Apple readies final in-house Java updates ahead of Oracle handoff

Apple on Friday released previews of the final two custom-built Java runtime updates for OS X before the company hands over all responsibility to Oracle.

The updates, titled "Java for OS X 2012-004" and "Java for Mac OS X 10.6 Update 9," are to be the last Apple-tailored runtimes for OS X 10.6 and 10.7 before all Mac-centric Java development moves to Oracle.

Apple dropped Java from the default installation of OS X 10.7 Lion after the company announced in 2010 that it would deprecate the software's release for the Mac platform.

In April, Oracle announced the availability of its own Java development kit and JavaFX SDK for Mac users after working on the software with the OpenJDK Community.

Most recently, a Java SE 6 exploit caused the largest malware dissemination in Mac history. The Flashback trojan was said to have affected over 600,000 Macs worldwide, mining sensitive data that reportedly netted the malicious code's authors as much as $10,000 a day.

In response to Flashback, Apple had to quickly push out a number of updates as well as a dedicated removal tool.

The final Apple-supported updates will offer compatibility with future Java implementations and will include the feature of disabling the web component after 35 days of non-usage.

From the preview notes:

Java SE 6 applets and Web Start disable after non-use

This preview contains a stub applet plug-in and a modified Web Start launcher for Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard. This technology disables these Java web components after an extended duration of non-use (35 days). This policy is already present in "Java for OS X 2012-003" for OS X 10.7 Lion.

Oracle's Java 7 applet plug-in disables Java SE 6 applets and Web Start

This preview contains additional enhancements to the OS X Java integration features to disable or redirect functionality to Oracle's Java 7 applet plug-in, if present. This includes deactivating most panels in Java Preferences, routing .jnlp file launching to the Oracle Java 7 Web Start launcher, and .jar file launching to the plug-in embedded JRE.

There has been no official word on when the updates will arrive for public consumption, but with Oracle ready to take over the rollout may happen soon.

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20 Comments

ltcommander.data

said about 11 years ago

If I'm not mistaken, Oracle is only supporting Java 7 on the Mac and Java 7 will only be officially supported for OS 10.7 Lion. This announcement then basically means Java SE 6 support for Mac, whether bug-fix or security fix, is dead and Java support for Snow Leopard is dead.

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9226696/Snow_Leopard_users_most_prone_to_Flashback_infection

This would seem problematic, because the user-base for Snow Leopard is actually still slightly larger than Lion. I'm guessing Java SE 6 is likewise still more widely used by developers than Java 7. Ideally, Apple would continue to support their Java SE 6 implementation in Snow Leopard and Lion through to the end of 2012 to coincide with Oracle's official consumer Java SE 6 EOL. By that time Mountain Lion would be released to drive down Snow Leopard user-base, the Java 7 Mac runtime would actually be shipping to consumers instead of just a developer beta, and overall Java 7 adoption would be higher.

marcusj0015

said about 11 years ago

This is why you fix every bug in the code, duh you lazy ass devs.

doh123

said about 11 years ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by marcusj0015

This is why you fix every bug in the code, duh you lazy ass devs.

hopefully thats a joke... or you are totally clueless.

dimmok

said about 11 years ago

Fuk bring the new MACS already...geez.

waybacmac

said about 11 years ago

I understand that this is all for the best in the long run but, nevertheless, I have a bad feeling about this. I think transition periods are prime times for attacks/exploits. Fortunately, I have little need for Java and normally have it turned off.

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