Java Magazine May/June 2012

//table of contents /

COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY 40
02 Java Architect
From the Editor What’s New in Java DB

JAVA IN ACTION
04 in JDK 7
See why it’s even easier to
Java Nation use databases and SQL in
News, events, and happenings
your apps.
in the Java community
44
JAVA TECH Java Architect
21 Using the OpenJDK to
New to Java Investigate Covariance

JAVA TECH
The End of the Game in Java
Michael Kölling shows us how See how generics and
to finish our turtle game and wildcards provide a type-safe
share it with our friends. alternative to covariant arrays.
24 48
New to Java Java Architect
Build a Web App in Introduction to JIT

ABOUT US
Wicket 1.4 Using Compilation
NetBeans in Java HotSpot VM
Combine Wicket and Java Learn how to use the
EE 6 to build a Web app PrintCompilation switch in
easily by separating markup Java HotSpot VM.
from business logic. 55
35 Mobile and Embedded
Java Architect
Java SE 7: Shaped and
How to Tag Your
Pictures with Location
12 16 31 51
Translucent Windows Information Java in Action Java in Action Java Architect Rich Client
Deep Dive
Josh Marinacci shows us how
Vikram Goyal gives us a
lesson in geotagging.
DEVICE GAME ON!
For two app
OPENJDK: THE
INTERVIEW
USING
PROPERTIES

CONVERGENCE
to enhance our applications in developers, Java Oracle’s Donald AND BINDING
64 ME is the key to
new and interesting ways. Smith talks IN JAVAFX 2.0
Fix This winning in India’s about the place
Try your hand at this JavaFX Oracle’s Jim
mobile games for Java SE Weaver shows you
code challenge. Jargon Technologies creates unique market. blog
collaboration. how to implement
interactive and immersive experiences the power of
with Java. binding.

COVER ART BY I-HUA CHEN
PHOTOGRAPH BY PHIL SALTONSTALL
01
ORACLE.COM/JAVAMAGAZINE //////////////////////////////////////////////// MAY/JUNE 2012

//from the editor /

COMMUNITY
W

JAVA IN ACTION
GIVE BACK!

JAVA TECH
hat’s not to love about crowdsourcing? Without a clear and obvious topic in mind for this
note—and cursed with a follow-on case of writer’s block—I went to you, the community, via Twitter for sug- ADOPT A JSR
gestions. There were several of them, but the desire for a status update about JDK 8 seemed to be a common
theme. So, let’s do that.
As previously announced, the GA date for JDK 8 is currently expected to be September 2013. The main
drivers are, of course, the Lambda and Jigsaw projects. Each of these projects could arguably represent one Find your JSR here

ABOUT US
of the most significant and anticipated changes ever to the Java platform, to say nothing of two of them.
The curiosity about JDK status offers a welcome opportunity for us to deep-dive into the OpenJDK project
overall—for example, to explore its expanding role in the community ecosystem and its relationship to the
Oracle JDK. In this issue, we’ve banked on that opportunity via an interview with Donald Smith, a member of
Oracle’s Java SE team who helps steward the OpenJDK community. As you’ll learn, one of the project’s main
objectives—and great successes thus far—is to bring a diversity of viewpoints into the development process.
And speaking of diverse viewpoints: before you turn the page, I want to thank you
for helping Java Magazine break the 100,000-subscriber barrier after only a handful //send us your feedback /

of issues. Without your interest and support, this publication would not, and could We’ll review all
suggestions for future
not, exist. Do you see a pattern here?
improvements.
Depending on volume,
Justin Kestelyn, Editor in Chief BIO some messages may
not get a direct reply. blog
P.S. Starting in this issue, the “Java Champion Duke” next to a byline signi-
fies the author’s membership in that august community. They deserve it!
PHOTOGRAPH BY BOB ADLER

02

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//java nation /

COMMUNITY
Global JUGs

JAVA IN ACTION
Growth
Continues
Three new Java user groups
(JUGs) have recently joined
the growing Java.net JUG
community. In Croatia,
Branko Mihaljević, Stjepan

JAVA TECH
Matijašević, Hrvoje Đurđević,
Marin Orlić, and Slavko
Žnidarić founded HUJAK,
the Croatian Java User
Association; the group also
hosts a Croatian language
home site, hujak.hr. In May,
HUJAK will be collaborating

