Param Singh, senior director of Java marketing, described Java FX as layer that fits on top of Java for rich internet applications, many of which are currently done with Adobe Flash and competing software.

Citing industry estimates, Sun says Java is already installed on more than 90 percent of desktop and laptop computers and 85 percent of mobile devices. The company claims Java is present on more than 800 million desktop computers and over six billion internet-connected devices. Java is also the pervasive platform for server-side infrastructure and widely incorporated on next-generation TVs, Blu-ray disc players and set top boxes, according to Sun.

With Java FX 1.0—delivered as a set of three components, the JavaFX Development Environment, the JavaFX Production Suite and the JavaFX Desktop—Sun is providing developers with a compelling reason to choose Java as the platform for content that is going to be accessed by desktops, browsers mobile devices and TVs, Singh said.

"It's been very hard for content producers that have to say, 'We need to pick a platform.' That's where Sun believes the combination of Java and Java FX is a natural choice," Singh said.

JavaFX offers a "drag-to-Install feature" that allows users to simply drag and drop JavaFX applications from their browers to desktops. End users will now be able to move applets that are running in their browser directly onto their desktop, providing a widget-like experience for all of their Java applications and applets, according to Sun (Santa Clara, Calif.)

Sun says JavaFX shortens the production cycle for Java developers and web designers and makes it easy to create applications integrating graphics, video, audio, animation and rich text. Developers can use the JavaFX mobile emulator to preview their applications on the forthcoming JavaFX mobile platform, which will be available to Sun's mobile partners in spring 2009, Sun said.

JavaFX 1.0 is available for download on the JavaFX website.