Apple released the two updates, Java for Mac OS X 10.6 Update 1 and Java for Mac OS X 10.5 Update 6, on Thursday. Both include a number of security fixes for the cross-platform technology, with the Leopard update being the heftier of the two, weighing in at 122MB.
The Leopard update, which requires Mac OS X 10.5.8 brings J2SE 5.0 to 1.5.0_22 and Java SE 6 to 1.6.0_17; J2SE 1.4.2 is disabled by default in this update, as it’s no longer being updated. The 78MB Snow Leopard update brings Java SE 6 to 1.6.0_17 as well, and requires Mac OS X 10.6.2.
you can run down the full list for the Snow Leopard or Leopard flavors of the update. Both fix a number of vulnerabilities in Java 1.6.0_15, including one that could allow an untrusted Java applet to obtain elevated privileges, with which it could potentially do nasty things. The Leopard update also mortars a number of chinks in Java 1.5.0_20 along the same lines as above.
Download
The updates are available now via Apple’s Support downloads page or in Software Update; something tells me you’ve probably got just enough time to grab a cup of coffee while they install.
Java software allows you to run applications called "applets" that are written in the Java programming language. These applets allow you to have a much richer experience online than simply interacting with static HTML pages. Java Plug-in technology, included as part of the Java 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (JRE), establishes a connection between popular browsers and the Java platform. Java allows applications to be downloaded over a network and run within a guarded sandbox. Security restrictions are easily imposed on the sandbox. Many cross platform applications also require Java to operate properly.
Sun updates JavaFX and Java SE
Sun Microsystems has delivered updates to JavaFX, its platform for rich Internet application development, and to Java Platform Standard Edition. The Sun software, first released in December 2008, is a framework and language. It provides a unified model for developing internet applications running across different types of devices. The platform is integrated with the Java Runtime Environment (JRE), so JavaFX applications will run on any device that already supports Java. Similar offerings from other vendors include Adobe's Flash Player and Microsoft's Silverlight.
Right now, JavaFX is used to build applications for the desktop, Web browsers, mobile phones, TV set-top boxes, gaming consoles and Blu-ray players. Sun plans to tailor it to other devices as well and, at JavaOne, the company demonstrated JavaFX running on a next-generation television.
The new version includes a new cross-platform user interface library, faster start-up for applications and the Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) for streaming media support, Sun said.
