Ever wanted to run the same midlets (small Java applications) on your Pocket PC as on your mobile phone? Ever wanted to use the great alternative Web browser Opera Mini or the great mapping software Google Maps on your Pocket PC? Read on!
It was over half a year ago that IBM released the last, 6.1.0 version of their well-known Personal Java / Midlet environment J9 (read the tutorial here).
As with the previous version, the distribution isn’t available on major Pocket PC software resellers like Handango; only on IBM’s official download page. You will need to register yourself in there in order to be able to download the environment – Personal Profile (PP) if you need to run smaller, PP-compliant (!) stand-alone Java applications (NOT Java applets inside Pocket Internet Explorer / Internet Explorer Mobile – IBM J9 has never supported them!) and the MIDP 2.0 version if you want to run midlets like the above-mentioned two "killer" midlets, Opera Mini or Google Maps. Note that the Midlet version, as with the previous 6.1.0 version, comes in two flawors: a VGA and a QVGA one. If you have a VGA device, get the former.
After downloading (make sure you also get the installation instructions PDF file and don’t mistake Windows CE 5 for Window Mobile 5 – you’ll need the latter only), execute the file (it’s been downloaded to c:\DownloadDirector\) and extract c:\Program Files\IBM\WEME\runtimes\61\wm50-arm-vga-midp20\weme-wm50-arm-hires-midp20_6.1.1.20061110-161633.zip (VGA MIDP), c:\Program Files\IBM\WEME\runtimes\61\wm50-arm-midp20\weme-wm50-arm-midp20_6.1.1.20061110-161633.zip (QVGA MIDP) or c:\Program Files\IBM\WEME\runtimes\61\wm50-arm-ppro11\weme-wm50-arm-ppro11_6.1.1.20061110-161633.zip (Personal Profile). Transfer the contents of the (unpacked) bin and lib subdirectories anywhere on your Pocket PC (note that the installation instructions instruct you to copy these two directories under \J9\MIDP in the main storage. This isn’t needed: a storage card will do too) and, then, do what “Installing and running a demo MIDlet” (the MIDP version) or “Running a demo application” (the PP version) states. Note that you can (and, if you plan to install many midlets, should!) still use the registry import script I’ve provided (see the “My registry script” section in my previous tutorial) for 6.1.0 to greatly ease midlet deployment; as with the previous version, make sure you change all occurrences of “\\SD Card\\J9-MIDP” to the current path of your J9 home in it before importing.
Screenshots of the new version running Opera Mini 3.0.6540 Advanced (also see this article; the JAR file is available for download here; simply download it and click on it after transferring it onto your PDA and importing my above-mentioned registry import file if you don't want to deploy it by hand, in the very awkward way the official IBM documentation recommends) on my WM2003SE VGA Pocket Loox 720: 1 2; on my WM5 VGA Dell Axim x51v.
Note that, when I tested, neither the “mainstream” nor the “high-end” version of Google Maps worked with neither the latest Intent Midlet Manager (THE Midlet manager for Pocket PC Phone Edition users; do read the article if your current PPC PE device is not the latest one and has an old(er) ROM on it) nor J9 6.1.1 (screenshots: former; latter; another screenshot of Intent running Opera Mini 3.0). Other users, however, reported success and flawless execution with GMaps – with both J9 6.1.1 (as opposed to the very slow 6.1.0) and Intent (click the links for user reports).
Unfortunately, the new version still doesn’t make use of the WM5 softkeys, unlike the new version of Intent Midlet Manager, in which the whole interface, all yes/no questions etc. (and, of course, all apps like Opera Mini) work just great via the WM5 softkeys.
Please note that I haven’t tested the WM5 compliance of the new Personal Profile J9 version (its WM5 compliance was (still?) rather problematic with 6.1.0) – now that Toonel, the, for Pocket PC users, most important Personal Profile-based Java application, received a native Windows Mobile version, there’s no point any more in using the Java-based one on the WM platform.
I just had a look on the site - am I correct in understanding that this release has no support for PPC2003SE edition phones?
I downloaded the previous version of this, which also worked with Google Satelite Maps, but didn't work with the GMail application (couldn't connect to network error) or the Opera Mini application (becuase the program doesn't have an even that fires after entering text in a textbox, meaning that searches never get executed, and links were unable to be clicked)
CJBS said:
I just had a look on the site - am I correct in understanding that this release has no support for PPC2003SE edition phones?
