New TIL articles: AOL software and Web Sharing conflict: JVM matters

AOL software and Web Sharing conflict A new TIL article (#24863) notes that AOL users may get the following message at startup: "To run an Internet application via America Online, you must sign on first. To run an Internet application via an ISP/LAN, you must restore your TCP configuration by clicking the Restore button in the AOL link panel within AOL's Preferences dialog." Clicking the OK button will cause the message to reappear, and force quitting will typically cause my computer to freeze. The message reappears after resetting with a paper clip.

The reason may be that Web Sharing is turned on. Apple writes: "If the error persists even with Web Sharing turned off, contact AOL for assistance with reconfiguring your AOL software."

Different browsers; different JVMs A new TIL article (#24862) explains that Netscape and Microsoft web browsers use different Java Virtual Machines. This is why some applets might run on one browser but not the other.

On a related note, reader Mark Miller writes: "There is a Java-based game by Red Storm called Politika which will not run on MRJ 2.0 or above. According to the manufacturer, this game was written in Java specifically to support Macs. They claim to be working with Apple on the problem."

Java Applet security On another Java note, an Apple TIL article (#30928) states: Microsoft Internet Explorer's applet security settings are intended for the Microsoft Java virtual machine, not Mac OS Runtime for Java (MRJ). Changing Java applet security settings in Microsoft Internet Explorer has no effect when using Mac OS Runtime for Java. Use Apple Applet Runner to change settings.