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Java
,Added an intro and advice on which installer to get
Despite the page title, this page is for the Java Runtime Environment, rather than the full-blown Java. In particular this page is for the Oracle Java Runtime Environment, previously known as the Sun Java Runtime Environment, shortened to 'JRE'. Note this is different to the Java Software Developer Kit or 'SDK'.
The Java Runtime Environment provides an ability for programs written in the Java programming language to be launched from a web page and run in a web browser.
There are various versions of the installer:
* Those from a http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp which are aimed at developers or ISVs. We want the 'Windows Offline Installation' version with a filename of jre-6u19-windows-i586.exe. Also available here are 'Windows Online Installation' (jre-6u19-windows-i586-iftw-rv.exe) and 'Windows Kernel Installation' (jre-6u19-windows-i586-iftw-k.exe).
* Those from http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp which are aimed at consumers. The versions available here are 'Windows 7/XP/Vista/2000/2003/2008 Online' (same as the 'Windows Online Installation' above) (jre-6u19-windows-i586-iftw-rv.exe) and 'Windows 7/XP/Vista/2000/2003/2008 Offline' (not the same as the 'Windows Offline Installation' above) (jre-6u19-windows-i586-s.exe). In versions prior to update 19 or maybe 18 the installer filename ending in -s.exe tried to download the Google Toolbar so this may still be the case with this version.
For security reasons you are encouraged to upgrade to the latest release.
Bug Fixes of the Update Release Notes under each release: http://java.sun.com/javase/6/webnotes/ReleaseNotes.html.