Sun is preparing to release the new Java EE 6 specification, along with the reference implementation Glassfish, sometime before the end of 2009. This revision of Java EE is all about simplification. There are some important new additions as well. Let's look at those now.

Updates include Servlets 3.0, JSF 2.0, EJB 3.1, Java Persistence 2.0, Java EE Connector API updates, and more. For EJBs and persistence, look for a model more like Spring and Hibernate, with resource dependancy injection and easier configuration.

As for what's been added, the two most anticipated features are:

1.Web Beans (JSR-299): This takes your plain-old-Java-objects (POJOs) and enables them for scaling in your enterprise applications. Inspired by Sprint, it simplifies development and deployment, and unifies existing Java EE APIs.

2.Java EE Profiles: These are subsets of Java EE (which is otherwise quite large). There are currently two profiles: a web profile which is Tomcat-like, and includes a web server with support for Servlets, JSPs, and JSF; and the full Java EE profile which includes everything. However, Java EE 6 allows you to define your own, custom, profiles.

As for other additions, there are the new Web Services and Interoperability (WSIT) features that came from the Microsoft collaboration, and many new APIs for REST-based services, and REST-based administration of your enterprise applications.

If you want an in-depth view of what's new and what's changed in Java EE 6, view the free Sun webinar at:

https://www.sun.com/offers/details/java_EE6_overview.xml

Also, an excellent overview of the early-access release of the Glassfish v3 Portfolio can be found here: 

http://www.sun.com/software/products/glassfish_portfolio/index.jsp