A consortium of mobile heavyweights has agreed to some programs that could make it cheaper and easier to create and deploy applications based on Java Micro Edition.
Access, Orange, Motorola, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Sun Microsystems, and Vodafone are tackling the issue of fragmentation, and they will be implementing testing programs that potentially could get apps out quicker, as well as provide a consistent experience across multiple handsets.
The Java Verified program has handled testing and signing needs for about five years, and it will be getting some enhancements to streamline the process. The testing procedure is now handled via one full test per platform, which should make testing faster and less expensive. There will also be a publisher ID that provides a tamper-proof digital certificate to identify the origin of the app.
The companies are also collaborating on an open source project that will be known as the Java Application Terminal Alignment Framework. This will provide tests and frameworks that ensure the app can function consistently across a large deployment of devices. The tests are built to run on the Java Device Test Framework, and it is available to the community under the General Public License, version 2.
"Over the last 12 years the Java platform has done more than any other technology to address the fragmentation inherent across the consumer electronics and IT industries," said Jeet Kaul, senior VP for Java technology at Sun, in a statement. "Our contribution of the Java Device Test Framework reflects our commitment to JATAF's important work and we look forward to ensuring that both JATAF and the Java Verified Program make Java ME an even better platform to develop and invest in."
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Object Relation Mapping and Java Persistence: Data Modeling and Legacy Schemas
Continuing his mini-series on Hibernate and JPA, Stephen Morris tackles more complex object relational mapping (ORM) techniques. This includes entity and value type component mapping and database design workflow.
These days, it’s essential to have a strong knowledge of object relational mapping. This reflects the need for retaining application data long after the application has run. As the need for data storage grows, so too does the need to work with legacy databases or schemas. A schema is simply a description of a database—i.e., its tables, data types, constraints, etc.
Before working with legacy schemas, it’s sometimes necessary to learn more complex mapping techniques. This knowledge will help you in working around what are often quirky legacy schemas. Very often, it’s simply not an option to modify a legacy schema.
A key concept in object relational mapping is the difference between entity and value types. Let’s now look at this concept.
These days, it’s essential to have a strong knowledge of object relational mapping. This reflects the need for retaining application data long after the application has run. As the need for data storage grows, so too does the need to work with legacy databases or schemas. A schema is simply a description of a database—i.e., its tables, data types, constraints, etc.
Before working with legacy schemas, it’s sometimes necessary to learn more complex mapping techniques. This knowledge will help you in working around what are often quirky legacy schemas. Very often, it’s simply not an option to modify a legacy schema.
A key concept in object relational mapping is the difference between entity and value types. Let’s now look at this concept.
Oracle’s Q4 Profit, Sales Beat Expectations (ORCL)
Enterprise software maker Oracle Corporation (ORCL) said late Tuesday that its fiscal fourth quarter profit fell 7% from last year, but results still beat expectations.
The Redwood City, California-based company reported fiscal fourth quarter net income of $1.89 billion, or 38 cents per share, compared with $2.04 billion, or 39 cents per share, in the year-ago period. Excluding one-time items, Oracle posted an adjusted profit of 46 cents per share.
Sales fell 4% from the same quarter last year to $6.86 billion.
On average, Wall Street analysts expected a lower profit of 44 cents per share on $6.4 billion in revenue.
New software license sales dropped 13% from year-ago levels to $2.74 billion, a sign that Oracle’s customers are holding off in buying new versions of the company’s proprietary software. License updates and product support grew 8%, however, to $3.05 billion.
The company is currently working to close a $7.4 billion acquisition of JAVA software maker Sun Microsystems.
As for the full fiscal year, Oracle said it saw a profit of $5.59 billion, on sales of $23.25 billion.
Looking ahead, Oracle said it expects revenue for the current first quarter to fall 1% to 4% from last year-’s levels, while analysts expect a 5% drop. The company predicted a first quarter profit of 29 cents to 31 cents per share, excluding items, while analysts currently see 30 cents per share.
Oracle shares rose $1.47, or +7.4%, in morning trading Wednesday.
