Oracle Releases First Mac JDK, JavaFX SDK

Oracle has released Java Platform, Standard Edition 7 Update 4 and JavaFX 2.1, Oracle's first releases of the Java Development Kit and JavaFX SDK for Mac OS X.

The Java SE 7 Update 4 incorporates a number of enhancements, including improvements to Java Virtual Machine performance and the new Garbage First, a garbage collection algorithm designed for high performance on multi-core systems with large amounts of memory. JVM performance has been improved, according to Oracle, by merging Oracle JRockit performance enhancements into both Oracle Java HotSpot and OpenJDK. Oracle previously announced it would merge the Oracle Java HotSpot JVM and the Oracle JRockit JVM into a converged JVM with the release of Java SE 8, scheduled for release in 2013.

Oracle reported that Java SE 7 Update 4 is "fully supported and recommended for use" with Oracle Fusion Middleware.

Oracle first previewed Java SE 7 on Mac OS X in October 2011, when it also announced plans for a consumer version. According to Oracle, a consumer version of Java SE 7 and the Java Runtime Environment is still planned for release for Mac OS X later this year.

"Java SE 7 Update 4 will be the first consumer release of the Java 7 JRE, scheduled to be made available as the default version on Java.com starting on May 1, 2012," according to Oracle.

Oracle also released JavaFX 2.1 software development kit for Mac OS X and Windows, as well as a developer preview for Linux. Enhancements in 2.1 include:

  • Playback support for h.264-encoded video and AAC-encoded audio in MPEG-4 containers;
  • WebView to support Java method calls in JavaScript;
  • Improved font rendering; and
  • Various UI improvements, including "controls for Combo Box, Stacked Chart, and application-wide menu bar."

The JavaFX SDK is included with Java SE 7 Update 4.

Additional details can be found on Oracle's Java SE and JavaFX pages.

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


Featured

  • college student sitting at a laptop writing a college essay

    How Can Schools Manage AI in Admissions?

    Many questions remain around the role of artificial intelligence in admissions as schools navigate the balance between innovation and integrity.  

  • a hobbyist in casual clothes holds a hammer and a toolbox, building a DIY structure that symbolizes an AI model

    Ditch the DIY Approach to AI on Campus

    Institutions that do not adopt AI will quickly fall behind. The question is, how can colleges and universities do this systematically, securely, cost-effectively, and efficiently?

  • person signing a bill at a desk with a faint glow around the document. A tablet and laptop are subtly visible in the background, with soft colors and minimal digital elements

    California Governor Signs AI Content Safeguards into Law

    California Governor Gavin Newsom has officially signed off on a series of landmark artificial intelligence bills, signaling the state’s latest efforts to regulate the burgeoning technology, particularly in response to the misuse of sexually explicit deepfakes. The legislation is aimed at mitigating the risks posed by AI-generated content, as concerns grow over the technology's potential to manipulate images, videos, and voices in ways that could cause significant harm.

  • laptop screen showing Coursera course

    Coursera Introduces New Gen AI Skills Training and Credentials

    Learning platform Coursera is expanding its Generative AI Academy training portfolio with an offering for teams, as well as adding new generative AI courses, specializations, and certificates.