Java Embedding Plugin 0.9.7 – Allows browsers to use latest Java.

Java Embedding Plugin is a utility (currently in beta release) that allows other web browsers than Apple’s Safari to use the most recent versions of Java (1.4.X) on Mac OS X. Currently it supports recent versions of the Mozilla “family” of browsers, when used together with an updated version of Mozilla’s MRJ Plugin Carbon (included in this distribution). But in principle any web browser could use one of the Java Embedding Plugin’s two APIs to add support for Java 1.4.X.

The current versions of the Java Embedding Plugin and the updated MRJ Plugin Carbon have been tested with Mozilla 1.6 and 1.7.X, Firefox 0.8 and 0.9.X, and Camino 0.7 and 0.8.X on OS X 10.2.8 with Java 1.4.1 and OS X 10.3.5 with Java 1.4.2 Update 1 and Java 1.4.2 Update 2.

The current version (0.8.6) of the Java Embedding Plugin has not been tested with Java 1.4.2 “plain” or on Mac OS X 10.3.3 or 10.3.4. But previous versions of the JEP (e.g. 0.8.2) worked in these environments, and so (I believe) should version 0.8.6.

Apple’s Java 1.4.2 and above have one additional requirement, unrelated to the Java Embedding Plugin — an appropriate version of the JavaPluginCocoa.bundle must be present in the /Library/Internet Plug-Ins folder.

WHAT’S NEW

Version 0.9.7:

• The Java Embedding Plugin now supports current seeds of Apple’s forthcoming Mac OS X 10.6 (SnowLeopard). Support has been dropped for Mac OS X 10.2.8 (Jaguar) and 10.3.X (Panther).
• It’s now much easier to build the Java Embedding Plugin from source.
• Code that allows Java applets to get and set browser cookies now always runs on the main thread (as it should). It previously ran on the calling code’s thread (i.e. one of the applet’s threads). This resolves two bugs.
• The MRJ Plugin JEP now includes supported MIME types in its Info.plist file. Previously they were only available in a resource (*.rsrc) file. This change makes it possible for Firefox to drop support for resource files.
• Java applets are now less likely to become invisible when switching to or from the browser window that contains them.
• Java applets can no longer grab the keyboard focus when they’re invisible in another tab.
• Java applets that use NSClipView no longer bleed into other tabs.
• Java applets no longer interfere with the titlebar’s focus appearance in Firefox.
• Java applets no longer cause parts of the tab bar to turn black in Camino.

REQUIREMENTS

Mac OS X 10.4 or later.