Almost missed that the new Java 1.5 is called J2SE 5.0 – yes – old mature technology needs high version numbers :-)

J2SE 5.0 ("Tiger") is the next major revision to the Java platform and language; it is currently slated to contain 15 component JSRs with nearly 100 other significant updates developed through the Java Community Process (JCP).

But most important: it's GA (general availability) status was announced on Thursday.

Highlights per Sun-Hype:

• New language updates: Metadata, Generics, Enumerated types, Autoboxing of primitive types
• New JVM Monitoring and Management API
• Improved out-of-box performance
• New (but compatible) default Java look and feel

Java 5 in a nutshell by a lead developer gives a nice introduction to all the changes and enhancements…