I. These statements about Java are all false. Read the text and correct them.

1 Java was invented by Microsoft.

2 With the interpreter a program is first converted into Java bytecode.

3 Java is not compatible with most computing platforms.

4 The Java language is single-threaded, one part executing at a time.

5 Flash files are called animations.

Java is a programming language developed by Sun Microsystems, specially designed to run on the Web. Java programs (called applets) let you watch animated characters and moving text, play music, and interact with information on the screen (e.g. control animations and select options).

Java is an object-oriented language, similar to C++, but more dynamic and simplified to eliminate possible programming errors. A Java program is both compiled and interpreted. First, the source code (a file with a.java extension) is compiled and converted into a format called bytecode (a file with a.class extension), which can then be executed by a Java interpreter. Compiled Java code can run on most computers because there are Java interpreters, known as Java Virtual Machines, for most operating systems.

Java is multi-threaded, meaning a Java program can have multiple threads (parts) – that is, many different things processing independently and continuously. This enables the program to make the best use of available CPU power.

Most programmers like Java because it allows them to write applets which make web pages more interactive and attractive. They can create graphical objects (e.g. bar charts and diagrams) and new controls (e.g. check boxes and push buttons with special properties).a web page that uses Java can have sounds that play in real time, music that plays in the background, cartoon-style animations, real-time video and interactive games.

The Java Micro Edition platform (Java ME) is used in mobile devices. It provides flexible tools to create applications that run on mobile phones, PDAs, TV set-top boxes and printers. Nowadays, most phones are configured to use Java games.

One alternative to Java is Microsoft’s C#, pronounced “C sharp”, a.NET language based on C++ with elements from Visual Basic and Java. When software developers do measurements on pieces of code, sometimes Java is faster, sometimes C# is.

Another competitor is Adobe Flash technology, which supports graphics, a scripting language called ActionScript, and the streaming of audio and video. Flash is used to create animation and advertisements, to integrate video into web pages, and to develop rich internet applications such as portals. Flash files, traditionally called flash movies, have a.swf file extension. They may be an object on a web page or be played in the stand-alone Flash Player.

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