Learning Wireless Java [Paperback]

Qusay Mahmoud (Author)

Book Description

Series: Java Series | Publication Date: December 15, 2001

Learning Wireless Java is for Java developers who want to quickly come up to speed and create applications for the Micro Edition audience. This book covers the Connected, Limited Device Configuration and the Mobile Information Device Profile (MIDP), both currently available from Javasoft. The CLDC contains APIs for small devices that are constrained by both memory and processing power. MIDP builds on top of the CLDC and adds APIs specifically for devices such as mobile phones and pagers, allowing programmers to create MIDlet applications.

This book offers a solid introduction to J2ME and MIDP, including an explanation of the J2ME Wireless Toolkit, the MIDlet lifecycle methods, the Java application manager, and the CLDC and MIDP constraints. In addition, we cover the javax.microedition.io, javax.microedition.rms, javax.microedition.lcdui, and javax.microedition.midlet classes, as well as the modified java.lang, java.io, and java.util classes. Discussion centers around building safe, compact applications with the sophisticated graphical interface, database, and networking capabilities that the J2ME supports. In addition, this book also shows you how to download your applications to the latest J2ME-enabled devices, including the Motorola i50x and i85s phones and upgraded Palm handhelds.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Qusay H. Mahmoud is an independent contractor for Sun Microsystems. He has written several articles for the Java Developer Connection that cover J2ME, including the MIDP and the CLDC APIs. He has also presented tutorials on developing wireless applications at a number of international conferences worldwide. He is the author of Learning Wireless Java (O'Reilly), and Distributed Programming with Java (Manning Publications).

Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media; 1st edition (December 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0596002432
• ISBN-13: 978-0596002435
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,383,588 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good for a beginner...., January 23, 2003

By 

akempo "akempo" (Lexington, SC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Learning Wireless Java (Paperback)

This book is an excellent introduction to J2ME for experienced Java developers. The book does what it intends to do very well, but the topic coverage is less than complete because it limits itself to the CLDC configuration and the MIDP profile. Granted, this is the most popular branch of development for J2ME, but there is more to J2ME than the MIDP profile. Within this limitation, it does a good job of providing a basic, clear, and working understanding of the Java classes involved with MIDP programming. Intermediate and advanced J2ME programmers should look elsewhere for help as this book is aimed squarely at J2ME beginners.
The organization of the book follows standard conventions for Java books, starting with basic functionality, then GUI classes, then event handling. There is an API reference at the end of the book, which usually indicates the author is trying to pad the book, but I think it is appropriate here. It only adds 60 pages to the book, and it made it easier to read the material when I was away from a computer. Unfortunately, the book was only 169 pages without it, and I felt that it should have addressed some areas more in depth.
A good book for someone looking to learn J2ME and a handy quick reference, but as you advance, you'll outgrow this one.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to read and informative, February 12, 2002

By 

J. Grondin (Santa Barbara U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Learning Wireless Java (Paperback)

I am new to Wireless Java, but I have some practical knowledge of Java itself. The book provided me with super information on Wirless Java and how to develop MIDlets. The book is super easy to read and the examples are informative. The introduction to J2ME (chapter 1) is excellent: everything is put in context. The examples on MIDP networking are _excellent_. The MIDP4PlamOS chapter is pretty good -- I was able to install JavaHQ on my Palm device in no time. I converted some applications for the Palm and they are working great. I am loving this stuff. Thank you for an informative book. If you need a book to get started with Wireless Java get this one!
Regards,
Jack

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent base for J2ME (MIDP) programming, May 28, 2008

By 

Stjepan Brbot (Zagreb, CROATIA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Learning Wireless Java (Paperback)

The first (and the only) release of this book was published in December 2001 or February 2002. I have to admit that nowadays this book's content is quite obsolete (hence mark 4/5 for the book); it refers to CLDC 1.0.2 (not supporting floating point and weak references) while current CLDC 1.1 (among other things) supports both, then MIDP 1.0 while currently there's MIDP 2.1, then WTK 1.0.3 beta while current is WTK 2.5.2, the book refers to KVM - not existing anymore (it's CLDC HotSpot Implementation(tm) virtual machine now) ... this was the time when Sony and Ericsson where not SonyEricsson and when Siemens was still producing mobile phones ... todays java and supporting tool versions are few generations ahead of versions mentioned in this book (J2SE 1.3) ... many links referenced in book are broken and changed for long time ago ... book references Palm OS v3.5 ... this was time when serial and IrDA connections with mobile phones were used usually not USB and bluetooth ... today we almost always download J2ME apps/games over Internet (OTA=over-the-air) but this method in time of writing this book was just starting to be used with J2ME devices ... but THIS BOOK IS STILL GOOD ENOUGH TO GET MARK 4/5!

As it is stated in the book itself, "this book acts as a quick guide for programmers who are familiar with J2SE and want to get up to speed quickly with the J2ME" and book is exactly this - concentrated to explain J2ME (mostly MIDP specifics).

I like Qusay's writing style; very concise, points out the important things of J2ME development, has brief and clear explanations, the book has simple and clear flow, no repetition, etc. 1st chapter gives an introduction to J2ME (what VM, configuration and profile are), 2nd chapter explains CLDC, 3rd chapter explains MIDP, 4th chapter MIDlets, 5th chapter MIDlet GUI, 6th chapter MIDP events, 7th chapter Networking, 8th chapter Database, 9th chapter MIDP for PalmOS.

Finally this is excellent starting book for J2ME programming beginners.

P.S. This book does not have 300 pages as it is noted above in Amazon's details but 250 (includes preface, appendicies and indicies). Actually this book has only 170 pages if one excludes preface and appendicies which are pure J2ME packages reference. You could also take into account that chapter 5 "MIDP GUI Programming" (probably the most important one containing 39 pages) of these 170 pages is available free of charge online. :-)