I downloaded the previous version of this, which also worked with Google Satelite Maps, but didn't work with the GMail application (couldn't connect to network error) or the Opera Mini application (becuase the program doesn't have an even that fires after entering text in a textbox, meaning that searches never get executed, and links were unable to be clicked)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It supports WM2003+; it's just that they list it as a "WM5" version.
IBM Midlet Manager - 6.1.1 - working on Blue Angel PPC2003SE
Works
Well, I got it working on my Blue Angel PPC2003SE. Google Maps, Opera Mini, and the GMail app all work fine.
Directory Structure
It's a bit of a troublesome installation process. I don't know why they didn't just have an installer like the 5.7 version. Still, I was able to install it to my storage card. My directory structure is as follows:
\Storage\IBM Midlet Manager\ (with no contents)
\Storage\IBM Midlet Manager\bin
\Storage\IBM Midlet Manager\lib
Shortcuts
It's possible to create shortcuts to individual applications by creating a shortcut, and then setting the parameter to the index of the Midelet as seen in the Midlet Manager. For example, I've got a shortcut to the Opera Mini app (which appears first in the list when running the Manager). It's shortcut is as follows:
"\Storage\IBM Midlet Manager\bin\emulator.exe" "-Xjam:run=1"
The "1" at the end is the index of the applicaion to run. So, in my case, "2" would be for the GMail app. It's actually possible to substitute the index "1" with the storage name for the application, however I was unable to find out how to retrieve the storage name. (It is possible to use the -Xjam:list parameter to list the storage names, but these aren't output to a dialog, and I don't have a command line program on my PPC.) Using the storage name would be better, as it would mean that each time a new application is uninstalled, the other shortcuts affected wouldn't need to be updated as a result of their indexes changing.
Font Files
It's possible to change the fonts used in the Midlets, too. There's a file in the lib subdrectory (in my structure, it's \Storage\IBM Midlet Manager\lib\jclMidp20\fontPaths.properties). Just substitute the names of the fonts with fonts that exist on your PPC. For example, to display Chinese characters, I substituted LcduiSystemFont: Windows\tahoma.ttf to become LcduiSystemFont: Windows\sunglobe.ttf - note that I have the sunglobe.ttf file in the \Windows directory. This may not work with all fonts. Ensure that when editing the file, it is saved in ANSI format, not Unicode (otherwise the MIDlet Manager won't load).
Gmail App
Note that in order to use the Gmail app, which is still in Beta, you'll need to have your language set to "English - US". THis can be done on the PC on the Gmail.com site by clicking Settings.
Google Maps - Fatal Error (upon loading)
Initially, after installing Google Maps, I was unable to run the aplication. The app would load the first part of the Terms and Conditions page, wait for about 20 seconds, and then present a dialog "Fatal error. Please exit and restart." I noted that it didn't even try and connect to the Google Server (as per the network data window, part of an app I have on my PPC). It turned out that I had another midlet (map-related - I can't remember the name) that used the Google Maps server, amongst other map data providers. I uninstalled both this applicaion, and the Google Maps application, reloaded the Midlet Manager, and then re-installed the Google Maps application. It then worked.
Google Maps - Hong Kong maps
Google has recently introduced road map files for Hong Kong, China (search for Hong Kong, China on the web at http://map.google.com, and you'll see it). However, when I use the Midlet Version, the (road) maps for Hong Kong don't exist - it seems that the PC version and the Midlet version are sourced from different locations/servers...
PenPower conflict
I use the trial version of PenPower on my PPC. This allows input of 50 drawn Chinese Characters per device reset. The first time that a character is drawn, this interfers with the main window process on the device and causes a lock. If running the Midlet Manager with this program, the Midlet manager may seem to stall. If this is the case, simply draw another character (or just a squiggle), and the lock will be broken, leaving the application to continue running.
CJBS said:
Works
Well, I got it working on my Blue Angel PPC2003SE. Google Maps, Opera Mini, and the GMail app all work fine.
