Java Update 1.4.2 Update 1 Now Available

[MacRumors]

Now Available via Software Update:
Java 1.4.2 Update 1 provides support for JDK 1.4.2_05, improved behavior for applets in Safari, and increased stability for desktop Java applications.

The system will be updated to Java 1.4.2 Update 1. If the system currently has Java 1.4.1, it will be removed.

For more details on this update, please visit: http://www.apple.com/java/

[Doctor Q]

Requires Mac OS X v10.3.3 or later.

[Squareball]

So here's to hoping that it makes jEdit and Eclipse more stable! JEdit was solid on Jaguar but soooo unstable with Panther.

[Frisco]

I guess this is update week!

[kerb]

heh, i just posted about this


thought it was new

[Zaty]

I guess this is update week!

Yeah, Apple is spoiling us :D

[fatfish]

So many updates, just wondering if they're being introduced for something on the horizon.

[Blue Moon]

Yeah, Apple is spoiling us :D

Yep, but we haven't been spoiled like this in awhile. I'm already salivating, Pro Application Support 2.1 as well!

[macridah]

Not a bad tuesday .... some cool announcements.

[mactastic]

Nice... updates coming in fast and furious now. Let's hope they are all stable and free of any major bugs.

[titaniumducky]

Yep, but we haven't been spoiled like this in awhile. I'm already salivating, Pro Application Support 2.1 as well!

Woh! Right on, it's in my software update.

[EyeMyke]

am i the only one a tad bit annoyed by these spread out updates?

[DHagan4755]

Yea, finally the maps in motion work on weather.com.

[Mudbug]

am i the only one a tad bit annoyed by these spread out updates?

not really so much that they're spread out, but that they ALL require restarts - if they're going to offer so many things that require restarts, a little combination action would be appreciated. Otherwise, bring 'em on.

[cait-sith]

uh..

i just installed this, now a bunch of java applets on websites i use are causing safari to crash.. wtf???

[Doctor Q]

Every update requires a restart. I'm glad my login password isn't extremely long.

[Some_Big_Spoon]

Some of us have to wait till we get home to update.. no time to be hanging out on the boards all day, so they'll all be there for us *cough, cough* ;-)
:-D

not really so much that they're spread out, but that they ALL require restarts - if they're going to offer so many things that require restarts, a little combination action would be appreciated. Otherwise, bring 'em on.

[pkradd]

Before downloading any new software run Disk Utility. Upon restart, run it again. Upset about having to restart? Geez.

[outerspaceapple]

There is definantly a speed increase with this new java version. my ski stunt simulator is running much faster http://wm.twintipped.com/sssjava/ .

[narco]

Updates galore -- is Apple making up for lost time or something?

And before someone else says it: does all these updates a sign of the new Powerbook G5?

.narco

[cait-sith]

JVM Detector version: 0.0.1.0
Vendor: Apple Computer, Inc.
JVM Version:1.4.2_05
Build Version:1.4.2_05
:
:
Console Log level changed: d-->p
[p] : Version=2.0.1.3.7 Happy Hour
[p] : JVM Version=1.4.2_05

src/plugin/src/macosx/native/apple/applet/JavaWebKitView.m:635: failed assertion `pthread_main_np() == 0'
Abort trap

yuck.

[fatfish]

Before downloading any new software run Disk Utility. Upon restart, run it again. Upset about having to restart? Geez.

Yeah, must have run repair permissions a dozen times today. Made me wonder (after all the years it's been there) why would anyone use the verify permissions instead of repairing first time, anyone care to explain.

[Phaeox]

Jaxa 1.4.1 never really loaded well on my eMac, so i'll just have to wait and see for this update

[PlaceofDis]

why is this "Update 1" ??

[Bear]

Updates galore -- is Apple making up for lost time or something?

And before someone else says it: does all these updates a sign of the new Powerbook G5?

.narcoMore like the iMac G5. And we know when that's being announced.

[NeoMayhem]

Every update requires a restart. I'm glad my login password isn't extremely long.

No they dont, only the ones with arrows next to them.

