Q: Is there a 64-bit version of Java for Mac OS 10.7?

A: This is another Minecraft-related question. Minecraft now pops up a warning if you are running 32-bit Java and try to use the "Far" render distance in the video settings, so I wondered if there was a separate 64-bit install. OSX Lion does not come with Java, by the way, so you have to install it yourself.

Turns out you need to tweak your Java apps to run advanced versions of Java properly. I found this excellent post about the subject on the Minecraft forums:


[MAC GUIDE 10.6] HOW TO MAKE MINECRAFT.APP USE 64BIT JAVA

It's really easy, but you should also have have Xcode installed in order to make it easier. Just search Apple's website for the download or in the "App Store" in Lion.

In the comments below the post you will find instructions how to increase your allocation of RAM to the Minecraft app as well.

Q: I upgraded to Mac OS 10.7 (Lion) - where did my /user/Library folder go?

I upgraded to iOS 5 on my iPhone recently but couldn't sync my laptop to iCloud until I upgraded to OSX Lion. It's only $29, so I went ahead without checking on what other people had experienced while upgrading. I also play Minecraft with my kids, and we fool around with the .jar (and textures and mobs) quite a bit, so after I had finished upgrading the Mac OS, I was disconcerted to find that while Minecraft ran fine (better, actually) under OS 10.7, I couldn't see my /user/Library folder any more, which is where all the guts of Minecraft reside! Fortunately it was a quick search and a simple fix: open Terminal and use the command:

chflags nohidden ~/Library/

Keep in mind that system updates will re-hide it again; keep this simple command handy.