Dr. Andy Tiller, Chief Technology Officer for the popular ShoZu service for sharing camera phone videos and photos on the web, outlines the use of JSR 75 in the Java ME version of the ShoZu application, and why the ability of Sony Ericsson camera phones to run a Java ME app in "minimized" mode was so useful.   The ShoZu picture and video blogging app is now available for free download from Sony Ericsson's Fun & Downloads website in 65 countries. Previously, ShoZu could be downloaded only from ShoZu's own website.

About ShoZu
ShoZu's image sharing service enables end-users to quickly transmit camera phone videos and photos, at a high resolution, to many Internet destinations. Images can be sent to Buzznet, Flickr, Kodak EasyShare Gallery, Textamerica, Webshots, popular blogging platforms, personal blog sites and citizen photojournalism sites, without suspending phone calls or other phone activities while the image is transferring, or having to start over if the connection is dropped.

The service also enables users to add descriptions and tags either before or after uploading, and receive and reply to online comments posted at the destination sites without waiting to get to their computers. 

ShoZu supports 12 Sony Ericsson camera phones with one Java file, including the W810i and W900i Walkman phones.

JSR 75 and "minimized" mode
ShoZu uploads videos and photos captured with the native camera (rather than with the Java ME application) from the phone to destinations on the web. It therefore needs to access the phone's filing system, where the videos and photos are stored, using JSR 75 (PDA Optional Packages File & PIM API), as well as accessing the internet.

"Sony Ericsson was the first manufacturer to provide a Java platform suitable for ShoZu and the K750i was the very first handset to run the Java ME version," says Dr. Andy Tiller, Chief Technology Officer at ShoZu Inc.
 
"In addition to JSR 75, ShoZu benefits from other features of Sony Ericsson's Java platform, in particular the ability for Java apps to run in 'minimized' mode," Andy continues.

ShoZu resumes uploads automatically from the point of failure following any kind of interruption, so it survives being interrupted by phone calls, loss of network coverage, dead batteries etc. However, Java applications can only transfer data when the app is actually running. The ability for the user to "minimize" the app whilst making phone calls, texting or browsing allows ShoZu to keep trickling the data through in the background whenever it gets an opportunity.

"The user can simply select photos, click once for ShoZu to upload them to a chosen destination on the web, minimize and carry on using their phone as normal," explains Andy.

	Example screenshots from ShoZu.

Fun & Downloads
Fun & Downloads is a Sony Ericsson web portal and WAP service, offering Sony Ericsson mobile phone users high-quality content for download. It showcases a selection of first-class content from Sony Ericsson and partners with whom we have distribution agreements. The objective is to promote the use of the phone and give end-users a rich experience which in turn will contribute to increased sales.
 
Focusing on fun and entertainment, the content offering on Fun & Downloads includes ringtones, images, video clips, wallpapers, themes, animated content, games and applications for a wide range of Java ME platform Sony Ericsson phones.
 
Fun & Downloads content varies by geographical region and country, with a mix of branded, premium and free downloads, as well as on-line tools and services. ShoZu is available for free download in 65 countries>>  

About ShoZu Inc.
ShoZu specializes in interactive media solutions that enable cellphone users to get more out of the mobile experience, providing fast and easy handset access to multimedia web content ranging from photo portals to blogs, videocasts and podcasts.  Services include 'ZuCasts' delivered directly to handsets on a subscription basis, one-click uploading of camera phone images and video clips, and two-way message exchange with community websites. The company's patented technology transfers any kind of data effortlessly and inexpensively between a mobile phone and the Internet without the need to open a mobile phone browser, wait for pages to load, interrupt phone calls, start over in the event of a dropped connection, or sync to a PC. Visit ShoZu's website.

More information:

• Fun & Downloads>>
• Visit ShoZu's website>> 
• Read ShoZu's Fun & Downloads press release>>