[manu chao]

why is this "Update 1" ??
Because there will be an "Update 2"... :D

Guess they could have called it also 1.4.2.1 but maybe this would have been too long a version number.

[ifjake]

i'm thinking 2 will come when they post the safari update. a kind of hand and hand thing.

[manu chao]

Yeah, must have run repair permissions a dozen times today. Made me wonder (after all the years it's been there) why would anyone use the verify permissions instead of repairing first time, anyone care to explain.

I run repair permissions maybe every 3 months, whenever I am bored enough to start playing around. It usually finds a handfull of permissions it corrects. Rarely, if ever, did I do it directly before or after updates (but I do make a back-up before OS updates), never had any problems with any of the updates or anything I could trace back it.

[xsnightclub]

Wonder why MR has posted anything about the ProApp update as well? Some well needed stability enhancements and more!

[Trowaman]

Wow, 5 updates for me now. I have iphoto as well b/c I was out for a week on vacation, but this is a bunch. I'm having trouble deciding wether I should let it download stuff overnight orget them when I get back to college and high speed.

updates = good = me likey = :) = no one gets hurt

[titaniumducky]

No they dont, only the ones with arrows next to them.

He means that basically every update that has come in today has required a restart.

[jettredmont]

not really so much that they're spread out, but that they ALL require restarts - if they're going to offer so many things that require restarts, a little combination action would be appreciated. Otherwise, bring 'em on.

Well, jeepers folks. Here's your own handy-dandy solution: wait until a specific time of day (could be just before leaving work, or first thing in the morning), and do all your software updates at that time, instead of checking for updates every five minutes so you can be the first kid on the block to get Java 1.4.2.

If you do all the updates together (as Apple intended ... note that for the vast majority of users Software Update is only checked at most once per day, so any updates coming out in the same day will likely be downloaded and installed at once), then you have one (1) restart required, at the end of all of them. That's it.

Personally, I just did a week's worth of updates on one of my work Macs ... including iPhoto 2.0.1 since that guy didn't get iLife '04 put on it. One restart. It's back up and humming nicely.

[mklos]

Yea, finally the maps in motion work on weather.com.

They worked before for me!

[crawdad62]

why would anyone use the verify permissions instead of repairing first time, anyone care to explain.

In certain instances you yourself would change permissions. In this case you could run verify to make sure they are correct.

[bryanzak]

Because there will be an "Update 2"... :D

Guess they could have called it also 1.4.2.1 but maybe this would have been too long a version number.

No, because they are sticking with Sun's Java versioning which is 1.4.2 -- the Update 1 is Apple's way of saying that this is still Sun's 1.4.2, but just with some fixes and improvements (and potentially syncing to a Sun _0X update)

[sluthy]

I'm at work downloading the 10.3.5 update and was just about to leave when suddenly iSync and Java become available for download too. Just saved myself another 30+ MB of downloads at home. Lucky I stuck around.

[mikeyrogers]

Does THIS provide support for the Moto V600 via Bluetooth? :rolleyes:

[Cooknn]

Software Update isn't seeing 1.4.2 Update 1 on my box. I think I know why... How do I uninstall Java - or at least fool Software Update into thinking I need it?

[ClimbingTheLog]

So here's to hoping that it makes jEdit and Eclipse more stable! JEdit was solid on Jaguar but soooo unstable with Panther.

Panther ships with both Java 1.3 and 1.4 - Jaguar only had 1.3. Try running it with Java 1.3 on Panther.

/System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions/1.3.1/Commands/java

[ClimbingTheLog]

Software Update isn't seeing 1.4.2 Update 1 on my box. I think I know why... How do I uninstall Java - or at least fool Software Update into thinking I need it?

Delete the Receipt? e.g.

/Library/Receipts/Java142.pkg

[w00tmaster]

they release 1.5(or Java 5 as Sun is now calling it :p ) on the mac. It's already out for windows/linux. there are a lot of cool features that I want to play with, but since i own 2 macs, guess i can't.
Maybe I should bring up my old POS p4 desktop that I built 3 years ago. Tehcnically it can run Doom 3(whenever they release the Linux port, I am not installing windows ever again if I can help it)

[bousozoku]

Software Update isn't seeing 1.4.2 Update 1 on my box. I think I know why... How do I uninstall Java - or at least fool Software Update into thinking I need it?

