Java Update 5 (1.0) breaks Java for Volano based chats

Question

I installed the Java Update 5 (1.0) for Leopard on my Intel based Mac mini and then was unable to enter Volano (Java applet) based chat rooms. I was forced to reinstall my system to revert to my prior version of System 10.5.8 in oder to be able to continue use the Java based Volano chats. The update that will NOT work states: "This release updates Java SE 6 to to version 1.6.0_1.5, J2SE 5.0 to version 1.5.0_20, and J2SE 1.4.2 to 1.4.2_22."
According to Volano developers -
Note that Apple calls Java 5 (version 1.5) "J2SE 5.0", while it calls Java 6 (version 1.6) "Java SE 6". I think I finally have the following chart correct:
J2SE 5.0 = Java 5 (version 1.5)
- Available as 32-bit and 64-bit packages in Leopard
- Removed in Snow Leopard
Java SE 6 = Java 6 (version 1.6)
- Available only as 64-bit packages in Leopard
- Available as 32-bit & 64-bit packages in Snow Leopard
In Leopard, the 32-bit Safari can run Java applets only with the 32-bit
J2SE 5.0 support. To run applets using Java SE 6, you need to bypass
Safari using the "appletviewer" Terminal command in Leopard, or upgrade
to Snow Leopard where Safari can run Java SE 6.
Volano says the possible work arounds for Leopard users (10.5.8( are:
According to what I've read, if you have a 64-bit capable Intel processor (i.e., an Intel Core 2 Duo), the software update that you removed should have given you 64-bit Java SE 6 even on Mac OS X Leopard (10.5). Java SE 6 works fine with the VOLANO applets, but unfortunately the Safari browser that runs the applets is only 32-bit on Leopard, so applets in Safari still run with the 32-bit Java SE 5 instead of the 64-bit Java SE 6.
So you have three options to solve the problem -- two free options (one rather easy, one more difficult), and one easy non-free option.
(1) The Free and Relatively Easy Option
If you have an Intel Core 2 Duo processor (not a Core Solo or Core Duo), you can install all the software updates from Apple so that you'll have the 64-bit Java SE 6.
About Java for Mac OS X 10.5 Update 2 http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2733 "Java SE 6 is available on 64-bit, Intel-based Macs only."
You would then modify your Java Preferences so that Java SE 6 is chosen first for the Java Application Runtime settings. You can verify the modified setting by running the following "java -version" command from the Terminal application (Finder > Applications > Utilities > Terminal):
$ java -version
java version "1.6.0_20"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_20-b02-279-10M3065)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 16.3-b01-279, mixed mode)
There are some more detailed instructions here:
Install Java 6 on Mac OS X Leopard
http://gephi.org/users/install-java-6-mac-os-x-leopard/
Then you can bypass Safari and run the applet directly in the 64-bit Java SE 6 using the "appletviewer" command in Terminal. For example:
$ appletviewer http://www.actionchat.com/chat/english.shtml
You just put the URL of the page containing the VOLANO chat applet you want to load. I just tried it on my system, and it works fine. You bypass Java SE 5, which is broken for the VOLANO applets, and you bypass Safari, which cannot run the 64-bit Java SE 6. Instead, you run the VOLANO applet using your Java SE 6 directly!
(2) The Free and Not-So-Easy Option
You can download and install SoyLatte as an alternative to the Apple Java VM for your Mac OS X Leopard system.
SoyLatte: Java 6 Port for Mac OS X 10.4 and 10.5 (Intel)
http://landonf.bikemonkey.org/static/soylatte/
I have not tried SoyLatte on my iMac, though.
(3) The Best but Non-Free Option
For only $29, you can upgrade your system to the latest Snow Leopard and get both the 32-bit and 64-bit Java SE 6 along with a Safari Web browser that works with Java SE 6 for running applets!
Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MACOS_XSNGL
I hope this information is of help to any Leopard users having trouble with the latest Java update.

Answer 1

Thanks for the suggestion.
Please bear in mind that this issue, presumably introduced by Apple's own update, affects not only the command line java interpreter but any other app that depends on Java (including some GUI apps). So it perhaps fits the larger scope of Leopard instead of the Unix area.
Message was edited by: bhapca