Java Advanced Imaging API 1.1

Sun's Java Advanced Imaging API is an extension to the Java 2 platform that provides Java developers with a streamlined programming interface for dealing with the large and complex files typical in imaging applications. It is a free download available immediately from the Sun Web site. "Ultimately," states Ken Okin, VP and General Manager of Sun's Workstation Products department, "the Java Advanced Imaging API enhances our customers' competitiveness by reducing the time it takes them to bring their leading-edge imaging development tools and applications to market."

Multiple features in the API provide developers with a high-performance solution to the problem of handling large image files over the Web. "Tiling" allows developers to specify that an image is to be downloaded a section at a time. "Deferred execution" means that individual pixel information is processed only when necessary. And Multi-threading allows the API to process several instruction sets or programs simultaneously.

The latest release of the API (1.1) includes expanded memory support for the handlign of very large images, and supports native accleration of image operations specifically on the Sun Solaris platform.

The Java Advanced Imaging API was developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc., Autometric, Inc., Eastman Kodak, Inc., and Siemens Corporate Research, Inc.