If you haven't installed Mac OS X v.10.3.5, you won't see the Java update.

[Jovian9]

Yea, finally the maps in motion work on weather.com.

I noticed this too. It's been a long while since I've been able to see the maps in motion.

[vocaro]

For more details on this update, please visit: http://www.apple.com/java/

That page doesn't say anything about the update.

The release notes are here: http://developer.apple.com/releasenotes/Java/Java142RNUpdate1/index.html

Trevor

[Xenious]

If you haven't installed Mac OS X v.10.3.5, you won't see the Java update.

I see the java update and I'm only running 10.3.4
-jim

[Porchland]

So many updates, just wondering if they're being introduced for something on the horizon.

There may be a few clues on the Apple Expo schedule (which is located at apple-expo.com). The schedule, which has been out for weeks, shows:

* "A complete Video Production Suite for less than 15,000 euros." Surprise, surprise, the new FCPHD/DVD Studio Pro/Motion package is called "Video Production Suite." I'm assuming a typo on the "15,000"; at today's conversion rate, that would be $18,350, which would get you at least three well-stocked workstations. Not sure what "15,000" would be referring to.

* "From GarageBand to the Grammy's": Since iPhoto, iTunes, iMovie and iDVD are (probably) all going to get '05 updates in January, GarageBand may be going 2.0 now. Maybe some special band-specific Jam Packs: the Pearl Jam Jam Pack, the Strokes Jam Pack, etc.

* "Simple Mac and Windows Compatibility": On the schedule in several places. Maybe some announcements of another major "Mac" application coming over to PC a la iTunes?

Thoughts?

[Elan0204]

I see the java update and I'm only running 10.3.4
-jim

Doctor Q said in the first post that the update requires OS X.3.3 or above, so it should show up if you meet that requirement. I'm loving all these updates! It seems that Apple always likes to release a whole bunch of little updates at once instead of spreading them out over a few weeks, and then there is nothing for a few months.

[c_waddington]

they release 1.5(or Java 5 as Sun is now calling it :p ) on the mac. It's already out for windows/linux. there are a lot of cool features that I want to play with, but since i own 2 macs, guess i can't.
Maybe I should bring up my old POS p4 desktop that I built 3 years ago. Tehcnically it can run Doom 3(whenever they release the Linux port, I am not installing windows ever again if I can help it)

Apple will be releasing Java 5.0 (aka 1.5) in 10.4 Tiger.

[nohagent]

Kernel panic right after seeing the grey apple. Had to boot using shift key into safe mode. After it sucessfully booted into safe mode it came back OK. Can't explain. :confused: No errors were logged into syslog. looks to be too early in boot sequence.

[frankly]

they release 1.5(or Java 5 as Sun is now calling it :p ) on the mac. It's already out for windows/linux. there are a lot of cool features that I want to play with, but since i own 2 macs, guess i can't.
Maybe I should bring up my old POS p4 desktop that I built 3 years ago. Tehcnically it can run Doom 3(whenever they release the Linux port, I am not installing windows ever again if I can help it)

You mean the J2SE 5.0 Beta 2 edition that is available for download for windows/linux?

Did you miss the word Beta or do you not know what it means?

Frank

[unita_logica]

There is definantly a speed increase with this new java version. my ski stunt simulator is running much faster http://wm.twintipped.com/sssjava/ .

Hey, I just checked it out, I like it! It's pretty funny, well done. :)

[nagromme]

By the way, for people annoyed by multiple updates with multiple restarts... just install them all at once.

Even if you download the packages and then wait, like I do, just select them all and launch them all together!

Installer will open windows for all of them, and you can go through giving them all the go-ahead. They'll politely wait their turn and then when ALL are installed you can restart.

I've installed 7 things "simultaneously" before, some needing restarts, and I only had to restart the once. It's cool that Apple allows this--and safe too I would think, due to the way they wait for each other to finish.

