Oracle’s Java 8 Update 40 has been updated to …. Java 8 Update 40
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, 2015): Java 8 Update 40 build 25 (1.8.40.25)
Mid-March’s Java 8 Update 40 (released on March 12, 2015): 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.
Hello Rich, are you running Kronos in your environment? If so, is it working for you? We are running into issues with Java version 1.8.40.25 and I was doing to try 1.8.40.26 to see if it makes a different.