Directory Structure
It's a bit of a troublesome installation process. I don't know why they didn't just have an installer like the 5.7 version. Still, I was able to install it to my storage card. My directory structure is as follows:
\Storage\IBM Midlet Manager\ (with no contents)
\Storage\IBM Midlet Manager\bin
\Storage\IBM Midlet Manager\lib
Shortcuts
It's possible to create shortcuts to individual applications by creating a shortcut, and then setting the parameter to the index of the Midelet as seen in the Midlet Manager. For example, I've got a shortcut to the Opera Mini app (which appears first in the list when running the Manager). It's shortcut is as follows:
"\Storage\IBM Midlet Manager\bin\emulator.exe" "-Xjam:run=1"
The "1" at the end is the index of the applicaion to run. So, in my case, "2" would be for the GMail app. It's actually possible to substitute the index "1" with the storage name for the application, however I was unable to find out how to retrieve the storage name. (It is possible to use the -Xjam:list parameter to list the storage names, but these aren't output to a dialog, and I don't have a command line program on my PPC.) Using the storage name would be better, as it would mean that each time a new application is uninstalled, the other shortcuts affected wouldn't need to be updated as a result of their indexes changing.
Font Files
It's possible to change the fonts used in the Midlets, too. There's a file in the lib subdrectory (in my structure, it's \Storage\IBM Midlet Manager\lib\jclMidp20\fontPaths.properties). Just substitute the names of the fonts with fonts that exist on your PPC. For example, to display Chinese characters, I substituted LcduiSystemFont: Windows\tahoma.ttf to become LcduiSystemFont: Windows\sunglobe.ttf - note that I have the sunglobe.ttf file in the \Windows directory. This may not work with all fonts. Ensure that when editing the file, it is saved in ANSI format, not Unicode (otherwise the MIDlet Manager won't load).
Gmail App
Note that in order to use the Gmail app, which is still in Beta, you'll need to have your language set to "English - US". THis can be done on the PC on the Gmail.com site by clicking Settings.
Google Maps - Fatal Error (upon loading)
Initially, after installing Google Maps, I was unable to run the aplication. The app would load the first part of the Terms and Conditions page, wait for about 20 seconds, and then present a dialog "Fatal error. Please exit and restart." I noted that it didn't even try and connect to the Google Server (as per the network data window, part of an app I have on my PPC). It turned out that I had another midlet (map-related - I can't remember the name) that used the Google Maps server, amongst other map data providers. I uninstalled both this applicaion, and the Google Maps application, reloaded the Midlet Manager, and then re-installed the Google Maps application. It then worked.
Google Maps - Hong Kong maps
Google has recently introduced road map files for Hong Kong, China (search for Hong Kong, China on the web at http://map.google.com, and you'll see it). However, when I use the Midlet Version, the (road) maps for Hong Kong don't exist - it seems that the PC version and the Midlet version are sourced from different locations/servers...
PenPower conflict
I use the trial version of PenPower on my PPC. This allows input of 50 drawn Chinese Characters per device reset. The first time that a character is drawn, this interfers with the main window process on the device and causes a lock. If running the Midlet Manager with this program, the Midlet manager may seem to stall. If this is the case, simply draw another character (or just a squiggle), and the lock will be broken, leaving the application to continue running.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wowz! Excellent summary, congrats!! Will link it from the next iteration of the article!
I have working google maps and other midlets since april 2006
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=265426
Menneisyys said:
Wowz! Excellent summary, congrats!! Will link it from the next iteration of the article!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cheers!
HDJ80 said:
I have working google maps and other midlets since april 2006
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=265426
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That was also with a former version of the IBM Midlet Manager. The problem I had was this:-
The IBM Midlet Manager, in previous versions, did run Google Maps properly (including the ability to view JPEG Satellite maps), but ran neither Opera Mini nor the GMail app properly (for reasons described in a previous post)
The Xda's included Midlet Manger ran all aforementioned apps, yet for some reason didn't support the JPEG Satellite Maps in Google Maps (which, in HK, with no map data, basically rendered it useless!)
The newer versions of the Xda Midlet Manger, which alleviate these issues, only works on WM5, and I have a 2003SE PPC
Anyway, this new v6.1.1 IBM Midlet Manger seems to meet all of my needs, despite its circuitous installation procedure.
