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Think small: Java on Compaq's iPAQ

Develop micro-Java solutions with Jeode and the SavaJe XE OS

By John Zukowski, JavaWorld.com, 10/26/01

Page 2 of 6

iPAQ's future

Hewlett-Packard (HP)'s recent announcement that it will purchase Compaq throws an interesting wrench into the mix. HP has its own Pocket PC device called Jornada. We'll have to see what HP does with both devices, assuming the Compaq sale finalizes. See "Pocket PCs after the Merger" for one analyst's opinion of the devices' post-merger futures.

Though I wasn't able to access a Jornada for this article, Jim Feck, in his review "Compaq iPAQ vs. HP Jornada," found the iPAQ fared better than Jornada 540. In a head-to-head comparison, Feck found the iPAQ was faster with a better screen, but had limited availability and no built-in CompactFlash slot. With Jornada 540, Feck found a solid device, but thought it had major weaknesses in critical features like its screen and performance.

With the exception of iPAQ's latest model H3800, available in November 2001, the one significant omission from the iPAQ 3650 I used for this review is a Java runtime. That's where Jeode and SavaJe XE OS come into play. The H3800 is expected to ship with Jeode. I expect SavaJe will find an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) to ship iPAQs with its operating system as well.

Jeode for Windows CE

When you need Java support for an information appliance like the iPAQ, the Jeode platform is the first place you should look. Insignia offers a PersonalJava or EmbeddedJava runtime for many different platforms. (See "J2SE, J2ME, and PersonalJava -- What's the Difference?" sidebar at the end of this article.) Its Website lists Compaq, Fujitsu PC, Intel, and Motorola, among many others, as its customers, showing the wide range of devices supported. The actual processors supported are ARM, MIPS, x86, StrongARM, SuperH-3, SuperH-4, and PowerPC.

Jeode's strongest selling point is that it's a direct add-on to any hardware. The way you use the device doesn't change; it's just easier to add more capabilities since you can write them in Java. In the case of Jeode on the iPAQ, those capabilities include any PersonalJava-compatible applications. Users continue to use their PIM (personal information manager), have access to Microsoft Office files, and don't need to discard any custom applications created for the device. From the outside, the device looks and acts the same.

To try Jeode on the iPAQ (or any other device), developers can get a free 90-day evaluation copy of the runtime by visiting the Insignia Website. For your users or for yourself, the single-user cost beyond the trial is only 0, decreasing with volume purchases. You get a 13 MB installable executable that includes a JVM for the iPAQ and some tools for the desktop to help you create iPAQ-deployable Java programs. A word of caution though: If you are not specifically installing the toolset on a Windows NT 4 machine, for example on a Windows 2000 box, the installation program gives a warning. The installation still ran fine on a Windows 2000 box, but the warning might concern some people. Using the toolset in Windows 2000 though is "unsupported" from a corporate perspective. Once installed, you use ActiveSync to put the necessary files on the iPAQ. After transferring, click on the synced file to install Jeode. The whole process takes about 15 minutes, most of that time is spent transferring the 4 MB jeode.cab file. At this point, you can play Asteroids or view one of three AWT (Abstract Windowing Toolkit) sample programs.

 

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