Java SE 6 Update 10 focuses on the user experience

Java SE 6 Update 10 Beta is available through Sun’s early access program. The aim is to improve the user experience (the user’s experience of using it?). There are three areas of work. Enhanced Java deployment, improved performance and look and feel, and a next-generation Java plug-in. See the full description. This release seems aimed more at Windows users.

Hardware acceleration support: Java SE 6 Update 10 introduces a fully hardware accelerated graphics pipeline based on the Microsoft Direct3D 9 API, translating into improved rendering of Swing applications which rely on translucency, gradients, arbitrary transformations, and other more advanced 2D operations.

As an added benefit, follow-on update releases will no longer be listed as separate items in the Windows “Add or Remove Programs” dialog.

I think it’s a sensible move. Why spread limited resources across poor support for every platform when we can significantly improve support on the dominant one? That may stir strong feelings, but it’s worth remembering which operating system the vast majority of applet users come from, or will come from.

If JavaFX, which will run in an applet, is to compete with Flash and Silverlight, it needs the best Windows support it can get. JavaFX is probably one of the last cards Sun can play in client-side applications, so the emphasis on Windows is hardly surprising.