Java 8 Update 40 out - now using an application to install

I've gone from indifferent about Java (at best) to disgusted.

I simply did not get the ASK Toolbar Installation Prompt at all.

Who the heck uses ASK anyway?

I declined to install the Ask toolbar, and behold the Sponsors.framework garbage, among other cr@p:

external image link

Nice...let's drop aliases into these folders...

Mac:~ admin$ ls -l /Library/LaunchAgents/com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist 
lrwxr-xr-x  1 root  wheel  104 Mar  3 14:54 /Library/LaunchAgents/com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist -> /Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin/Contents/Resources/com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist
Mac:~ admin$ ls -l /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist 
lrwxr-xr-x  1 root  wheel  103 Mar  3 14:54 /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist -> /Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin/Contents/Resources/com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist
Mac:~ admin$ ls -l /Library/PreferencePanes/JavaControlPanel.prefPane 
lrwxr-xr-x  1 root  wheel  101 Mar  3 14:54 /Library/PreferencePanes/JavaControlPanel.prefPane -> /Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin/Contents/Home/lib/deploy/JavaControlPanel.prefPane
Mac:~ admin$

@mm2270 wrote:

Goodbye Oracle! You've crossed the line as far as I'm concerned.

My personal MBPr has been free of Adobe/Microsoft/Java and it couldn't be happier. ;)

Don

I've written a post with my findings so far:

https://derflounder.wordpress.com/2015/03/04/oracles-java-8-update-40-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/

For folks who are using my install_latest_oracle_java_8 script, I've posted an updated script to accommodate for Java 8 Update 40's changes:

https://github.com/rtrouton/rtrouton_scripts/tree/master/rtrouton_scripts/install_latest_oracle_java_8

Details on the changes are here:

https://github.com/rtrouton/rtrouton_scripts/commit/02f2f0c82ef4dd5f9b0f047cd015d7056e8ea004

App installer? Ugh. Ultra annoying. Grrr. But, I've seen the same thing as @quedayone. I wasn't prompted for the Ask toolbar.

"We want Java on as many devices as possible. So let's make it difficult for IT to deploy. And hijack web beowsers in the process."

I would love to have been a fly on the wall at the Oracle meetings that led us here.

I would love to have been a fly on the wall at the Oracle meetings that led us here.

I was thinking the same thing yesterday. I would say this was probably not a software engineer's decision (is it really ever?) Some upper management airhead at Oracle that knows nothing about IT or user experience came up with this stroke of brilliance and convinced someone else it was a brilliant idea, and it got approved. I'd imagine at least some of the actual developers at Oracle were probably cringing when they were given this direction.

Rolled out the package inside the app today - working well.

Ultimately not a big deal - agree with @mm2270][/url - it would not have been the software engineers that 'decided' to do this. Poor guys/gals.

My 2c.

Is there any reason not to install the JDK instead of the JRE? I've always deployed the JDK because I read a while back that it installed more "bits" that are used by actual Java applications that run on the Mac (not web applets). Perhaps I misinterpreted that? I also was under the impression that the Java 6 implementation that was built into OS X from Apple was based on the JDK as well...

~Ted

Using the package inside the app, does it just overwrite the plug-in? IE does it maintain previously pushed settings (for instance updates set to off stay that way after using the package inside the app)?

Gabe Shackney
Princeton Public Schools

@mm2270

would say this was probably not a software engineer's decision (is it really ever?) Some upper management airhead at Oracle that knows nothing about IT or user experience came up with this stroke of brilliance and convinced someone else it was a brilliant idea, and it got approved.

Absolutely, and that stroke of brilliance was fueled by hard cold cash! Oracle big shots determine that they can't afford to constantly develop bug security/bug fixes = advertising deal.

Won't be surprised when Adobe has to pull the same trick for their shi**y Flash player.

Here all start complaining!!!

http://bugreport.java.com/bugreport/main.jsp At the bottom under “Report an Issue” from the drop down select “Comments and/or Suggestions” and write away!

If thats not enough for you send the CEO’s an email as well!! mark.hurd@oracle.com and safra.catz@oracle.com they seem to hold a joint CEO positions.

Using the package inside the app, does it just overwrite the plug-in? IE does it maintain previously pushed settings (for instance updates set to off stay that way after using the package inside the app)?

I'm deploying this package since yesterday, seems to work pretty fine. I've also checked the package content of the 7U40 package against the 7U31 package, they seem to be the same. Even the postinstall scripts are the same. So, for my point of view, the only wrapped that creepy app around the usual package.

Scathing comments and suggestions just sent, and boy that felt good! After I calm down a little, I might just shoot the same off to the CEO's.

Let's be heard!

This is just awesome:

http://www.brunerd.com/blog/2015/03/06/java-8-update-40-installer-app-fun/

Wow, that is just freakin' stupid. All the more reason to drop the nonsense that is Java and not look back. Talk about swiss cheese security.

Has this checkbox always been in the Java 8 System Preference Pane on OS X? I just noticed it today.

Advanced > Miscellaneous > "Suppress sponsor offers when installing or updating Java"

Does this apply to the Ask.com browser extension?

Definitely not. It was added as of update 40. Not sure what it refers to but I assume the Ask.com extension is a good bet.

To get the standard .pkg. Right click on the .app installer. "Show Package Contents". Contents > Resources > JavaAppletPlugin.pkg This is the underlying installer for Java8u40.

This is similar to running the Java exe installer on Windows and finding the .msi and .cab in the AppData folder

Sounds like they've taken some creative inspiration form Adobe... and yes, the package works just fine.

On a somewhat related note...

Not sure if this has been mentioned, but there are some good ideas for managing Java 7 and Java 8 here on Patrick Fergus' blog:

https://foigus.wordpress.com/2015/02/20/managing-java-7-and-8-updates/

Just downloaded it this morning and it's gone back to how it was before! Not sure if that's happening to anyone else?

looks like just a pkg to me in the DMG. glad I had not gotten around to pulling apart the other one.