance 3D graphics

Q3 1997

Q3 1997

Q4 1997

Java Advanced Imaging (JAI) *new!*

For creating and managing high resolution images in Java applications.

Q3 1997

TBD

TBD

Java Sound *new!*

(Implementation contingent on JDK) A software synthesizer, sample playback engine and 32-channel input, 16-bit stereo output mixer.

Q2 1997

Q2 1997

Q3 1997

Java Animation

For creating, manipulating and displaying sprite-based interactive objects

Q3 1997

Q3 1997

Q4 1997

Java Media Framework

(Part 1-Player)

The JMF API specifies a unified architecture, messaging protocol and programming interface for media players, capture and conferencing. The first part of JMF is the Java Media Player, an API for synchronization, control, processing and presentation of compressed streaming and stored timed media including video and audio.

Now

Q2 1997

3 1997

Java Collaboration

(Part 1 - Wintel to Java application sharing) This API is ideal for interactive two-way, multi-party communications over a variety of different networks

Q3 1997

Q3 1997

Q4 1997

Java Telephony

Provides framework for high-level interface-to-call control. Allows for first-party and third-party call control

Now

Q2 1997

Q31997

Java Speech

Provides Java-based speech recognition and speech synthesis (text to speech)

Q3 1997

Q3 1997

Q4 1997

* Originally published in Novell AppNotes


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