14 DAY TRIAL // The bugs addressed in the latest Java Update have been fixed on PCs a month ago, but Apple is only now issuing its own Java update, patching holes long known to exist in the software. Granted, Apple makes its own Java patches, but, as security companies point out, the company that touts its OS as highly secure has no excuse to lag behind this long.
Compared with the six-month wait Apple forced Mac owners to “endure” the last time Java was in need of an update, this release has come surprisingly fast, although still late for a security patch. Moreover, Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger continues to use buggy Java versions, therefore Apple may release a Tiger Java update soon.
Back to today’s patch, “Java for Mac OS X 10.5 Update 5 delivers improved reliability, security, and compatibility for Java SE 6, J2SE 5.0 and J2SE 1.4.2 on Mac OS X 10.5.8 and later,” Apple reveals on the Support / Downloads section of its website. “This release updates Java SE 6 to version 1.6.0_15, J2SE 5.0 to version 1.5.0_20, and J2SE 1.4.2 to 1.4.2_22,” the company adds.
On a more detailed note (separate support article), the Mac maker claims that, “This release is only for Mac OS X 10.5.8 or later versions of Mac OS X 10.5” and that it “supports all Intel and PowerPC-based Macs. Java SE 6 is available on 64-bit Intel-based Macs only.”
A third Support article sheds more light on the actual vulnerabilities patched in Java for Mac OS X 10.5 Update 5. For now, Leopard users can download and install the update using the link below, for free. We will be discussing the security content of Java for Mac OS X 10.5 Update 5 in a separate article.