Bug fixes dominate update

Sun Microsystems has pushed out a major update to its Java software package that features scores of bug fixes, including a number of security updates, says The Register.

Java 6 Update 4 includes a hefty 370 bug fixes. Most of these are minor tweaks to improve performance or application glitches, but some are more notable as they address security flaws.

Users who upgrade from more recent versions have no reason to delete older versions from their systems other than for general housekeeping reasons.

Video phenomenon YouTube announced it has expanded its YouTube for Mobile Web site for users. New changes include a larger database of mobile accessible video content and other YouTube personalisation tools, says MobileBurn.com.

YouTube also announced it has begun offering a YouTube Mobile Java application that can be downloaded for free. The new app, which is currently in beta, is available to US and UK English users only.

The application is supported only by J2ME MIDP2-capable devices, which include a number of Nokia and Sony Ericsson cellphones, among others. YouTube is hoping its new mobile application expansion will bring more users into its growing video community.

While Google's Android SDK for mobile applications could become a formidable competitor to Sun's own Java platform, Sun VP James Gosling said it is not possible for Sun to take a position on Android, says InfoWorld.

Gosling says no business model has been offered for the much-hyped mobile platform; thus no position can be taken. Speaking at the Java Mobile and Embedded Developer Days conference at Sun headquarters, in Santa Clara, California, Gosling cited insufficient information from Google.

There has been speculation that Android, which leverages Java, could fragment the Java platform. Android was announced 5 November by the Open Handset Alliance.