Flash enabled Cell Phones
Flash enabled Cell Phones NTT Docomo is about to release their 505 series phones. The way NTT Docomo works is they define a minimum spec that all phones in a particular series must meet. For example the 251 series required a camera. The 502 series required Java. The 505 series requires Macromedia Flash support and a some kind of memory card.

That seems like quite a score for Macromedia and possibly quite a setback to Sun. Although I'm sure the phone will still support Java as all the apps of today are written in Java, Flash is arguably more used for client side webstuff than Java and it's arguably more accessable for creators so it seems like it might not be long until Flash apps out number Java apps for cell phones.

There's more though. As I mentioned before, it's only a matter of time before cell phone cameras replace the majority of point and shoot digital cameras. Getting one step closer to that stage, 3 of the 505 cameras have 1 megapixel or larger CCDs
Comments:

i-appli [ e ]

I don't think that Flash support on 505i keitai necessarily threatens Sun.  The two technologies can compliment each other by working in concert.

posted by mikeMay 8, 2003 at 9:58

Off topic, but you should post this!!! [ e ]

I found an interview you did with a pretty cool NES site(possibly the most in-depth one i've seen). Its here:

http://www.atarihq.com/tsr/s
pecial/gt.html

Why don't you post a link on the main page?

posted by anon_bslatezMay 8, 2003 at 17:29

Whoops, sorry [ e ]

I don't think that was you.... Was it someone you knew, or was it you? Apologies on the double-post...

posted by anon_bslatezMay 8, 2003 at 17:34

More Phones [ e ]

My nephew also pointed out this phone.  The Sharp J-SH53.  It's got a 1megapixel camera and a 320x240 display like the Toshiba J-T08.

posted by greggmanMay 8, 2003 at 22:10

Java vs Flash [ e ]

While it's true that from the programmer's or user's point of view Java and Flash complement each other, from Sun and Macromedia's point of view, each company would like to have 100% of the market.  Sun currently has 100% of the market for cell phone applications.  As of next month, some of that market will be taken by Flash apps.  If the net is any indication and if other phone companies add Flash support to their phones then within 2 or 3 years 95% of the market will be Flash Apps and Java Apps will be rare.  Sun makes money by licensing Java to the phone makers.  If Flash takes over then at some point, dropping Java support from the phones will be a viable option.

It's already arguably that way for the net.  Sure there are Java apps on the net and I'm sure in a corporate setting there are even more but at least in my personal web experience, if there was no Java support in my browser it would not effect me as only like 1 of 1000 sites I visit use any Java.

Java came out before Flash and Java hoped to occupy the position that Flash is now in but Flash turned out to be far far easier to use, far faster to download apps and take lots less memory for most of the things people want to do on the net.

posted by greggmanMay 8, 2003 at 22:13

The "switch" Flash anims [ e ]

Speaking of Flash, these are my favorite flash anims of late (I suppose they aren't that new, but I hadn't seen them):

This one is about a guy who equates understanding linux to being the same as having the power of a comic book super-villain. He doesn't understand why more people haven't switched to linux from PCs.

http://www.ubergeek.tv/switc
hlinux/

This one is about a guy who equates macs with a good fashion sense. He has traumatic past experiences related to PCs and doesn't want to go there.

http://www.ubergeek.tv/switc
hback/

And someone did one of these types of things in reference to the homestarrunner site.

http://dirkcrimson.keenspace
.com/pics/homestarswitch.htm
l

Has anyone seen more of these things around? There must be a flood of them by now.

posted by anon_funnyMay 11, 2003 at 18:52

java vs flash [ e ]

i doubt flash will challenge java. especially not on 505i as their flash appearantly can't do network access (that really sucks).

btw. 502 didn't require java. java first came with 503.

posted by anon_tmkJune 3, 2003 at 0:46

Flash 1.0 [ e ]

Flash 1.0 didn't support network access or programming and I'm sure Sun was like "flash?, what....ever".  Now look at them.

posted by greggmanJune 3, 2003 at 2:01

i just got a docomo ni009 and it is ok [ e ]

the flash isnt that smooth but it is smoother than java
it works for me i guess.. it also came with a dragonquest game!

posted by p_master_jigglesJuly 25, 2004 at 1:53