[MacFan26]

There is definantly a speed increase with this new java version. my ski stunt simulator is running much faster http://wm.twintipped.com/sssjava/ .
:eek: it crashed my Safari

Guess I'll go install the update to see if it will work then :D

[Loge]

So here's to hoping that it makes jEdit and Eclipse more stable! JEdit was solid on Jaguar but soooo unstable with Panther.

I've had no stability problems at all with jEdit on either Panther or Jaguar.

[geeman]

iSync 1.5 now plays friendly with my Sony Ericsson K700i. :)

You may need to delete and re-pair the Mac and phone BT settings.


{EDIT} Sorry, wrong Forum!

[BakedBeans]

this has made safari sooooo much faster on my powerbook..... its a full on noticable increase..... nice

[Windowlicker]

sadly it didn't make the only applett I need to work :P ..it's a nasty one. works only with OS9 and probably windows. it's a movie ticket reservation system that hasn't been thought through.

it's a piece of crap. i'm so sad I actually want to use it.. but that's because otherwise I'd have to call them and that would cost. I wish they had bought a system that actually works ;P

[fpnc]

This may be a little off topic, but what percent of users "out there" still think that Java has any chance at real significance in today's world. I've always been skeptical about Java's potential impact, and frankly I see nothing in the future that would change my opinion. In that respect, while I think Apple should continue to support Java development I hope they aren't putting significant resources towards that end. I mean, I'd much rather see them concentrating on C++/Objective C compiler optimizations (faster runtime, 64-bit support, etc.), OpenGL, new video/audio technologies, security, and general networking standards (among other things).

While Java is certainly a factor in the internet experience, I actually believe that its influence will decrease over the coming years. I read something recently that suggested that Java's methodologies were too firmly rooted in academia and that as a result it was becoming detached from real-world problem solving. That's certainly a debatable point, but I'm beginning to wonder if Java might be the last hold-out from the whole internet/high technology "craze" of the late 90s.

Oh, and I know that Java is used for things other than the internet. But my question is, is Java really that important for the average computer user?

The "flames" may begin now (if anyone cares). :-)

[MacFan26]

But my question is, is Java really that important for the average computer user?
I think it'll still be pretty important for a while. There's a lot of support for it and it's essentially a work in progress (as we can see from the update I guess). Sun still pushes it quite a bit and there are still big turnouts for stuff like JavaOne, etc. Not to mention all of the new cell phones that use java technologies. Granted, I'd rather just see Cocoa as the main programming language (;)), but I'd say the average user can get a lot of use out of java. And considering I'm spending a lot of time learning it right now, I hope it just doesn't suddenly disappear :D

[nado]

This may be a little off topic, but what percent of users "out there" still think that Java has any chance at real significance in today's world. I've always been skeptical about Java's potential impact, and frankly I see nothing in the future that would change my opinion.

One good reason why Java is popular and won't go away is that it's cheaper to develop in Java. Java is a higher-level language with an incredibly large and usually well-designed libraries programmers can use directly, which translates to writing less lines of codes to do the equivalent in C (any flavor of it), thus cutting on development time and reducing the risks of errors (bugs). Bugs can cost a lot to fix.

I definitively prefer native applications on my Mac because they run faster, but for a company paying to develop software, they can save heaps of money by using Java and upgrading their hardware to make up for the small speed difference.

[Booga]

1. This update seems to really help the stability of Puzzle Pirates (http://www.puzzlepirates.com/). Previously it would often get overloaded and lock up or crash. There are still quite a few display glitches on the Mac, but it's better. (I firmly believe that if we can get one well-placed Java engineer at Apple addicted to Puzzle Pirates, a lot of the Mac's Java bugs would be fixed.

2. It's definitely faster. More of the display seems to be accelerated, for one thing. Even back-end stuff seems to have gotten a little tune-up.

