Customer Reviews

Bluetooth For Java

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Bluetooth is a short range (max range of 30-300 feet) wireless communications protocol. JSR-82 is a Bluetooth API for Java that allows Bluetooth enabled devices talk to each other using the Java programs. Using Bluetooth, a PDA could talk to a printer and ask for a document to be printed or two Bluetooth enabled PDAs could exchange Java objects. Even if you know nothing about Bluetooth or wireless communications, this book will give you enough information to get started.

The book starts with an examination of Bluetooth and the terminology you need to know to understand Bluetooth enabled devices. It then gets into the basics of the Bluetooth API for Java and developing programs using J2ME MIDP. Chapters cover creating a Bluetooth print server, passing objects between Bluetooth devices, and securing messages between devices. The authors discuss the PC software available to simulate two Bluetooth devices talking to each other so that you can develop an application without having two Bluetooth devices sitting on your desk. The final chapters covers topics such as Jini and Ericsson BlipNet. The book contains many well commented code samples demonstrating how to use the Bluetooth API.

The book is very clear and concise. The book reads as if it was written by a couple of enthusiastic Bluetooth developers anxious to share the technology. And they do an excellent job of doing exactly that. The book is well written and interesting. I started the book knowing almost nothing about Bluetooth but now I feel confident that I can develop Bluetooth applications. If you have any interest in Bluetooth then I can recommend this book as an excellent resource.

A book I was looking forward to, but was very disappointed by. The theoretical parts are ok, but it is nothing you can't find online. The real meat for me was the example code. And oh boy, is it terrible. The chapter on J2ME (the most important one) has two code examples that the author claims are working.

These examples won't start, they won't even compile! They are half finished programs written by a Java amateur. I can only hope it is not the author himself, because if it is it casts considerable doubt on the rest of the book.

I find it amazing that the publishing company includes this in a published book, they really must have rushed it out. Even more shamefully is the fact that this code is available to download online unchanged at the book site. No errata at all.

The first half of this book deserves 4 stars. It makes bluetooth easy to understand by not including too much technical info like timing, etc. I have read other books on bluetooth, but they are too technical. It's like the author just copied the info directly from the RFC. If you are just working on high level application, then the first half of this book is for you. It explains the commonly used Java bluetooth API in simple fashion, and I like the source codes in the book. It is all you need to get start with.

The second half of the book is disappointing. It talks about programming with specific bluetooth simulator and other embredded devices. The info on the simulator is out-dated, because the company no longer offer free trial. So it is useless unless you buy it which I think should be very expensive. Same thing applies to the embredded hardwares. Those chapters are useless for me because they applies only to those devices, and I don't have them. So, I ended up skipping 1/2 of the book.

This is one of the few tech books that has a lot of blank spaces and photos. If you remove those blank spaces and photos, the thickness of the book may be reduced by at least 1/4. So there are not as much info as you think based on the number of pages of this book. But the first half of this book does deserve 4 stars.

If you are a developer, student or home hobbyist with experience in Java programming and a desire to add bluetooth technology to your systems/programs then look no further than this book.
Forget another book explaining the Bluetooth spec, you don't even need to understand what JSR-82 is, if you know how to use an API and Bluetooth is a must then read this. A brief overview on bluetooth, A brief introduction to JSR-82 then your ready with specific examples using popular Bluetooth hardware and Popular JSR-82 complient stacks.
Bear in mind you'll need a complient bluetooth device and a JSR-82 based stack to use the book to it's full potential.
...

It is a great book for people who is new to bluetooth and JSR-82 (The only standardized Bluetooth API). By sample codes and introduction of rococo simulators, the users could begin their work in Bluetooth straightway. By end of this book, authors introduce Enterprise Bluetooth Applications with the Dricsson BlipNet, Bluetooth and Jini for more flexible application of Bluetooth.

The authors do a very good job of stepping through the "history" of wireless devices, while keeping focus on developing Bluetooth applications. The examples break down the components to a Bluetooth application and provide a good starting point for developers.

I gave a four star rating based on a couple of my personal preferences. First there are a few bulleted list that don't provide much information which take up a lot of page space. (An example would be the list of JSR-82 Expert Group on page 35.) The other comment is the 50 or so pages of the API in the appendices. Although there is a short explanation for each method, interface, constant, etc., I prefer to look that information up online.

Can get all the info you need on the web especially Sun's website such as http://developers.sun.com/.
Book doesn't even show you how to set up the Bluetooth API.

Shouldn't this book be called Java for Bluetooth not Bluetooth for Java??

This is a very good book on Bluetooth for Java. The authors do a good job explaining the topic and API, and good code examples and related information... I recommend this book.

I have been waiting this book for months, and now I have it in my hands. It really tells you all you need to start developing
exciting bluetooth applications for tomorrow mobile devices.
The best part of the book is the review of the available resources existing today for work with the JSR-82 like ATINAV stack and Rococo impronto simulator.

My experience has been that that this book covers THE BASICS in a very easy to understand writing style. I am a basic Database (formerly) and C/C++/Assembly (Embedded Hardware)Programmer, with some hands-on and classroom electronics (BS electrical engineering next year) background, but with NO FORMAL Java knowledge, and yet I found the book very easy to read and understand.

As an added bonus I was introduced to JINI Networking concepts in a very gentle way too.

This book will NOT teach you how to write Production Level Code, but that's not the purpose of the book. Instead this book will introduce the Java-Bluetooth beginner to underlying concepts in a straight forward intuitive way, including using a "Hands-On" Bluetooth Kit with 2 Bluetooth enabled Transceivers (highly Recommended if your new to the hardware), and testing bluetooth data encryption "sniffing" techniques with a FREE ad-on that is included with the additional kit.

At the completion of this book you will have to surf the web and study the varios Bluetooth and Wireless Developer Toolkits that are out there.

Finally, I want to thank Bruce Hopkins personally for IMMEDIATELY responding when I e-mailed him, regarding the where-abouts of my kit. It turned out that my kit was sitting at my complex the whole time, which was my fault not Bruce's, but Bruce acted Professionally the whole time, and in a short time we've emailed each other 5 times cumulatively, including a question I had about an SDK not directly mentioned in the book.

In synopsis, Bruce's Book will teach you the BASICS and guide you into finding out for yourself where the next steps lay. For a TRUE BEGINNER this Book is GREAT, and for the seasoned java-bluetooth developer, you'll have to wait for Bruce's next clearly written Intermediate or Advanced Java Bluetooth Masterpiece.