Oracle Shares Rise On Better-Than-Expected Results
Oracle Corp. (ORCL) shares jumped Wednesday morning after the software giant beat Wall Street's estimates for its fourth fiscal quarter and issued a better-than-expected forecast for the current period.
In early trading Wednesday, Oracle shares were up 8.2% to $21.50 - setting the stock's highest level in nearly 10 months.
Late Tuesday, the maker of enterprise software reported a 7% decline in earnings for the quarter ended May 31. Total revenue fell 5% to $6.9 billion while sales of new software licenses fell 13% to $2.7 billion. Those results still came in ahead of estimates from analysts.
For the current period, Oracle projected earnings to come in between 31 and 33 cents a share. Analysts have been anticipating first-quarter earnings excluding special items of 30 cents a share, according to Thomson Reuters.
"The quarter was very clean with little to pick on, and in our view, provided a good example of the power of the traditional software perpetual license model plus maintenance, when coupled with consistent execution," John DiFucci of J.P. Morgan wrote in a note to clients Wednesday.
Oracle remains popular on Wall Street, with more than two-thirds of the analysts covering the stock maintaining a buy rating.
The company's shares have gained about 20% since the first of the year, compared to a 14% rise for the Nasdaq. The stock remains below the $24 median price target set by analysts.
"We continue to favor Oracle as a relative outperformer during this downturn because of its large base of recurring maintenance revenues; business diversity (product set, end markets, and geographies); and earnings and cash flow stability," David Hilal of Friedman Billings Ramsey wrote in a report.
Some remain cautious, however, given the state of the economy as well as the company's pending acquisition of Sun Microsystems (JAVA).
"We continue to believe that Oracle's standalone margin profile is unsustainable, and the pending acquisition/integration of Sun is going to be more challenging than the current valuation implies," wrote Peter Goldmacher of Cowen & Co., who rates the stock as neutral. "We believe ongoing consolidation, particularly among the top four enterprise IT providers (Oracle, IBM, Cisco, and Hewlett-Packard) is going to fracture previous go-to-market partnerships, disrupt indirect sales channels and lead to pricing wars."
In early trading Wednesday, Oracle shares were up 8.2% to $21.50 - setting the stock's highest level in nearly 10 months.
Late Tuesday, the maker of enterprise software reported a 7% decline in earnings for the quarter ended May 31. Total revenue fell 5% to $6.9 billion while sales of new software licenses fell 13% to $2.7 billion. Those results still came in ahead of estimates from analysts.
For the current period, Oracle projected earnings to come in between 31 and 33 cents a share. Analysts have been anticipating first-quarter earnings excluding special items of 30 cents a share, according to Thomson Reuters.
"The quarter was very clean with little to pick on, and in our view, provided a good example of the power of the traditional software perpetual license model plus maintenance, when coupled with consistent execution," John DiFucci of J.P. Morgan wrote in a note to clients Wednesday.
Oracle remains popular on Wall Street, with more than two-thirds of the analysts covering the stock maintaining a buy rating.
The company's shares have gained about 20% since the first of the year, compared to a 14% rise for the Nasdaq. The stock remains below the $24 median price target set by analysts.
"We continue to favor Oracle as a relative outperformer during this downturn because of its large base of recurring maintenance revenues; business diversity (product set, end markets, and geographies); and earnings and cash flow stability," David Hilal of Friedman Billings Ramsey wrote in a report.
Some remain cautious, however, given the state of the economy as well as the company's pending acquisition of Sun Microsystems (JAVA).
"We continue to believe that Oracle's standalone margin profile is unsustainable, and the pending acquisition/integration of Sun is going to be more challenging than the current valuation implies," wrote Peter Goldmacher of Cowen & Co., who rates the stock as neutral. "We believe ongoing consolidation, particularly among the top four enterprise IT providers (Oracle, IBM, Cisco, and Hewlett-Packard) is going to fracture previous go-to-market partnerships, disrupt indirect sales channels and lead to pricing wars."
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