Maven Install on Mac

On Mac OS X 10.6, you will likely find maven already installed.

To check:

> mvn --version

> whereis mvn

/usr/bin/mvn

> ls -l /usr/bin/mvn

lrwxr-xr-x  1 root  wheel  24 Feb 26  2010 /usr/bin/mvn -> /usr/share/maven/bin/mvn

Most likely, your mvn is linked to /usr/share/maven/bin/mvn

> ls -l /usr/share/maven

lrwxr-xr-x  1 root  wheel  23 Oct 13 18:14 /usr/share/maven -> java/apache-maven-2.2.1

However, you may want to install a particular version of maven rather than the version 

Simply download maven at http://maven.apache.org/download.html

uncompress the file to get apache-maven-2.2.1 folder.  place that folder inside /usr/share/java/ folder.  

Remove the original /usr/share/maven link and link it to the new maven version. 

> sudo rm /usr/share/maven

> sudo ln -s /usr/share/java/apache-maven-2.2.1 /usr/share/maven

To check that things are done correctly:

> ls -l /usr/share/maven

> mvn --version

Javafx 2.0

Javafx 2.0 beta is released.  GA is scheduled in Q3 2011.

The big change is they finally get rid of javafx script.  Javafx will now uses Java as its language.
This is a welcoming change.  Quoting Javafx PM in oracle: "most java developers want to use the same language to develop their UI".
Potentially, this enables developers to build web applications where frontend and backend use the same language. 

Android Tablets Prediction - Android Tablets to surpass iPad

Earlier last year, I predicted that Android will surpass iPhone in sales volume.  The prediction was proven correct.  

(http://nextgenapp.blogspot.com/2010/08/wow-android-prediction-update-my.html, http://nextgenapp.blogspot.com/2010/06/android-prediction.html)

Now, I want to put forward another prediction.  Android tablets will surpass iPad sales just like Android phones surpassed iphone sales.  It may take a year or two, but it will eventually happen.

The reason is simple.  The combined innovation of multiple players will eventually overtake one single company.  As long as Apple's iOS remains a closed system, the result will be inevitable.  The history will likely repeat itself.

When I gave the prediction last year about Android will surpass iPhone, I did not think it was a difficult prediction to make.  But many many people were very skeptical about that prediction.  With the Android's success, I have a higher confidence level about my prediction this time and I certainly think there will be less skepticism about my prediction this time around.  

Let's see how things play out.

Installing AIR Runtime on Android emulator

You can find the Air Runtime.apk in Flex sdk, Flash Builder, or Flash CS5.
Then use Android's command line adb tool to install Runtime.apk.  Apk files are Android package files.

On Flash Builder Burrito, the emulator Runtime.apk is at:
/sdks/4.5.0/runtimes/air/android/Emulator/Runtime.apk

On a terminal, go to android sdk platform-tools folder
> cd /platform-tools
> ./adb -e install -r

eg.
> cd /Applications/android-sdk-mac_x86/platform-tools
> ./adb -e install -r "/Applications/Adobe Flash Builder Burrito/sdks/4.5.0/runtimes/air/android/Emulator/Runtime.apk"

After installation, you can go to emulator's settings-> applications -> android applications, you should see "Adobe AIR" as one of the application.

Done.