Update OS X to Java Runtime Environment to 1.8

Download the Java 8 Update installer from http://www.java.com/en/download/mac_download.jsp and run it.

When the install has completed, you can check for it in its new home:

/Library/Internet\ Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin/Contents/Home/bin/java -version

The new home is different from the default OS X install, which is not removed by the Oracle updater. Locate your original version with which.

which java

/usr/bin/java

ls -l /usr/bin/java

/usr/bin/java -> /System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions/Current/Commands/java

Make a backup symlink to the old 1.6 version revealed above (after the arrow ->).

sudo ln -s /System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions/Current/Commands/java /usr/bin/java1.6

Remove the old symlink at /usr/bin/java.

rm /usr/bin/java

Now add a new symlink from /usr/bin/java to JRE 1.8.

sudo ln -s /Library/Internet\ Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin/Contents/Home/bin/java /usr/bin/java

Check your work.

java -version
java version "1.8.0_60"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_60-b27)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.60-b23, mixed mode)