A new feature article, titled “Using and Programming Generics in J2SE 5.0,” provides an introduction to programming with generics, one of the most frequently requested language extensions to the Java language, which was added in J2SE 5.0.

Read about it here:
http://java.sun.com/developer/technicalArticles/J2SE/generics/

Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB) technology is a J2EE technology for developing business components in a component-based, enterprise Java application. There’s a new article available that addresses an overview of EJB technology and information on developing an Enterprise Bean with EJB.

Read about it here:
http://java.sun.com/developer/technicalArticles/ebeans/ejbease/index.html

The OpenPKG project released version 2.2 of their unique RPM-based cross-platform Unix software packaging facility. OpenPKG 2.2 consists of 528 selected (from a pool of 800) packages which include latest versions of popular Unix software like Apache, Bash, BIND, GCC, INN, Mozilla, MySQL, OpenSSH, Perl, Postfix, PostgreSQL, Samba, Squid, teTeX and Vim — all carefully packaged for easy deployment on 18 different Unix platforms, including FreeBSD 4.10/5.3, Debian GNU/Linux 3.0/3.1, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3, Fedora Core 2, SuSE Linux 9.0/9.1, and especially Sun Solaris 2.6, 8, 9 and 10.

On October 14th, Sun announced results for its fiscal first quarter ending September 26th, 2004.

Revenues for the first quarter grew to $2.628 billion, an increase of 3.6 percent as compared with $2.536 billion for the first quarter of fiscal 2004.

Sun and NVIDIA Corporation today announced that they have joined forces to deliver leading NVIDIA Quadro[R] graphics solutions on Sun Java Workstations running Solaris, Windows or Linux operating systems. Through this alliance, Sun has bundled NVIDIA[R] technology with its recently announced Sun Java Workstations W1100z and W2100z, based on the AMD Opteron processor with Direct Connect Architecture. Sun is committed to delivering NVIDIA technologies with future Sun products, and the two companies are working together to tune and optimize the OpenGL implementation for Solaris on x86 and deliver an open, standards-based development environment.

The Web services architecture is based on a suite of specifications that define rich functions and that may be composed to meet varied service requirements. A crucial application for these services is in the area of systems
management. Read about it here:
http://developers.sun.com/techtopics/webservices/management/

The Java Desktop System environment for Solaris x86 is now available for download (30-day trial).

The Spring 2005 SUPerG call for papers is open. IT Architects using Sun Solutions are encouraged to participate and submit abstracts and biographies to: http://www.sun.com/datacenter/superg
Submission Deadline: 27 October, 2004

A brief look at Scott McNealy sizing up Sun’s competitors from The Register point of view, a view probably share by many others.

The Register reported Sun’s new UltraSPARC IV+ processor, codename Panther (second generation of dual-core design) and Sun’s success in courting Siebel to port their CRM Enterprise Edition to Solaris x86.

According to this Internetnews.com article, the jury in NY found Sun’s Java technology infringed on Kodak’s patents. Kodak is asking for $1.6 billion in damages. Sun will likely appeal the case or settle with Kodak.

Sun Career Accelerator Packages are the affordable way to prep for certification. Enroll now and receive a Sony PlayStation2! Certification paths include:
– Java technology
– Solaris OS

US: http://training.sun.com/US/catalog/cp15pla.html
CAN: http://training.sun.com/CA/catalogue/cp15pla.html

Be the personal beneficiary of more than 100 new features contributed by 160 top experts in the industry. The Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition is one of the largest technical undertakings ever achieved by the Java Community Process.
Download today.
http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.5.0/download.jsp

Rich Teer has spent the last 3.5 years writting the new book from Sun Press Solaris Systems Programming. This book is essential reading and reference for all SysAdmins and developers, of not just Solaris but any UNIX platform. SunHelp.org and Cuddletech have teamed up and you can read a full review of the book here. Even if you have no desire to do systems level programming, if you plan on using DTrace you’ll find this book an essential reference.