By releasing the latest version of Mac OS/X (http://www.apple.com/macosx/) without support for Java 6, Apple has managed to attain unpopularity and court controversy (http://www.oreillynet.com/onjava/blog/2007/10/dear_steve_or_fake_steve.html).

When Mac OS/X version 10.5 - or Leopard - was unleashed this week, many expected it would come with Java 6 support - not least because Apple as good as said (http://developer.apple.com/wwdc/sessions/index.html#138) it would.

But when the code arrived, there was no Java 6 - and no explanation from Apple for the omission.

The lack of Java 6 and Apple's refusal to provide a roadmap for future availability has produced a strong reaction (http://www.javalobby.org/java/forums/t102936.html) against the Mac as a machine for development. To some (http://blogs.sun.com/jag/entry/solaris_and_os_x) it'll be seen as further justification for their reason to abandon the Mac and proof of Apple's tardiness on Java.

All this comes as the Mac was beginning to emerge (http://www.regdeveloper.co.uk/2007/10/01/mac_open_source_java/) as a strong candidate for development of open source applications - a platform where Sun Microsystems would like to see Java sink roots.

Surprisingly the opening blurb in the Java section of the Apple Developer Connection (ADC) (http://developer.apple.com/java/) Web site, still proclaims Mac OS/X as the "only major consumer operating system that comes complete with a fully configured and ready-to-use Java runtime and development environment".

Is this another fine example of Steve Jobs' reality distortion field (http://www.gapingvoid.com/Moveable_Type/archives/003636.html) at work, or do they know something we don't? Some are suggesting (http://stuffthathappens.com/blog/2007/10/28/os-x-java-definitive-timeline/) Apple may well release Java 6 support sooner rather than later. If this is the case, it would be nice if Apple could let us know, rather than leaving people to figure things out.®

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