ABOUT US
with the Croatian Association
of Oracle Users to hold
Croatia’s first ever “Java Day”
event. In Vilnius, Lithuania,
Vaidas Pilkauskas, Kasparas
Rudokas, and Aleksej Šipulia
founded the Vilnius Java User
Group; the Vilnius JUG has

JAVA.NET In recent months, Michael Hüttermann and
others in the Java.net Java user groups (JUGs)
lists, and more. In addition, the resources
include links to information on how to start/
also created a Google Group,
and they are using Eventbrite

ENHANCES community have devoted considerable time
to updating and enhancing the platform and
improve your JUG, blog postings, the JUG wiki,
and the Adopt-a-JSR program.
to organize meetings, the first
of which took place in March.
ITS PLATFORM services Java.net offers to JUG members. One of the most popular updated features Finally, Mahmut Bulut has

FOR JUGS New and updated features include the JUG on the Java.net JUGs site is the Jug Profile worked with other Java pro-
events calendar and JUG Member Spotlights. Map, a Google Map that shows the location of fessionals and enthusiasts
Hüttermann focused special attention on JUGs across the world. More than 175 JUGs are in the Eskişehir Province
JUG resources, a set of tools that allow you to already on the map. If you’d like to get your region of Turkey to form the blog
browse the Java.net JUG community, submit JUG onto the Java.net Jug Profile Map, just fol- Eskişehir Java User Group.
your own JUG for membership, join mailing low the instructions. Congratulations and good luck
to all of these new JUGs.

04

//java nation /

COMMUNITY
JUG-Africa
Raises Money
for Congo

JAVA IN ACTION
Max Bonbhel Lamine Ba

Following the March 2012

JAVA TECH
death of 200 Congolese
citizens due to an explo-
sion in Brazzaville, Congo,
Lamine Ba, the leader of
the Java user group (JUG) in
Senegal, used Java to create
an online payment Website
to accept donations for the

ABOUT US
victims. Congo and Senegal
are 2 of the 18 countries
that are affiliated with
JUG-Africa. This umbrella

DEVELOP YOUR
organization was created
by Max Bonbhel in 2010 to
share Java expertise among

OWN GAME
professional developers. For
example, the community
organized a dozen Java 7 JUG
In this gallery at java_ Swedish video gaming company Mojang is encouraging gamers to go beyond just playing its games meetings in the summer of
gaming.org, tutorial users by learning game programming. Jens Bergensten, lead designer and developer for Mojang’s Minecraft 2011. Ba hopes that JUG-
can share the games that game, created a getting-started guide to programming for beginners using the source code from Africa will be the network
they have created. that will change the conti-
“Catacomb Snatch” and the Eclipse integrated development environment. “Catacomb Snatch” is a
popular 2-D shooting strategy game. The game was part of a Humble Bundle Mojam, a 60-hour char- nent. “If we can create an
ity programming marathon from which half a million dollars in proceeds went to charity. In addition impact through this project,
to playing with “Catacomb Snatch” source code, gamers have access to Java 2-D and 3-D gaming then we can become a major blog
resources. They can also share their games and enter competitions such as the one-hour “Let’s Get force when it comes to sup-
Petite” competition. porting the too-frequent
crises in Africa,” he says.
MAX BONBHEL PHOTOGRAPH BY
ALLEN MCINNIS/GETTY IMAGES
05

//java nation /

COMMUNITY
JAVA IN ACTION
Duke’s Choice
Award
2012

CALL FOR

JAVA TECH
NOMINATIONS
Submit your entry for the
Duke’s Choice Awards 2012
awards, which celebrate
extreme innovation in the
JAVA USER GROUP PROFILE world of Java technology.

