As of yesterday 2/19, the regular online Java update will only offer to install Java 7. If it finds any version of Java 6 on the computer, it will REMOVE IT. (see the release notes - "the update mechanism will not only install the latest version of JRE 7 but will also remove the highest version of JRE 6 on the system")
After April, Java 6 will be removed entirely from the Java Archive and will only be available via a support contract from Oracle.
Given that the problem with Norton Family and Java 7 was reported 9 months ago....
- Now try going to http://java.com/en/ and click on "Do I have Java?", and then Verify Java Version. It should run a Java app, but this does not work with Java 7. Does not make a difference what browser you use.
This has been an outstanding issue for over 9 months now.
I realize you wanted to get the bugs out of your own software first before tackling an interoperability issue with Java, but please understand that tons of kids software is written in Java, and will not work if Java 6 is replaced with Java 7 as the Java update mechanism now wants to do. Plus, support will end for Java 6 at the end of this month, and won't even be available for download after April.
What bothers me about this situation is that there must be thousands of people out there with Norton Family who cannot get any Java applications to work (particularly problematic with childrens apps), and who are completely unaware that Norton Family is to blame, or that there is a temporary (?!) workaround by using Java 6. There is really nothing obvious that points the finger at NF, so for every person who does make the connection, there must be 100 who do not.
Can I make a suggestion that Symantec e-mail ALL Norton Family users to tell them this (you must have their details), rather than letting them spend many many hours struggling to work out what the problem is. I would be grateful for a response to this (KatieQ - you seem to the main Symantec Employee contact for this), preferably not just "I will pass this on to the team", but a decision on whether this will happen.
I second that, because I'm a tech, and I thought it was Java 7 that was at fault, and it didn't even occur to me it might be NOF. I even posted a mesage in the Oracle forums. They said, Huh? Java 7 hangs in the Verify Java page? What are you talking about? Then it dawned on me it was NOF.
Knackiedoo wrote:
What bothers me about this situation is that there must be thousands of people out there with Norton Family who cannot get any Java applications to work (particularly problematic with childrens apps), and who are completely unaware that Norton Family is to blame, or that there is a temporary (?!) workaround by using Java 6. There is really nothing obvious that points the finger at NF, so for every person who does make the connection, there must be 100 who do not.
Can I make a suggestion that Symantec e-mail ALL Norton Family users to tell them this (you must have their details), rather than letting them spend many many hours struggling to work out what the problem is. I would be grateful for a response to this (KatieQ - you seem to the main Symantec Employee contact for this), preferably not just "I will pass this on to the team", but a decision on whether this will happen.
Thank you for the reply. While this is being worked on, I take it that Symantec are not going to contact Norton Family users to let them know why many childrens' games do not work, and what they can do about it? That's a pity. It is a chance for Symantec to behave honorably, and it looks like they are going to blow it.
I wanted to add to the growing list of users who are confirming that Java 7 indeed is not working with NOF. I've done my own testing with the Java 6, 7 versions and its very consistent. Neither the "verify java" nor Java applications work with the current versions of Java 7 (and anything after 1.6.29 I've tried.
ORACLE is now having Java prompt for updating everytime we're logged in as support has ended for 1.6.x. If Norton cannot figure this out and release something soon, I'm going to look for other options, likely abandoning NIS after current subscription expires.
There are some Java articles that mention issues with proxy servers/solutions and basically that's what NOF is doing - intercepting all web traffic to verify site eligibility before routing in/out. I was a little surprised that it isn't working on our unmonitored accounts, too, but I guess it's always functioning and simply authorizes everything for unmonitored users.
PLEASE expedite this research and necessary fixes.
As of yesterday 2/19, the regular online Java update will only offer to install Java 7. If it finds any version of Java 6 on the computer, it will REMOVE IT. (see the release notes - "the update mechanism will not only install the latest version of JRE 7 but will also remove the highest version of JRE 6 on the system")
After April, Java 6 will be removed entirely from the Java Archive and will only be available via a support contract from Oracle.
Given that the problem with Norton Family and Java 7 was reported 9 months ago....
OK, so Symantec are too embarrassed to send out an e-mail to all existing Norton Family users to tell them why a lot of favourite childrens games do not work (Club Penguin and Minecraft have been mentioned on this forum), leaving them to scratch their heads and work out the reason for themselves.
However, it is iniquitous and unacceptable that they should continue to sell Norton Family Premier in the full knowledge that this is a defective product, and without an explicit warning of its deficiencies. This software is aimed at family/childrens computers, yet prevents a lot of games and educational websites from running! What is even worse is that it is not obvious to users that it is Norton software that is to blame for what is an extremely frustrating problem for most ordinary users.
It shameful that Symantec has apparently made so little effort over such a long time (>10 months now) to fix such a fundamental failing of their software. This compounded by silence about this to users, and continuing to sell the defective software with no warnings about its shortcomings. In my view the minimum response should be to withdraw the product until it is fixed. I am not minded to go all legal about this, but maybe somebody should?