Do we really need another Java-like language? I would think since web development is often an "entry level" for many beginning programmers, we need languages with prettier syntax and easier to grasp, something like Python.
Dart has optional typing so it should feel familiar to you whether you have a background in Python or Java. IIRC being easy to learn is one of the explicit goals of dart.
Whats the obsession with beginner friendly languages as of late? I can understand it to some extent, but at the end of the day, as long as its size doesn't cause problems does size really cause long term issues? After all you are going to be using (and learning) the language far longer than you're going to be a beginner.
I would love to see CoffeeScript with optional typing. Easy syntax, typing support for larger projects and compilation to JavaScript. The new compiler seems like it may actually be possible to support it too.