JUG Chennai
These awards are granted to

ABOUT US
the best and most-innovative
Tamil Nadu, India projects using the Java plat-
form. The primary judging
IN MOST INDIAN FAMILIES, JAVA IS VIEWED EXCLU- really happy: community leader, mentor, speaker, advi- Scenes from JUG
Chennai, left to right: criterion for this prestigious
SIVELY AS A MEANS FOR GETTING A GOOD JOB, says sor to college students, and more—which I never did
a speaker captivates award is innovation, putting
Rajmahendra R Hegde, a Java/Java EE project lead at before as a normal Java professional.”
the group, holding small developer shops on
Logica in Chennai, India. In 2006, though, Hegde discov- JUG Chennai currently has at least one meeting per a Java Summit, an equal footing with multi-
ered Java user groups (JUGs) on Java.net, and his interest month, but the demand from the Chennai Java commu- celebrating the national giants. The 10 most
in Java’s community aspect was piqued. Hegde went on nity is such that the group will soon move to two meet- launch of Java 7 innovative submissions will
to found JUG Chennai in September 2010. Judging by its ings per month. The group also hosts special events,
be chosen and showcased
rapid growth (430 members today), Java as community is such as the Chennai Java Summit; the Java 7 launch;
at Java One, September
really catching on in India. and NetBeans certification, JavaFX, and Web 2.0 events.
29–October 4. There are no
But it was by no means an easy start for JUG Chennai. JUG Chennai is also participating in JDuchess, a
predetermined categories—
Hegde reports that no more than seven people showed up Java community for women, helping to form JDuchess
it’s all about innovation.
for the group’s first three meetings in 2010. But, the January Chennai. The group has also started a student awareness
Past winners are welcome
2011 meeting, in which he gave a talk about Java Virtual program through which it brings Java to students and
to apply. Nominations are
Machine languages, drew close to 20 people. That meeting involves them in Java community activities. In addition,
due July 20, 2012. Get your blog
was a major turning point in the Chennai Java community. JUG Chennai joined the Java Community Process and is
nomination form here.
“For me, being a JUG lead is a tough and interesting active in the Adopt-a-JSR program. Several special inter-
job,” Hegde says. “I am playing many roles that make me est groups have also formed.

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF JUG CHENNAI

06

//java nation /

COMMUNITY
JAVA IN ACTION
Weaver and Chin Join Oracle
Jim Weaver and Stephen Chin—two
recognized JavaFX technology luminar-
ies and “rock star” speakers from the
Java community—have joined Oracle’s
Java evangelist team. Jim Weaver is a

JAVA TECH
Jim Weaver Java and JavaFX developer, author, and
speaker with a passion for helping rich-
client Java and JavaFX become preferred
technologies for new application devel-
opment. He is the author of Inside Java
(New Riders Pub, 1997) and Beginning
Stephen Chin J2EE (Wrox Press, 2003). Stephen Chin
Participants in
is a Java technical expert specializing

ABOUT US
Round Two of the
Java Olympics in UI technologies, an open source hacker, and a seasoned
showed laser conference speaker. Both Weaver and Chin are coauthors of
focus during the Pro JavaFX Platform (Apress, 2009), the leading technical
competition,
and then ROUND TWO OF reference for JavaFX, and Pro JavaFX 2 (Apress, 2012). This is a
win for the entire Java community.
celebrated their
achievements. JAVA OLYMPICS
ENDS; FINALS LOOM
Round Two of the 2011–2012 Java Olympics finished in March, with Round One’s top achievers
JavaSpotlight Podcast
(from 151 universities in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan) competing in 11 Listen to the JavaSpotlight podcast
cities across the region. Each competitor was provided with a PC preloaded with Oracle JDK 1.7u2 for interviews, news, and insight for
and NetBeans 7.1 and was presented with six problems (designed by a team of 12 Russian engi- and from Java developers. Hosted
neers) to solve using Java. Alexander Belokrylov of Oracle St. Petersburg reports that although all by Roger Brinkley and Terrence Barr,
six problems were successfully solved, no one individual competitor solved all the problems. this weekly show includes a rotating
Participants submitted their solutions to a remote server, where a tweaked version of the panel of all-star Java developers.
Ejudge Contest Management System analyzed the solutions. The results were delivered in real
blog
time as the competition progressed. “I followed all the contests,” says Belokrylov. “It is a really
exciting experience, like a horse race or football game!”
JIM WEAVER
Round Two winners will travel to Astana, Kazakhstan in late April to compete in Round Three,
PHOTOGRAPH BY the 2011–2012 Java Olympics championship finals.
STEVE GRUBMAN
07

//java nation /

COMMUNITY
JAVA CHAMPION PROFILE
MICHAEL HÜTTERMANN: Up Close and Personal

MOVING JAVA
Java Champion Michael people and seeing new

JAVA IN ACTION
Hüttermann, developer, places. I don’t regret being

FORWARD
architect, consultant, and a freelancer today; after my
author of three books on first book was published, it
agile development, recently was a good decision to leave

IN JAPAN
took time off from his my job then. I have much
demanding schedule to tell more freedom now and
Java Magazine a bit about his enjoy every minute. It’s most
nonworking life. important for me to be able

