HT202678: Java updates available for OS X on August 28, 2013

Learn about Java updates available for OS X on August 28, 2013
dominique99
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: The App store wants me to update to Java 1.6.0_41 -- but I already have the latest Java 1.7 ver. downloaded from Oracle.

How do I remove the Java 1.6.0_41 update from App Store updates list without actually installing it? I don't want to revert to an older Java than what I got from Oracle just a week ago (Java "1.7.0_11").

 

PS, I thought Apple was no longer doing its own Java version anymore and that maintenance for Java for Mac was now in Oracle's hands. What gives?

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012), OS X Mountain Lion

Posted on Feb 23, 2013 5:50 AM

by Barney-15E,Solvedanswer
Barney-15E Barney-15E
Level 9 (50,099 points)
Mac OS X
A:

Right-click on it and select hide update. You may have to click the more... link to be able to hid it. If it is suggesting an update, you have Java 6 installed.

 

Apple still updates Java 6, which is the last one they built for OS X. Oracle isn't doing Java 6 for Mac.

 

Java 7 is update 15, at least for now.

Posted on Feb 23, 2013 6:04 AM

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dominique99

Q: The App store wants me to update to Java 1.6.0_41 -- but I already have the latest Java 1.7 ver. downloaded from Oracle.

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Barney-15E,Solvedanswer

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Feb 23, 2013 6:04 AM in response to dominique99
    Level 9 (50,099 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 23, 2013 6:04 AM in response to dominique99

    Right-click on it and select hide update. You may have to click the more... link to be able to hid it. If it is suggesting an update, you have Java 6 installed.

     

    Apple still updates Java 6, which is the last one they built for OS X. Oracle isn't doing Java 6 for Mac.

     

    Java 7 is update 15, at least for now.

  • by dominique99,

    dominique99 dominique99 Feb 23, 2013 6:10 AM in response to Barney-15E
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 23, 2013 6:10 AM in response to Barney-15E

    Wow! Thanks for the quick and easy fix. It worked fine. Your explanation of why Apple is still involved with Java also took care of my confusion.

     

    (Now if I could only find such an answer to a Python programming problem that is driving me crazy. )

  • by MadMacs0,Helpful

    MadMacs0 MadMacs0 Feb 23, 2013 6:14 PM in response to dominique99
    Level 5 (4,791 points)
    Feb 23, 2013 6:14 PM in response to dominique99

    dominique99 wrote:

     

    How do I remove the Java 1.6.0_41 update from App Store updates list without actually installing it? I don't want to revert to an older Java than what I got from Oracle just a week ago (Java "1.7.0_11").

    You should not ignore it as that will leave you with an unsafe version of Java SE 6 integrated into your system. If you shoud ever need to revert from Java 7 to Java 6 (which many users have found necessary for compatibility reasons) that would leave you open to attack. It's very difficult to remove Java 6 so you might as well keep it up-to-date.

    I thought Apple was no longer doing its own Java version anymore and that maintenance for Java for Mac was now in Oracle's hands. What gives?

    The agreement was that Apple would continue to update Java 6 and Oracle would take over at Java 7.  Both can exist on your computer, though in general, only one will be active at any given time.  Oracle's public support for Java 6 ends this month and without it Apple will be hard pressed to continue after that date, but we'll all just have to wait and see how that goes.

  • by dominique99,

    dominique99 dominique99 Feb 25, 2013 7:32 AM in response to MadMacs0
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 25, 2013 7:32 AM in response to MadMacs0

    Thanks for the advice about keeping Java 1.6 up to date even if I'm on 1.7. Your point makes sense; but I'm worried about inadvertantly overwriting 1.7 components and ending up with an incompatible mix of 1.7 and 1.6. As it stands some of my old Java programs don't work with 1.7; but I'm just a hobbiest programmer so I can live with it.

     

    Thanks for your thoughtful input and helpful advice.

  • by MadMacs0,

    MadMacs0 MadMacs0 Feb 25, 2013 9:22 AM in response to dominique99
    Level 5 (4,791 points)
    Feb 25, 2013 9:22 AM in response to dominique99

    dominique99 wrote:

     

    Thanks for the advice about keeping Java 1.6 up to date even if I'm on 1.7. Your point makes sense; but I'm worried about inadvertantly overwriting 1.7 components

    No, that cannot happen as each is stored in a completely different location.

     

    The only thing that might get changed would be the symlink in /Library/Internet Plug-ins and if necessary that can be switched back by following the steps under "Additional Instructions" in Java for OS X 2013-001: How to re-enable the Apple-provided Java SE 6 applet plug-in and Web Start functionality.