In the 2003-2008 area some java applets in banking/finance/investing were much more evolved than back then HTML implementations - comparing only browser usage in desktops as samrtphones had not happened in a big way.

Startup time and to a lesser degree UI performance in desktop is one of the clear java drawbacks with growing complexity - much worse than IDL based stuff and a clear win often for every direct C/ASM/Delphi stuff. Java also often more functional with less options/tries for eye candy - which is good enough for me, but I know that I am not the typical user. But there are solid/workable implementations in java from quite a few areas - perhaps not "inspired" or ground-breaking, but those might actually piss off a sizable portion of potential user base. At least a two edged sword ;-)

>I'm talking about more than just phone. I have yet to see a compelling Java UI on ANY platform.
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>>If you implement via Cordova[Phonegap] or similar [half]-HTML/JS using the built-in browser as display engine, which solves some differences between iOS and android by being just webview-based (yes, Google branched) at least part of that is still portable and not too far away from IE on WP8. Re compelling UI: IMO iOS apps shine at least partially because of the tighter range of display options to consider, partially because of the tighter range of OS variations to consider and partially probably because on better chances of monetizing per individual user/greater monetization of overall app store. Blaming poorer UI of android - which DOES happen, but not always - on Java "reasons" IMO comes after above mentioned reasons.