Apple unveils major new release of Java for Macintosh that can boast Java performance at five times faster.
Apple's new major release of its Java Virtual Machine (JVM) for Macintosh which is up to five times faster than previous versions of Java on Macintosh, based on industry standard CaffeineMark3 benchmarks. The new release, named MRJ 2.1, is available for free downloading from Apple's website - www.apple.com
"Customers will immediately notice the significant performance improvements in MRJ 2.1, and it's designed to run real-world Java applications from companies such as Autodesk, Oracle, SCT, and Zero G Software." - Avie Tevanian, Apple's senior vice-president of Software Engineering.
MRJ 2.1 is based on Java Development Kit (JDK) 1.1.6 from Sun Microsystems, and allows Macintosh developers to extend the capabilities
of Java applications by coupling them with core Apple technologies like QuickTime and AppleScript. The new MRJ2.1 features:
 
--Symantec's high-performance Just In Time (JIT) compiler for Java, as well as enhanced graphics, imaging, threading and networking performance which make MRJ 2.1 up to five times faster than its predecessors.
--Compliance with Sun's JDK version 1.1.6, bringing new Java features to Mac OS and maximum Java compatibility with the current generation of Java applications.
--AppleScript support, enabling Java applets to work with other AppleScript applications.
--Support for QuickTime for Java, which will be in the next release of QuickTime.
--Support for Swing, a user interface toolkit which brings the Macintosh "look and feel" to Java applications.
Mac OS Runtime for Java 2.1 requires a PowerPC-based Apple Macintosh computer, Mac OS 7.6.1 or later, and at least 32 MB of RAM.