JAVA TECH
to learn from others, and to
Java Magazine: Where did find collaborative working
you grow up? environments.
Hüttermann: I grew up in Java Magazine: Anything
much enjoyed team sports.
Ruhr, an urban area in North else you want to share? Any
I’ve played soccer for years
Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. plans?
actively. But lately, I’ve run
Now I live in Cologne, Hüttermann: What makes
out of time to do so. I’m also
Left to right: Oracle’s the fourth-biggest city in me excited now is that my
a passive sportsman: I enjoy

ABOUT US
Nandini Ramani; Oracle’s Germany and a great place fourth book, on agile devel-
Jasper Potts; Duke watching soccer matches
to live. opment, is in progress. I like
welcoming attendees; on TV, and live matches in
Java Magazine: What was writing; without writing,
Fujio Maruyama, visiting arenas as well.
professor at Waseda your first computer and pro- staying in hotels around the
Java Magazine: What else do
University, explaining why gramming language? world every night would be
you do in your spare time?
Java is back Hüttermann: My first com- pretty boring. And I hope that
Hüttermann: Work! Also, I
puter was a Commodore 64. some people will find the
have a cat that is always a
I played around and pro- book useful to read.
JavaOne Tokyo 2012 was held in Tokyo, Japan, April 4–6, 2012. With more than 1,100 attend- pleasure to play with. His
grammed with it in the early
ees, this second of four regionally executed JavaOne conferences included informative key- name is Doctor Snuggles,
’80s. My very first languages And so, the Java Champion
note and technical sessions, vendor participation, an Oracle Technology Network lounge, and named after the main char-
included BASIC, Pascal, goes back to his work.
interactive local Java community involvement. acter in a British/German/
and, later, Cobol and Java. You can read more about
A major focus of the conference was the Java roadmap. At the Java Strategy keynote on Dutch TV series that aired
But the C64 was definitely Michael Hüttermann in the
the first day of JavaOne Tokyo, Oracle’s Java engineering executives Cameron Purdy, Nandini from 1979 to 1980. Watching
the initial kickoff for me for recent article “Agile ALM:
Ramani, and Henrik Stahl stepped through Oracle’s technology roadmap for Java SE, JavaFX, the Doctor is a lot of fun;
computers and program- A Conversation with Java
Java ME/embedded Java, and Java EE. The key takeaways: Java SE 8 will include Project Jigsaw actually, it’s very clear every
ming. I guess I share this Champion and ALM Expert
and Project Lambda; Java ME/embedded Java will synchronize CLDC and JDK releases; and Java day that cats are related to
history with many others. Michael Hüttermann.” You blog
EE 7 will support elasticity for capacity on demand and multitenancy. Sharat Chander, group tigers. Cats are small tigers!
Java Magazine: What do you can also visit his blog and
director of Java technology outreach at Oracle, also called on local Japanese developers to con- Java Magazine: What “side
enjoy for fun and relaxation? find him on Twitter
tinue their active participation in the Java community by joining Oracle Technology Network. effects” of your career do you
Hüttermann: I’m a team (@huettermann).
enjoy the most?
player, and I’ve always very
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF ORACLE JAPAN Hüttermann: Meeting many
08

//java nation /

COMMUNITY
MAY GeeCON 2012 platform in 135 technically Java Forum
The No Fluff Just Stuff MAY 16–18 focused sessions‚ includ- JULY 5
Software Symposium Tour POZNAŃ, POLAND ing 25 hands-on work- STUTTGART, GERMANY

JAVA IN ACTION
Since 2001, the No Fluff GeeCON focuses on Java- shops‚ centered around The Java Forum offers
Just Stuff (NFJS) Software and Java Virtual Machine– architecture, cloud, participants the opportu-
Symposium Tour has based technologies, with security, enterprise Java, nity to inform themselves
delivered more than 275 special attention paid to languages on the Java about topics related to
events with more than dynamic languages such Virtual Machine, build/ Java and the Java environ-
40,000 attendees. NFJS as Groovy and Ruby. test, mobility, and agility. ment. The forum includes
is known for knowledge- ÜberConf is part of the No basic lectures, presenta-
able speakers and timely Maker Faire Bay Area Fluff Just Stuff Software tions, and information
MAY 19–20 Symposium Tour. about and demos of

