Java SE 6 update 11 is out, 64-bit support still lacking
Two months after Java 6 update 10 was released, Sun has just released update 11. For many users the new version will automatically be detected and installed, but you can always get it from the Sun Java site.
Developers should download the JDK package (Java Development Kit) and non-developers should get the JRE (Java Runtime Environment) package. You don't need both. Watch carefully for bundled software that might come along for the ride so you can decide whether or not to install that also.
Unlike 6u10, 6u11 is a bug fix and security release. Changes include:
- Fixed rendering problems with Nvidia boards on Vista
- Added new root certificates
- Fixed deadlock in Java logging
- Fixed compatability problems with some games from PopCap
- Fixed security vulnerabilities described in Sun Alerts 244986, 244987, 244988, 244989, 244990, 244991, 244992, 245246, 246266, 246286, 246346, 246366, and 246387.
For more information see the release notes. Sun says it's not necessary to uninstall previous versions before installing 6u11, but I recommend you do so anyway.
Note: Even if you have a 64-bit version of Windows *do not* install the 64-bit version of the Java runtime or SDK unless you have a specific need to do so (for example you're a developer and your program requires heap sizes greater than 2GB). Sun says:
There are no 64-bit versions of the Java Plugin, Java Web Start or Java Control Panel; however the 32-bit versions of the JRE can be installed on 64-bit systems in order to obtain this functionality. Note that only 32-bit browsers are supported at this time.
I'm not sure if this restriction applies to Linux and Solaris or just to Windows. Hopefully a future release will have full 64-bit support but for now either stick with 32-bit or resign yourself to installing both.