Java support mess

The latest version of Java is 1.7 Update 7. The most recent update of the previous version is 1.6 Update 35.

Oracle, the current owner of Java, has published the following two pieces of information on java.com:

1. "We highly recommend users uninstall all older versions of Java from your system. Keeping old and unsupported versions of Java on your system presents a serious security risk."
2. "If an application or web page you access requires an older version of Java, you should report this to the provider/developer and request that they update the application to be compatible with all Java versions."

If I want to run the latest release (3.2) of Oracle's Database Tool SQL Developer, the Release Notes tell me that "it is shipped with JDK 1.6.0_11. You can use the embedded JDK download or connect to an installed JDK. SQL Developer supports a minimum java version of 1.6.0_04 to a maximum java version less than 1.7."

In other words, I am forced by Oracle to run an older, insecure version of Java.

References:

• http://java.com/en/download/faq/remove_olderversions.xml
• http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/developer-tools/sql-developer/downloads/
• http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/developer-tools/sql-developer/sqldev-32-relnotes-1734493.html

Update 25.10.2012:

Apple is now trusting Oracle when it comes to handling Java in web browsers: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5493

Update 09.01.2013:
The latest release of SQL Developer (3.2.2) is shipped with JDK 1.6.0_35, but it is still unable to run on Java7. Updates for Java6 will stop in February 2013: http://www.java.com/en/download/faq/java_6.xml

Update 14.01.2014:
Oracle finally released SQL Developer 4.0 (with support for Java 1.7) in December 2013. Case closed.