JAVA TECH
presentations that cover
the latest trends within SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIA specific products.
the Java ecosystem and See how Java will help JAZOON’12
agility space. Upcoming build the future at JUNE 26–28 FISL
symposium dates include this festival of inven- ZURICH, SWITZERLAND JULY 25–28
the following: tion, creativity, and Jazoon, the international PORT ALEGRE, BRAZIL
resourcefulness. conference on the modern Sponsored by the Fórum
Lone Star Software art of software, will cover a Internacional do Software
GOTO Conferences broad range of topics and Livre (FISL), this event is

EVENTS

ABOUT US
Symposium: Dallas
MAY 18–20 MAY 21–25 cater to a wide audience one of the world’s largest
DALLAS, TEXAS COPENHAGEN, DENMARK of professionals involved free software events, and
OSCON JULY 16–20, PORTLAND,OREGON MAY 24–26 in software development. includes technical, politi-
Central Ohio Software AMSTERDAM, The main track covers cal, and social discus-
Join the world’s open source pioneers, builders, and innovators for Symposium NETHERLANDS programming and markup sions about open source
five days of sessions and keynotes on open source languages, plat- JUNE 8–10 These conferences are languages; frameworks, software.
designed for software tools, platforms, and
forms, and development. OSCON features more than 200 speakers, COLUMBUS, OHIO
developers, IT architects, methods; and more. JVM Language Summit
hundreds of technologies, and 3,000 hackers. Tracks include Java
Salt Lake Software and project manag- JULY 30–AUGUST 1
and JVM Languages, Geek Lifestyle, JavaScript and HTML5, Mobile,
Symposium ers in the Java, mobile, JULY SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA
Tools and Technologies, and much more. .Net, open source, Lean/ The 2012 JVM Language
JUNE 29–30 The Developers
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH agile, architecture, new Conference 2012 Summit is an open
languages, and process JULY 4–8 technical collabora-
Greater Maryland communities. SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL tion between language
Software Symposium One of Brazil’s largest designers, compiler writ-
JULY 13–14 JUNE developer conferences, ers, tool builders, runtime
ÜberConf engineers, and virtual blog
COLUMBIA, MARYLAND this conference offers 35
JUNE 19–22 tracks, several of which machine architects.
DENVER, COLORADO are Java related.
Explore the evolving
PHOTOGRAPH BY JOE SOHM/GETTY IMAGES ecosystem of the Java
09

//java nation /

COMMUNITY
JAVA BOOKS

DEVELOPERS

JAVA IN ACTION
WANT JSR 310
IN JAVA 8
Should JSR 310 (Date and Time API) EXPERT ORACLE AND JAVA THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO JAVA PROGRAMMING: PROGRAMMING CLOJURE,
be included in Java 8? Based on a recent SECURITY: PROGRAMMING NETBEANS PLATFORM 7 A COMPREHENSIVE SECOND EDITION
Java.net poll and the attention Stephen SECURE ORACLE DATABASE By Heiko Böck INTRODUCTION By Stuart Halloway and

JAVA TECH
Colebourne’s JDK Enhancement Proposal (JEP) APPLICATIONS WITH JAVA Apress (December 2011) By Herbert Schildt and Aaron Bedra
150 has garnered, the broader Java developer By David Coffin The Definitive Guide to Dale Skrien Pragmatic Bookshelf
community has a clear view on this: it’s very Apress (September 2011) NetBeans Platform 7 is a McGraw-Hill Higher Education (April 2012)
important that JSR 310 is included in Java 8. This book provides resources thorough and authorita- (December 2012) Programming Clojure,
The Java.net poll asked, “How critical is it for that every Java and Oracle tive introduction to the Java Programming: A Second Edition is a signifi-
JSR 310 (new Date and Time API) to be imple- database application pro- NetBeans platform. The Comprehensive Introduction cant update to the classic
mented in Java 8?” Rarely does a Java.net grammer needs to ensure is designed for an introduc- book on the Clojure lan-
book provides a completely
poll produce as unified a response as this one

