Microsoft Hasn't Killed Off Java Yet By Deborah Gage, March 20, 1999 IE 5.0 relegates Microsoft's Virtual Machine to an optional download; competitors ready their own strategies. Microsoft Corp. is making its customers work a little harder to use Java. Microsoft has included no Java Virtual Machine with the minimal install of Internet Explorer 5, requiring users to manually download a Virtual Machine if they want to use one. While Microsoft still includes its Virtual Machine with the full and typical installs of IE 5, confirms Rob Bennett, group product manager for Windows, customers using Microsoft's minimal install are asked if they would like to download the Microsoft Virtual Machine for Java when they hit a Java-enabled Web page. Java applications cannot run without some vendor's version of a Virtual Machine. Microsoft says downloading its Virtual Machine, which weighs in at about 2 MB, should take "several minutes." Bennett says Microsoft will not provide pointers to any alternative Virtual Machines, such as offerings from Hewlett-Packard Co., IBM Corp., Novell Inc. or Sun Microsystems Inc. MS Competitors Answer Back Sun is working on several new Java browsers as part of its deal with America OnLine Inc. and Netscape Communications Corp., and customers who install Sun's current Java Plug-in can run the most up-to-date Sun Java Virtual Machine in both Netscape and IE on either Windows or Solaris. But Sun's plug-in doesn't cover the use of other Virtual Machines, such as IBM's or Novell's. In addition, developers have complained to Sun that the plug-in is missing important features and say the source code should be made public so developers can fix it. Sun officials say the company is considering offering the Java Plug-in under its Community Source License. IBM, meanwhile, says Microsoft simply is trying to distance itself from Java. "We're encouraged that Microsoft believes Java still has enough momentum that they haven't killed it off in their own products," says program manager Jason Woodard. "Our advice to customers using Java is to count on Netscape if they have any control over their browser. We also continue to be very client-agnostic in the sense that a lot of customers building HTML or dynamic HTML applications can use Java on the server." On another front, Microsoft has reported "a few minor issues" with the way IE 5 interacts with its Visual Studio 6 suite of development tools, which includes Microsoft's Visual J++ Java tool. Microsoft has issued warnings to developers to check technical information on the Visual Studio Web site before installing IE 5. The problems will be fixed in the next Visual Studio 6 service pack due this spring, a Microsoft spokeswoman says. From Owner-HyperNews@dept102.it-ias.depaul.edu Wed Mar 24 16:07:27 1999 X-Coding-System: undecided-unix Date: Wed, 24 Mar 1999 16:54:29 GMT X-Authentication-Warning: dept102.it-ias.depaul.edu: nobody set sender to Owner- HyperNews@hermes.depaul.edu using -f To: HyperNews@dept102.it-ias.depaul.edu From: Owner-HyperNews@dept102.it-ias.depaul.edu (Kishore Doshi) X-HN-Forum: Foundations of Distributed Systems Subject: Java Stuff X-Hn-Url: http://hermes.depaul.edu/HyperNews/get/w99/ds-420/90.html Precedence: list Newsgroups: /HyperNews/get/w99/ds-420.html HyperNews notification of new message. See: http://hermes.depaul.edu/HyperNews/get/w99/ds-420/90.html I don't know if anyone has seen these, in case not, they are kind of interesting , maybe we will have Java Quake? Java 3D(tm) 1.1.1 API RELEASED. Provides a set of classes for writing three-dimensional graphics applications and 3D applets. It gives developers high-level constructs for creating and manipulating 3D geometry and for constructing the structures used in rendering that geometry. This release includes the 1.1.1 implementation, documentation, and the documentation for the utility classes. To access see: http://java.sun.com/products/java-media/3D/index.html JAVA(tm) CRYPTOGRAPHY EXTENSION (JCE) 1.2 SOFTWARE NOW AVAILABLE. Provides a framework and implementations for encryption, key generation and key agreement, and Message Authentication Code (MAC) algorithms. Support for encryption includes symmetric, asymmetric, block, and stream ciphers. The software also supports secure streams and sealed objects. The product is restricted to the United States and Canada. To access see: http://java.sun.com/products/jce/ From unknown@hawk.depaul.edu Thu Mar 25 15:20:58 1999