Oracle has released a new update for Java 8, but this update has an interesting wrinkle. Oracle has put out a new build of Java 8, but didn’t bump the version number from Java 8 Update 40. So folks who have the previous version of Java 8 Update 40 installed may receive a message to update to Java 8 Update 40 from their current version, which will also be Java 8 Update 40.
For those thinking this sounds familiar, Oracle did the same thing with Java 8 Update 31 in February.
The difference between the two Java 8 Update 40 releases
Early March’s Java 8 Update 40 (released on March 3, 2016): Java 8 Update 40 build 25 (1.8.40.25)
Mid-March’s Java 8 Update 40 (released on March 12, 2016): Java 8 Update 40 build 26 (1.8.40.26)
If you have Java 8 Update 40 installed, you can find out which build you have by running the following command in Terminal:
defaults read /Library/Internet\ Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin/Contents/Info.plist CFBundleVersion
If you have Java 8 Update 40 build 25, the following string will be returned:
1.8.40.25
If you have Java 8 Update 40 build 26, the following string will be returned:
1.8.40.26
Following installation of Java 8 Update 40 build 26, I tested on a 10.10.2 Mac against the following sites:
Oracle’s Java Test page: https://www.java.com/en/download/help/testvm.xml
Java Tester’s Java Version page: http://javatester.org/version.html
In both cases, the Java applets on those sites launched and worked without issue using Java 8 Update 40 build 26 (though the javatester.org applet needed to be whitelisted.)
To make things even more confusing, Oracle is providing a different installer for its update feed than it’s providing at the Java.com download site. When you update an existing Java installation on OS X via Oracle’s Java update mechanism, you will receive Oracle’s install application for Java along with the selected option to install the Ask.com browser add-ons.
If you download an installer from Java.com, you will receive a standard digitally-signed installer package which does not include the Ask.com browser add-ons.
Unfortunately, Oracle has not provided any information about why these differences in installation methods exist. To make sure you’re installing Java 8 Update 40 without the Ask.com browser add-ons, I would currently recommend downloading the installer package available via the Java.com download site.