ABOUT US
that you have guarded the updated definitive guide tory programming course guage. You’ll get thorough
did. A full 75 percent of the 891 developers using Java. This text takes
security of the data and iden- to the NetBeans platform, coverage of all the new
who voted consider including JSR 310 in Java 8
tities entrusted to you. You’ll using the latest APIs, cod- a logical approach to the features of Clojure 1.3, and
“very” important, agreeing with Colebourne’s
learn to consider potential ing patterns, and method- presentation of core topics, enjoy reorganized and
statement in JEP 150 that “the existing Java
vulnerabilities and to apply ologies. It focuses strongly moving step-by-step from rewritten chapters that
date and time classes are poor, mutable, and
best practices in secure Java on business features in an the basics to more-advanced reflect the significance of
have unpredictable performance.”
Java.net user heathm undoubtedly spoke and PL/SQL coding. Author application, with the author material, with objects being new Clojure concepts. Many
for many in commenting, “Given the fact that David Coffin shows you how covering how to use OSGi, introduced at the appropri- code examples have been
we were expecting this in Java 7, I think it’s to develop code to encrypt how to add authentication/ ate time. The book is divided rewritten or replaced, and
something that’s long overdue and must be data in transit and at rest; security, and how to mone- into three parts. Part One every page has been re-
included in Java 8.” A late February update to to accomplish single sign- tize from a modular applica- covers the elements of the evaluated in light of Clojure
JSR 310 states, “With successful progress it is on with Oracle proxy con- tion. You’ll learn how to get Java language and the fun- 1.3. As the authors show you
intended that this JSR can be considered for nections; and to generate started using the NetBeans damentals of programming; how to build an application
inclusion in Java SE 8.” Java developers have and distribute two-factor platform with or without Part Two introduces graphi- from scratch, they provide
made it abundantly clear that they prefer authentication tokens from cal user interface program- a rich view into a complete
using the NetBeans IDE,
that outcome. the Oracle server using pag- ming using Swing; and Part Clojure workflow. You’ll also
how to set up a modular blog
ers, cell phones, and e-mail. application, and more. Three explores key aspects of get an education in thinking
Java’s API library. in Clojure.

10

Data Quality Tools for Java
BEFORE
Telephone Verification Name Parsing & Genderizing
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melissa data corp.
Geocoding 22382 Empresa 92688
7145895200
john@800miAL.con
Address Verification &
Standardization
AFTER
Melissa Data Corp.
Email Address Verification John Smith III PhD
22382 Avenida Empresa Ste 100
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688-2112
949-589-5200
John@melissadata.com
Delivery Indicator: Business
*Highlights indicate added and/or corrected data.

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COMMUNITY
JAVA IN ACTION
C
hildren’s movies often contain powerful
themes for adults—and sometimes a
striking parallel to real life. So it was for
Bhanu Srikanth, CEO at Jargon Technologies,
a small company specializing in Java solutions
for the media industry. Like the characters in
the popular movies that her company works
on—from Rio and Ice Age to Alvin and the

JAVA TECH
Chipmunks—Srikanth’s professional career
has followed a series of twists and turns, a
real-life “hero’s journey” that has included
unexpected sojourns in distant lands, over-
coming a mounting series of obstacles, and,
finally, discovering new professional horizons
in a warm, hospitable climate.

ABOUT US
DEVICE
CONVERGENCE
Jargon Technologies advances home entertainment frontiers with Java.
Bhanu Srikanth, CEO,
blog

BY DAVID BAUM Jargon Technologies

PHOTOGRAPHY BY PHIL SALTONSTALL
ART BY I-HUA CHEN
12

COMMUNITY
Troy Mockenhaupt, innovative use of Java technology—specifi-
senior engineer at cally, to help special-needs children realize
Jargon, tests out their full potential.”
various devices. The market reached a tipping point in

JAVA IN ACTION
2008 when several studios and distributors
shifted their allegiance to the Blu-ray for-
expertise that mat. On February 19, 2008, Toshiba officially
was lacking in the announced that it would stop the develop-
industry, and there ment of HD DVD players. Blu-ray had won the
were only a few format wars, and, almost overnight, Jargon
companies that found itself at the center of a revolution in
were able to do interactive entertainment.
this,” she recalls. “From the outset, we saw this opportunity

JAVA TECH
“We founded Jargon as much more than just content for Blu-ray
Technologies to players,” Srikanth says. “We were thinking
realize the vision of about communications, about home net-
SNAPSHOT Srikanth grew up in India, where she also the creative community in Hollywood, as well works, and about connected devices. We said,
attended college and obtained a master’s as in other industries such as education.” ‘Let’s see how much Blu-ray can do. . . .’”
JARGON
degree; she then worked in Japan helping an
TECHNOLOGIES
jargon-tech.com elite group of software engineers automate a BIRDS OF A FEATHER TAKING FLIGHT