It would be good, however, if the PenPower program didn't interfere with it, though, as it doesn't interfer with the Xda Midlet Manager. Still, it's more an issue with PenPower than the IBM product.
can anyone here upload this IBM JVM(ppc qvga version) somewhere?...cause i can't register in their site...they said the can't processed my registration info at the moment.
please upload it somewhere....cause my gsmart i120i default midlet manager can't install opera mini advanced(only support the basic version).
thanx in advance
meisocool said:
can anyone here upload this IBM JVM(ppc qvga version) somewhere?...cause i can't register in their site...they said the can't processed my registration info at the moment.
please upload it somewhere....cause my gsmart i120i default midlet manager can't install opera mini advanced(only support the basic version).
thanx in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if its too much to upload it somewhere...at least show me the link to download it other than the ibm site,cause i can't download from there and it's only demo not full version,
thx
Hi CJBS,
I'm using SDA smartphone with wm5. I installed the file like this post says: http://www.mgmaps.com/winset/. I tried and got this error.
Invalid fontPaths.properties detected. Please delete fontPaths.properties in /lib/jclMidp20/ and restart the MIDlet.
When I first installed J9 in my computer, there was no such a file. Now it's created with 0 byte. It's not like what you have with LcduiSystemFont: Windows\tahoma.ttf.
I deleted that file, it creates another empty one and says The font file paths are set incorrectly. Please edit fontPaths.properties in /lib/jclMidp20/ to point to the appropriate font files from the system font folder.
Actually, I changed the system font according to this post: http://www.airfagev.com/howtos_details.asp?id=77. And I'm also using sunglobe.ttf and the whole path is \Windows\Fonts\sunglobe.ttf. So I edited the fontPaths.properties file like you said "LcduiSystemFont: Windows\sungbloe.ttf". But I still have the problem.
Could you give me any advice?
Thanks a lot.
cunyalen:- I've noted that your issues relate to fonts. I also note that, after reviewing your other posts, that you're currently using FontOnStorage (see http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=1258090#post1258090). If you try removing this program, and re-installing as per the instructions documented, you may avoid the issue with fonts not being referenced correctly - Windows Mobile doesn't just look for physical font files in the file system, they are controlled through the registry as well (something that FontOnStorage also modifies)...
Does anybody have a link where I can download this at . For some reason I get plenty errors when trying to download from the site. I have the T-mobile MDA
CJBS said:
Works
Well, I got it working on my Blue Angel PPC2003SE. Google Maps, Opera Mini, and the GMail app all work fine.
Directory Structure
It's a bit of a troublesome installation process. I don't know why they didn't just have an installer like the 5.7 version. Still, I was able to install it to my storage card. My directory structure is as follows:
\Storage\IBM Midlet Manager\ (with no contents)
\Storage\IBM Midlet Manager\bin
\Storage\IBM Midlet Manager\lib
Shortcuts
It's possible to create shortcuts to individual applications by creating a shortcut, and then setting the parameter to the index of the Midelet as seen in the Midlet Manager. For example, I've got a shortcut to the Opera Mini app (which appears first in the list when running the Manager). It's shortcut is as follows:
"\Storage\IBM Midlet Manager\bin\emulator.exe" "-Xjam:run=1"
The "1" at the end is the index of the applicaion to run. So, in my case, "2" would be for the GMail app. It's actually possible to substitute the index "1" with the storage name for the application, however I was unable to find out how to retrieve the storage name. (It is possible to use the -Xjam:list parameter to list the storage names, but these aren't output to a dialog, and I don't have a command line program on my PPC.) Using the storage name would be better, as it would mean that each time a new application is uninstalled, the other shortcuts affected wouldn't need to be updated as a result of their indexes changing.
Font Files
It's possible to change the fonts used in the Midlets, too. There's a file in the lib subdrectory (in my structure, it's \Storage\IBM Midlet Manager\lib\jclMidp20\fontPaths.properties). Just substitute the names of the fonts with fonts that exist on your PPC. For example, to display Chinese characters, I substituted LcduiSystemFont: Windows\tahoma.ttf to become LcduiSystemFont: Windows\sunglobe.ttf - note that I have the sunglobe.ttf file in the \Windows directory. This may not work with all fonts. Ensure that when editing the file, it is saved in ANSI format, not Unicode (otherwise the MIDlet Manager won't load).
Gmail App
Note that in order to use the Gmail app, which is still in Beta, you'll need to have your language set to "English - US". THis can be done on the PC on the Gmail.com site by clicking Settings.
