According to the numbers in a recent Business Week article it appears that Java is losing momemtum.  From my observations, I wouldn't go so far as to say that Java is going the way of Cobol, APA, et.al., but if the numbers are correct, it does appear to be losing steam. From my observations, my programming colleagues seem to enjoy the LAMP environement and the rate at which they can bring projects to fruition.Â
Java is dead in the same way that Google is slaying Microsoft, and Linux is putting Windows out to pasture. It's pure hyperbole by overly-enthusiastic advocates of alternate technologies.
The biggest hype right now? Ruby on Rails will destroy Java. I'll believe it when I see it...