ABOUT US
steel mill. She transitioned into media tech- Jargon’s other founding members included Be careful what you wish for. It was around
Headquarters:
Burbank, California nology in 2002 when she joined Panasonic Jeff Schulz, chief platform architect, and this time that Twentieth Century Fox Home
Industry: Hollywood Laboratories (PHL) in Southern Nathan Epstein, COO. Srikanth donned Entertainment asked Jargon to implement
Media and entertainment California, where she was part of the core the mantle of CEO, taking responsibility for a new type of game for the Blu-ray release
Employees: R&D team that developed the Blu-ray Disc account management, business develop- of the movie Rio, a very successful animated
15 high-definition optical media format. It was ment, and overall corporate strategy. The new film about a domesticated macaw from
Java version used: an exciting time for the home entertain- company soon landed high-profile projects small-town Minnesota who takes off on an
Blu-ray Disc Java, based on ment industry. Along with Sony and Philips, with Panasonic, Walt Disney Pictures, Warner adventure to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The the-
Java ME CDC/PBP Packaged
Media profile of Globally
Panasonic was working diligently to gain Brothers, and Twentieth Century Fox Home atrical release had been a worldwide success,
Executable MHP (GEM) market acceptance against the rival HD DVD Entertainment. Its forte was with box office earnings nearing
format backed by Toshiba. Srikanth repre- developing interactive applica- THE POWER OF BD-J US$500 million dollars. Now
sented Panasonic at several meetings of the
Blu-ray Disc Association and also worked
tions that reside on the bonus
discs distributed with popular
Blu-ray Disc Java it was time to bring the family
adventure to the cable and home
with some of the Hollywood studios to create Blu-ray titles. powers bonus view entertainment market.
Blu-ray content. “Slowly, we started doing more content including Jargon’s technology team
blog
As consumer interest in high-definition
video content increased, Srikanth and her
and more Blu-ray work, but we
also branched out into connected
network access, brainstormed with Fox Home
Entertainment’s content direc-
colleagues saw an opportunity to strike out TV, mobile, and other areas,” picture-in-picture, tors about ways to push the
on their own. says Srikanth. “Our goal is to and local storage. boundaries of Blu-ray Disc Java
“We started seeing a need for Blu-ray reach a wide audience through (BD-J) to enhance the consumer
13

COMMUNITY
JAVA IN ACTION
POSTCARDS FROM RIO
Rio on Blu-ray viewers

JAVA TECH
can create postcards
using scenes, images,
and words from the
movie and then display,
print, or send them to
another device.

ABOUT US
experience. They came up with the idea of props. Viewers could use their remote con- immersive applications that Jargon creates
an interactive game called “Postcards from trols to pick a scene they liked and then adorn for Hollywood studios. To bring the images,
Rio” that lets viewers create postcards using it with beach balls, umbrellas, headdresses, icons, and bits of dialogue to life in an inter-
scenes, images, and words from the movie. and other bits of movie memorabilia. The active game, Jargon used two standard Java
“We had this idea of letting viewers cre- game was an immediate success. technologies: BD-J and BD-Live.
ate postcards by grabbing frames from the “The amount of customization allowed here BD-J is a speciﬁcation for creating advanced
movie, adorning the scene with stickers, impresses, as does the ﬂuidity of content on Blu-ray Discs—it’s
TOP TITLE
and then adding bits of dialogue,” explains the exercise,” noted one promi- what makes Blu-ray Disc titles
Srikanth. “The program would format it like a nent DVD critic on his Website. Thanks in part to its so much more sophisticated
real postcard and then let you display it, print
it, or send it to another device.”
“This may exceed every DVD
set-top game I’ve seen in terms
innovative interactive than similar content on a
standard DVD player, including
Fox Home Entertainment provided the of enjoyability.” content, Rio reigned network connectivity, picture- blog
cinematic content based on memorable as the #1 Blu-ray on in-picture (PIP), and access to
scenes in the movie, such as a beach theme
and a carnival theme, along with sticker-like
DEEP DIVE
Rio is bright, colorful, and full of
retail charts for four local memory storage. In this
case, it lets Rio viewers capture,
RIO IMAGES COURTESY OF
TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX images of the characters, backgrounds, and surprises—much like the highly weeks in a row. resize, rotate, and position their
14
ORACLE.COM/JAVAMAGAZINE /////////////////////////////////////////////// MAY/JUNE 2012

Java Magazine May/June 2012

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