Mobile Fragmentation is not the evil (for Flash Lite)

One of the most advantages in Flash Lite technology is that it reduces fragmentation respect to Java (J2ME). I wrote something on it months ago.
Porting a contents from one phone models to another is quite easy and fast if you use Flash Lite. We can't say the same for a Java porting.
Nobody likes to spend time for testing and debugging stuff, so I can't agree with Tom
And don't think that the only parameters that play an important role for Java fragmentation is the different screen size of devices. You have to consider how devices treat audio, video, images, device OS features  and APIs etc.
So the words "Write once, run anywhere" don't work for phones (read this past interesting article by CNET).
"Defragmentation remains a major issue," Nokia Chief Technology Officer Pertti Korhonen said during a recent speech to Java developers. "We need to reduce the fragmentation effect because interoperability is critical for today's mass market devices. We need to simplify the standard, and use open, fair and predictable licensing terms for the technology."

I like the Tom's point of view, when he said :
This does not mean that we should put effort to reduce fragmentation, but we
should find a way to balance in finding ways to reduce it, while still keeping
room for new ideas (read his The benefits of Fragmentation post).

But in my opinion we should find a way to work with innovation and new ideas without  increasing fragmentation !

In the second page I collect some articles on this topic ...... feel free to add yours.

The fragmentation effect  (JavaWorld)
Dealing with Java fragmentated landscape (Gamasutra)
J2ME Fragmentation "Thing of the Past"
Fragmentation of J2ME Platform in the Wireless Space (MicroJava)

Comments

[Marco Casario]

Thomas I didn't misread you post (I wrote that I like your point of view).
I only write my ideas on fragmentation and how it affects the mobile development landscape.
In my experience when I speak about mobile development I refer to Java and Flash Lite (and in a not far future Python ;) ).
So if I make a comparison between them I notice that Flash Lite reduce time for porting from one device to another.
I do write again :
in my opinion we (and handset manufactures) should find a way to work with innovation and new ideas without increasing fragmentation !
The way of following standard is the God, but it’s not a quick process.

[Thomas Landspurg]

Marco,

I was not talking of Java only, this apply for all techno. Flash IS a fragmenting technology, both externally, and internally. Externally, because then you have new ways to do the same task (J2ME, SVG, Flash, etc...). Internally, because you have also, within Flash, some fragmentation issues: FlashLite1.1, 2.0, handset differences, etc....
So please, do not misread my post!

[Bryan Rieger]

Thanks for the links Marco - I was just digging around for just this type of information on J2ME! Wicked!