Coming up this month there is a Virtual Developer Day for Java where you can watch educational tutorials on Java SE, Java EE and Java Embedded. The three tracks offer a lot of varied information:

Java SE:

• 52 New Features in Java SE 8: A quick look at what's coming in the next big release.
• Application Development with JavaFX: Building JavaFX applications using Scene Builder and the JavaFX 2 API.
• Lambda Expressions: Bringing a more functional approach to the Java language.

Java EE:

• JSON 1.0 Presentation and Demo: A look at how to process JSON (JavaScript Object Notation - a lightweight data exchange format used in Web Services)
• WebSocket 1.0 Presentation and Demo: "This rapidly adopted network protocol that is a foundational piece of the HTML5 standard gives Java EE developers the ability to add efficient, asynchronous bidirectional messaging into their web applications, enabling them to make their web applications more active and engaging."
• Batch 1.0 Presentation and Demo: The first Java API standard for building batch applications.
• Concurrency 1.0 and Demo: Adding asynchronous capabilities to Java EE 7 applications.
• JAX-RS 2 Presentation: Looking at new features introduced into JAX-RS 2.0 for building web services.
• JMS 2 Presentation: Highlights improvements to the Java Messaging Service.

Java Embedded:

• Do you like coffee with your dessert? Java and the Raspberry Pi: How Java can be used on these hardware hobby boards.
• Unleash the Power of Oracle Java ME Embedded 3.3: The Raspberry Pi and the Keil Board: Delve into the Orcale Java ME Embedded 3.3 platform.
• Hacking with Java and the Raspberry Pi Tutorial:"a chance to see Java and JavaFX technologies running on a very accessible embedded platform, as well as learn tips and tricks on how to easily get up and running on the Raspberry Pi."

The date of the Virtual Developer Day changes depending on where you are watching from (remember to register):

Americas/Canada - Wednesday June 19, 2013

• 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. PDT
• 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. EDT
• 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. BRT

EMEA/Africa/Middle East - Tuesday June 25th, 2013

• 9:00:00 a.m. - 1:00pm BST
• 10:00:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.CEST
• 1:30:00 p.m. - 5:30:00 p.m. IST
• 12:00:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. MSK
• 08:00:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Corresponding UTC (GMT)

On Oracle's Software Security Assurance Blog, Nandini Ramani, Vice President of Java Client Development, has outlined how Oracle is addressing security concerns about Java.

From October 2013, the security releases for Java will follow the Oracle Critical Patch Update schedule. That's four security releases every year. (The currently scheduled dates for Java SE Critical Patch updates are 18 June 2013, 15 October 2013, 14 January 2014 and 15 April 2014).

Oracle has already taken steps to enhance security and give users more control with:

• enhanced security warnings when executing applets
• tighter security privileges for signed applets
• discouraging the use of unsigned or self-signed applets
• a new Java distribution called Server JRE for Java running on servers. It does not include the Java plug-in or auto-update. In the future it might not include libraries which are unnecessary for server use.

In addition, the Security Alert Program should see faster releases of unscheduled security fixes for severe vulnerabilities.

If you're new to programming with Java and have been struggling with the idea of objects have a look at Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming, Data Encapsulation and Designing and Creating Objects to get a feel for working with objects.

Related Articles:

• Accessors and Mutators
• Static Fields
• What Is a Package?
• Using Packages
• What Is Inheritance?

I received a question around the JOptionPane class so I might as well point you in the direction of some swing dialog box articles:

• Creating a Message Dialog Box - Part I looks at using the showMessageDialog method of the JOptionPane class.
• Creating a Message Dialog Box - Part II goes a bit further by looking at the showConfirmDialog and showOptionDialog methods.
• Building an Input Dialog Box shows how to use the JOptionPane to get some data from the user.

Related Code Examples:

• Make a Modeless Dialog Box
• How to Make a Password Dialog Box
• Simple Message Dialog Boxes Program
• Modeless Dialog Program
• Password Dialog Box Program