3. On the server-side, Java is king. Everything else is trying to overthrow it, but it won't happen anytime soon. Walk into a technical bookstore and you'll see 5 shelves for Java and 1 for C#. On the client, I suspect the world will be moving to C# within 5-6 years, and Apple will be forced to move to it as well. Objective-C is too isolationist, and C# has a close enough runtime that it shouldn't be rocket science to switch. Although C++/Carbon is still faster than either Objective-C/Cocoa or C#/.Net, the latter will take over because of ease of prototyping, developing, debugging, and C# will win over ObjC because of overwhelming industry support.
The question is whether Microsoft will be able to parlay their C# control into a server-side dominance with client-server integration tools. Sun had better keep on top of the compatibility issues.

[Makosuke]

Well, the million dollar question (ok, $5 question) for me is: "Does it fix the Azureus kernel panics?" (For those not familiar with it, certain network activities in Java could cause system-wide freezes and/or kernel panics; it so happens that the BitTorrent client Azureus percipitates these VERY effectively on dual processor Macs.)

I'd rather install this and .3.5 at the same time, but I always wait a couple days for disaster reports or Apple pulls (such as the recent iPhoto one), so I won't be installing it for a little while, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that one, the other, or both will do the trick.

On that note:
This may be a little off topic, but what percent of users "out there" still think that Java has any chance at real significance in today's world.Hey, not a whole lot runs in Java, but Azureus is by far the most capable BitTorrent client on the Mac, and it's Java-only, so there's at least one example.

[½win½lin]

Not to mention all of the new cell phones that use java technologies.

Agree - (not just cell phones, though!) mobile devices are sooo popular now and looking around, everyday users are starting to cotton on to their potential. Development on these platforms is really taking off and it remains one of the areas where small-time developers can effectively compete, and innovate, and there are thousands of Java developers already with the pre-requisite skills.

Apple even have some sort of portable music device thing of their very own, that, I have heard, is really rather popular ...

But they have a big hole in their development line with a lack of official J2ME / MIDP (2) etc. I really hope they see this and plough the necessary resources in to make Macs a full-featured, top drawer, Java development environment (fingers crossed, using the excellent XCode, please).

[w00tmaster]

You mean the J2SE 5.0 Beta 2 edition that is available for download for windows/linux?

Did you miss the word Beta or do you not know what it means?

Frank
Um, being a developer, yes I know what beta means, but does that mean that I shouldn't be able to use it with the mac. Next time don't be such a jerk and assume that you are just SO much more brilliant than the rest of us peons.

[federalists]

Apple will be releasing Java 5.0 (aka 1.5) in 10.4 Tiger.

fittingly, the codename for java 5.0 is...you guessed it...TIGER! i'm not so hot on the new look'n'feel, however. i've grown kind of fond of the old "metal" look.

also, for all those questioning the relevance of java, you shouldn't. it allows guys like me to develop on the mac, and sell to the huge world of windows. that works for me. it also means i can develop at my workstation (unix) and run on windows lab machines without any changes. so my vote is for java.

[eric_n_dfw]

Echo'ing other's here, apparently you can start playing with 1.5 on OS X if you have the developer preview of 10.4 (Tiger): http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=523

I wish Apple would permit ADC Online (free) members access to Tiger, even if we had to pay $30 or something (like the original OS X early adopter/beta) Being a Java ( and C on Solaris ) shop, my company isn't going to spring for the ADC Select or Premier fees nor do I feel like throwing $500 to Apple for the opportunity. (Of course, if I was doing OS X development, then I'd do it.)

BTW, a little OT, but I've read that 1.5 compiled .class files should run on any Java 2 JVM (1.4 or better for "assert" users of course). Has anyone out there tried this? (Maybe I'll give it a shot today at work)

[D*I*S_Frontman]

FWIW, I have a DP1.25 G4 MMD ("Hovercraft") w/2 GB RAM and just did the updates. EVERYTHING is faster, even boot up. Thus far I have never had a problem with SWU screwing up my system.

When XP users download security patches and system updates, do they typically see speed increases?

[Porchland]

this has made safari sooooo much faster on my powerbook..... its a full on noticable increase..... nice

I noticed that I'm actually able to type faster and -- get this -- I've lost FIVE POUNDS!

[iomar]

The updates when pretty good. My Safari seems very fast! That one site with the Java skiing progrm got really fast in my G3! It is great so far no problems.

