With Java SE 6 Update 10, currently in beta release, the new Java Plug-in includes a draggable feature for applets. This feature allows users to extend their browser experience to the desktop. For developers it means improved flexibility and simplicity in deploying JavaFX applications.
JavaFX bridges the gap between designers and application developers, with a suite of tools that let them collaborate more efficiently on joint projects. As part of Project Nile, Sun is providing a suite of tools and plugins for Adobe® Photoshop® CS3 and Adobe® Illustrator® CS3 that allow graphical assets to be easily exported into JavaFX applications.
JavaFX applications will run anywhere Java applications will run, because they run within the context of a Java Virtual Machine (JVM). The JVM is present on over 84% of PC desktops worldwide, and virtually all desktops in the enterprise.
The JVM is supported by all major browsers including the Firefox, Internet Explorer and Safari. The JVM is also present on over a billion mobile devices and on a number of television set-top boxes and all Blu-rayTM DVD players.
Ubiquity of the JVM combined with the cross-platform design of JavaFX will ensure that your applications will look and behave consistently across all devices.
JavaFX is built on the robust and powerful Java platform so your JavaFX applications automatically get all the advantages of the high-performance features of the Java technology.
The superior Java runtime enables JavaFX to easily turbocharge user experience with built-in support for hardware acceleration and superior vector graphics in your browser and your desktop. JavaFX applications can seamlessly integrate rich media such as 2D vector graphics, animation, native audio and video.
JavaFX leverages the power of Java technology by allowing you to use any Java library within a JavaFX application. This way you can preserve your investment in Java technology and make use of the revolutionary presentation capabilities of JavaFX to build engaging visual experiences.
JavaFX provides a rich set of features that allow you to build dynamic visual interfaces. You can easily add geometric shapes and primitives to applications and enhance them with compelling effects such as alpha blending, filters, and gradient fills.
JavaFX applications can include motion effects with transformations, keyframe animation and tweening. JavaFX also provides rich text capabilities with advanced font-rendering and anti-aliasing.
JavaFX provides a new scripting language, JavaFX Script, designed for web scripters and application developers who like to program in a visual context. JavaFX Script is a simple, declarative, scripting language that is easy to learn, and it allows developers to write code that closely matches the layout of the GUI. At the same time, the language is fully object-oriented, complete with method and attributes thus allowing expert programmers to build highly complex and robust interfaces.
JavaFX Script provides seamless interactivity with Java, and allows programmers to use Java classes to harness into functionality that is not directly supported in JavaFX Script.
JavaFX takes advantage of many Java Swing classes behind the scenes, bringing you an amazing breadth of functionality without the complexity of Swing. This allows you to continue building robust and high-performance GUIs quickly and efficiently.