Posts Tagged “Java”

Dec 14 2010

Big News: Big Chunk of Amazon’s Kindle Was Made in Israel!

Posted by in development, gadgets, hi-tech, israel

I know I haven’t posted for awhile – been busy with another big project (PLEASE check out and like this Facebook page, if you can – http://on.fb.me/sentigo). But here’s some REALLY big news: The device that arguably started the modern tablet revolution – the Kindle – is largely the result of Israeli technology!

Not very well known until now, I heard about this from some friends of mine who work(ed) at Sun Israel, now owned by Oracle. After nearly 8 months of efforts, requests, permissions, etc., I got an opportunity to interview the team at Oracle Israel responsible for the implementation of Java that makes the Kindle go. It’s a very cool story, one that you will be able to can read in whole at the Israel21c site.

Basically, Java had to be adjusted significantly to accommodate the Kindle’s needs, and it proves the versatility of Java as a platform, as far as Oracle/Sun are concerned. But for the rest of us, the big news is that the most revolutionary (non-Apple) device of the past few years – and, probably, the device that pushed Apple to speed up development of the iPad, which led to the tablet revolution now unfolding – is a made in Israel innovation! And, I am VERY proud to have been the one to break the story (thanks Eddie and Gordon!).

Kind of brings a tear to the eye – I will never look at the Kindle the same again!

New Amazon Kindle Sells “Millions” (inquisitr.com)
Apple Backs Java Under Oracle (informationweek.com)
Amazon: ‘Millions’ of Kindles sold this quarter (news.cnet.com)
Oracle VP: “We have a strategy to run Java inside a Javascript environment” (cemerick.com)
Big News: Big Chunk of Amazon’s Kindle Was Made in Israel! (israeltech.net)

Tags: Advanced Systems Format, Amazon Kindle, Apple, IPad, israel, Java, Oracle Corporation, Sun Microsystems

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Mar 23 2010

Partying Like It’s 1999

Posted by in computers, hi-tech, israel, start-up, web 2.0

If you’ve been looking for a hi-tech job in Israel, there’s good news: New statistics indicate that the long drought in hi-tech jobs is over. A poll released last week by Israeli placement company Jobinfo says that demand for hi-tech workers is up 40% this year – while the numbers of those seeking jobs in the field has fallen dramatically, as companies retain their current workers and hire new ones.

Jobs in hardware development rose significantly – by over 30% – in the first quarter of 2010, compared to a year before. There was also a 12% increase in jobs for internet programmers – especially for developers with skills in PHP, Java, and C.

Along with the new demand, salaries have risen, the poll says. Engineers with 2 to 5 years experience are making 8% more this year than last, while salaries for web engineers have gone up as much as 20%. Jobinfo says that “The positive statistics are a positive sign that indicates that the time is ripe for hi-tech workers who lost jobs in the past to look for new ones now, and it is also an excellent time, in our opinion, for those who already have jobs to examine the opportunities in the marketplace.”

Well, of course they would say that – they’re a placement company! But still, the numbers don’t lie – and neither do the anecdotes, as a number of people I know who have been looking for quite awhile have begun new jobs in the past month or so. Yeah! Party like it’s 1999!