[mrzippy]

The chat rooms on http://www.teenspot.com still don't work.

The Full Featured Java chat window is far too small making it unusable.

The Regular chat window never opens, just says loading.

[hayesk]

By the way, for people annoyed by multiple updates with multiple restarts... just install them all at once.

Even if you download the packages and then wait, like I do, just select them all and launch them all together!

If you don't download them and install them all at once in the Update window, it only does the optimizing (prebinding) step once.

[whooleytoo]

Apple even have some sort of portable music device thing of their very own, that, I have heard, is really rather popular ...

And oh Lord, what I wouldn't give for an iPod SDK. I even fell for that April fool iPod deverloper notes PDF earlier this year.


But they have a big hole in their development line with a lack of official J2ME / MIDP (2) etc. I really hope they see this and plough the necessary resources in to make Macs a full-featured, top drawer, Java development environment (fingers crossed, using the excellent XCode, please).

Wouldn't that be something! There are some 3rd party ports of MIDP, but I've had limited success getting them to work, so I'm having to go back to developing on a PC. Given that the J2ME wireless toolkit is written in Java, you'd think it wouldn't be the most difficult thing in the world to port to OSX. Then again, as you said an integrated Xcode solution would be much more preferable.

[tomf87]

Um, being a developer, yes I know what beta means, but does that mean that I shouldn't be able to use it with the mac. Next time don't be such a jerk and assume that you are just SO much more brilliant than the rest of us peons.

I agree with you on this.. I was thinking the same thing.. Go get'em, tiger...

[Cooknn]

Delete the Receipt? e.g.

/Library/Receipts/Java142.pkg

Thanks. I found the direct download here http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/javaupdate.html

[motulist]

Now Citi Bank works in safari! I don't know if this was the java update or 10.3.5 or whatever, but it didn't work, and now it does, so I'm happy. :)

[joeboy_45101]

Keep 'em comin' Apple. I hope that this isn't the last update for the week.

[youngr40]

If you haven't installed Mac OS X v.10.3.5, you won't see the Java update.

You sure, I use 10.3.4 and its ther

[bousozoku]

You sure, I use 10.3.4 and its ther

It didn't show up on either of my machines until I applied the 10.3.5 update. Java was revised to 1.4.2_03 with the 10.3.5 update though.

[giba]

do we need to do anything special? Or do we just run software update?

[The Cheat]

Great, now java chat windows that first started working with the last java update not only don't work anymore, they instantly shut down Safari!!!

Don't install this "update"!

[gorkonapple]

Before downloading any new software run Disk Utility. Upon restart, run it again. Upset about having to restart? Geez.

What is the logic in this? Are you having issues before the update? No? Then why run it? The same after the update. I keep seeing people report this and it makes me wonder if this is a Aplpe reccomended procedure. Does not seem very user friendly to me! ;)

[gorkonapple]

I have applied this update and not had any issues but I wanted to say that Java is still VERY relavent. That said, here's my beef about Java:

Programs wrote under one client do not work well(or at all) on differing version numbers and because of this, I have 3 JRE's installed on my Windows machine at work. I have tired just going with the latest one, but it does not work. I hope 1.5 will resolve some of these issues, but I am not holding my breath.

[Yugure]

Argh. Ever since this update was installed, most sites I've visited are not loading. Safari, as well as other browsers, tells me that the websites don't exist. And just to make matters worse, the Dell in my house is still connecting to all websites. :eek:

I'm hoping this is just Comcast screwing up at a terribly ironic time, but it doesn't seem too likely now.

At least I can still get to this site. :cool:

EDIT: Hurrah! My Internet connection works again! Now if only I knew why it stopped working. Let's blame Comcast.

[bousozoku]

What is the logic in this? Are you having issues before the update? No? Then why run it? The same after the update. I keep seeing people report this and it makes me wonder if this is a Aplpe reccomended procedure. Does not seem very user friendly to me! ;)

Since repairing permissions became available with Jaguar, it seems to have helped in many situations with odd behaviour in applications. I'm not sure why the installers aren't setting permissions correctly, but I have them checked/repaired after any installation and it's been worthwhile--whether Apple recommends it or not. It's not always the case that there is something to be repaired, thankfully.

