Hallelujah! The plug-in was extremely annoying, requiring constant updates, especially in Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, which has also been consigned to the internet’s graveyard.

Next year, the Java browser plug-in, which is frequently the target of Web-based exploits, will be retired by Oracle.

Current plans call for the plug-in technology to be turned on via a switch in the Java control panel. Sun also delved into other features planned for Java SE 6 Update N.