Java Standard Edition 6 (a.k.a Mustang/) is now officially a beta, downloadable from sun. Highlights include
New Security features and enhancements:
- Native platform GSS/Kerberos integration
- Java Authentication and Authorization Service (JAAS) login module that employs LDAP authentication
New Smart Card I/O API Integrated Web Services:
New API for XML digital signature services for secure web services
- New Client and Core Java Architecture for XML-Web Services (JAX-WS) 2.0 APIs
New support for Java Architecture for XML Binding (JAXB) 2.0 Enhanced Management & Serviceability:
Improved JMX Monitoring API
- Runtime Support for dTrace (Solaris 10 and future Solaris OS releases only)
New custom deployment facilities Increased Developer Productivity:
Improved memory usage analysis and leak detection
- Significant library improvements
Improvements to the Java Platform Debug Architecture (JPDA) & JVM Tool Interface Improved User Experience:
Look and feel updates to better match underlying platforms
- Improved desktop performance and integration
- Enhanced internationalization support Download it here