There are a couple of reasons why Sun avoided access to the various parts of a device:
- security
- ease of defining an API suitable to the tens and tens of device manufacturers
I think what you'll see is improvements in two areas:
- new APIs will get defined once the initial release J2ME is out there on rela devices, and stable. Let's say in 6-12 months.
- device manufacturers will add their own device-specific libraries to give you access.
It will come, but don't forget, when plain old Java arrived in the mid-90s, it didn't have the rich API it has now, and it was still reasonably successful. I think J2ME will go the same way - its no miracle cure for mobile programming right now, but if Sun and other vendors (s/w & h/w) persevere, then it will become successful. But give it a year or two more, eh!
------------------
Richard Taylor
Author of
Professional Java Mobile Programming