Google Maps - Fatal Error (upon loading)
Initially, after installing Google Maps, I was unable to run the aplication. The app would load the first part of the Terms and Conditions page, wait for about 20 seconds, and then present a dialog "Fatal error. Please exit and restart." I noted that it didn't even try and connect to the Google Server (as per the network data window, part of an app I have on my PPC). It turned out that I had another midlet (map-related - I can't remember the name) that used the Google Maps server, amongst other map data providers. I uninstalled both this applicaion, and the Google Maps application, reloaded the Midlet Manager, and then re-installed the Google Maps application. It then worked.
Google Maps - Hong Kong maps
Google has recently introduced road map files for Hong Kong, China (search for Hong Kong, China on the web at http://map.google.com, and you'll see it). However, when I use the Midlet Version, the (road) maps for Hong Kong don't exist - it seems that the PC version and the Midlet version are sourced from different locations/servers...
PenPower conflict
I use the trial version of PenPower on my PPC. This allows input of 50 drawn Chinese Characters per device reset. The first time that a character is drawn, this interfers with the main window process on the device and causes a lock. If running the Midlet Manager with this program, the Midlet manager may seem to stall. If this is the case, simply draw another character (or just a squiggle), and the lock will be broken, leaving the application to continue running.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am trying to use opera mini beta 4 to read chinese website (Big5), but i doesnt working. I tried to change the fonts in Midlets, i found the file named
fontPaths.jar, how do i edit the path? Thank You.
leepenguin said:
I am trying to use opera mini beta 4 to read chinese website (Big5), but i doesnt working. I tried to change the fonts in Midlets, i found the file named
fontPaths.jar, how do i edit the path? Thank You.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If its a program you just install it under midlets . You dont have to set a path ..
PURESKILLZZZ said:
If its a program you just install it under midlets . You dont have to set a path ..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
but i cant read chinese with opera mini beta 4? How can i fix it?
leepenguin said:
but i cant read chinese with opera mini beta 4? How can i fix it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you read chinese with opera on your computer . ? If you can what did you do to see it ? Now I would say that both versions would work in similar ways .
PURESKILLZZZ said:
Can you read chinese with opera on your computer . ? If you can what did you do to see it ? Now I would say that both versions would work in similar ways .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank You for replying
I am using O2 Xda II with english rom (AKU3.5), i have installed CE-Star 2.8 R3. I can watch chinese with opera mobile browser. But as i know, opera mobile is based on Windows Mobile. Opera mini is based on Java, i think that's why i can't read chinese.
Does this program work on WM6? I installed the program on my Dopod 900 and able to run MIDlet HQ and install the program that I want, but when I click the 'lunch', it just return back to MIDlet List.
Beside the J9, I also installed Intent MIDlet Manager but the font size is too small to read! Anyone know how to increase the font size? thanks!
leepenguin said:
Thank You for replying
I am using O2 Xda II with english rom (AKU3.5), i have installed CE-Star 2.8 R3. I can watch chinese with opera mobile browser. But as i know, opera mobile is based on Windows Mobile. Opera mini is based on Java, i think that's why i can't read chinese.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We will solve this .. We are working on it now ...
cunyalen said:
Hi CJBS,
I'm using SDA smartphone with wm5. I installed the file like this post says: http://www.mgmaps.com/winset/. I tried and got this error.
Invalid fontPaths.properties detected. Please delete fontPaths.properties in /lib/jclMidp20/ and restart the MIDlet.
When I first installed J9 in my computer, there was no such a file. Now it's created with 0 byte. It's not like what you have with LcduiSystemFont: Windows\tahoma.ttf.
I deleted that file, it creates another empty one and says The font file paths are set incorrectly. Please edit fontPaths.properties in /lib/jclMidp20/ to point to the appropriate font files from the system font folder.
Actually, I changed the system font according to this post: http://www.airfagev.com/howtos_details.asp?id=77. And I'm also using sunglobe.ttf and the whole path is \Windows\Fonts\sunglobe.ttf. So I edited the fontPaths.properties file like you said "LcduiSystemFont: Windows\sungbloe.ttf". But I still have the problem.
Could you give me any advice?
Thanks a lot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please find attached a copy of my fontPaths.properties.bak (original file), and fontPaths.properties (modified to point to fonts supporting Chinese characters -- fonts that exist on my system) included within the Zip file