[iMeowbot]

What is the logic in this? Are you having issues before the update? No? Then why run it? The same after the update. I keep seeing people report this and it makes me wonder if this is a Aplpe reccomended procedure. Does not seem very user friendly to me! ;)
It's Mac voodoo. In the old days the ritual was to rebuild the desktop, zap the PRAM and trash random preferences. It was easier than real troubleshooting, and often one of those actions would hit on the actual problem.

Really, most of the changes made by the Disk Utility when it alters permissions don't really affect anything. For many files there are lots of acceptable owner/permission combinations, and Disk Utility just knows about one of those combinations (which is a perfectly reasonable thing for it to do). That's why most people who don't habitually run it still have working systems.

[frankly]

Um, being a developer, yes I know what beta means, but does that mean that I shouldn't be able to use it with the mac. Next time don't be such a jerk and assume that you are just SO much more brilliant than the rest of us peons.

Get over yourself. You are the one that said

I'll be interested when they release 1.5(or Java 5 as Sun is now calling it ) on the mac. It's already out for windows/linux.

Since you are a developer then you should know that "already out" and "released in beta" are two different things. If the final version is released for Windows/Linux and not for the Mac then you will have something to complain about.

In the meantime, if you are really interested in trying some of the new features then why don't you download the linux JDK and create some projects using the source files of the "new to 1.5" features.

Frank

[frankly]

While Java is certainly a factor in the internet experience, I actually believe that its influence will decrease over the coming years. I read something recently that suggested that Java's methodologies were too firmly rooted in academia and that as a result it was becoming detached from real-world problem solving. That's certainly a debatable point, but I'm beginning to wonder if Java might be the last hold-out from the whole internet/high technology "craze" of the late 90s.

Oh, and I know that Java is used for things other than the internet. But my question is, is Java really that important for the average computer user?


Java is very relevant in many areas, especially in the development of enterprise applications. Just take a look at monster (http://www.monster.com) or dice (http://www.dice.com) and you will see how many businesses are looking for Java developers. The average computer user probably doesn't have any idea how much they are using Java in their everyday life. And, keep in mind all of the businesses that you deal with everyday that use Java to run their applications. Now, think about Apple and the XServe and OS X Server. They are marketing this to Java developers. If they can get into this market segment that will mean more Macs sold and the more Macs that are sold the better off Apple will be and the more great stuff they will create for their consumers.

I'm not sure what you meant with your other statement regarding Java methodologies and academia. Were you just repeating something you read or can you elaborate further? You do realize that more and more universities are using Java to introduce Computer Science students to programming and therefore more and more people with Java experience enter the workplace every year. I honestly don't think that people stop to think how young of a language Java really is in the great scheme of things. From what I can see it only appears to be gaining ground. Finally, any competent computer scientist can easily translate the concepts he/she learned in one language to another language. This is why computer science students study data structures, architecture, algorithms, etc.

Frank

[pbays]

src/plugin/src/macosx/native/apple/applet/JavaWebKitView.m:635: failed assertion `pthread_main_np() == 0'
Abort trap

Any one else seen this? I have, and it is causing me difficulty on a page I am developing. Seems related to LiveConnect. java 1.4.2 works fine on the pages using 10.3.5; but Update 1 kills it. Safari simply crashes with no error message, except the one above in the console. This sees to be a serious problem, but one that not many have observed to date. I have posted to Apple.

Now how to I get back to 1.4.2 without the update on my second machine??

[lssmit02]

My GroupWise web client doesn't work anymore in Safari since the update, although, ironically, it works in Explorer. (Oh the humanity!) I'm having the same problem on both a G5 and PowerBook G4. I believe it's the java update, and not 10.3.5, because the GroupWise client is java based, and nothing else seems to be a problem on my computer.

[gregorypierce]

I've had 2 kernel panics (though they could be related to 10.3.5) and 4 JVM hotspot errors. Idea has terrible refresh problems and some other Swing applications have draw issues when scrolling.