Oracle pulls Java support from XP - or does it?

Although they are sending mixed messages with promises to fix Java 7.

Oracle: Future Java updates for Windows XP users may not arrive

Brandan Blevins, News WriterPublished: 07 Jul 2014

Windows XP have already seen Microsoft pull security support for the nearly 13-year-old platform as part of its April end-of-life process. Now, in another blow for those clinging to the operating system, Oracle Corp. has informed XP users that they will not receive the latest security updates for Java, though some form of support remains a possibility in the near future

Oracle is expected to release its next quarterly security updates July 15, but the Redwood Shores, California-based software vendor abruptly announced via an FAQ on the Java website last week that the upcoming release won't include the latest Java updates for Windows XP. The company stated that users will be unable to install Java 8 -- the latest version of the ubiquitous runtime environment -- at all on XP machines because the operating system (OS) is no longer officially supported by Microsoft, though XP users may continue to use Java 7 "at their own risk."

In a press statement, Henrik Stahl, vice president of product management for Oracle, confirmed that Java 8 will not be available to XP users as of the July 15 release due to compatibility issues, but said that the company is attempting to resolve those problems.
"For now, we will keep Java users on Windows XP secure by updating them to the most recent Java 7 security update on an ongoing basis," said Stahl. "Java users on more recent Windows versions can choose between Java 7 and 8, and depending on their choice will be kept up to date with the most recent Java 7 or 8 security update respectively."

Full story HERE

Edited July 8, 201412 yr by Chicog