Adobe AIR is a cross-operating system run time that lets developers combine HTML, Ajax, Adobe Flash®, and Flex technologies to deploy rich Internet applications (RIAs) on the desktop. Adobe AIR allows developers to use familiar tools such as Adobe Dream weaver CS4, Flex Builder 3, Flash CS4 Professional, or any text editor to build their applications and easily deliver a single application installer that works across operating systems.
Adobe AIR allows web developers to use existing technologies to build and deploy rich Internet applications to the desktop.
- Cross platform application run time
- Full control over visual look and feel
- Native integration with the desktop
- Leverages existing web technologies and programming languages
Features
- Network Detection
- Custom Window Chrome
- Multi-Window
- Drag & Drop and Clipboard
- Notifications
- File Type Registrations
- Application Update APIs
- Updated HTTP Support
- SOAP / Rest Based Web Services
- Freeware
- File I/O
- (shapes, alpha transparency)
- Native Menus
- System Tray and Dock
- Application/Installer Signing
- Background Applications
- Full Network Stack
- Supports XML-RPC /
- Binary and XML Sockets
- Allows applications to run on any platform or system.
Target Applications for AIR
- Integrate with the desktop and other desktop applications
- Run applications in the background
- Support offline and occasionally-connected use cases
- Take advantage of local resources such as the local disk
- Establish persistent connection with the user
- Create fully customized user interface and own the brand of the application
AIR Advantages
- Adobe AIR uses cost-effective technologies used to build web applications, so development and deployment is rapid and low risk.
- Adobe AIR applications support native desktop integration, including clipboard and drag-and-drop support, local file IO, system notification, and more.
- By using Adobe AIR as part of your RIA strategy, you can boost productivity, extend your market reach, enhance customer satisfaction, improve customer retention, lower costs, and increase profits.
- The Adobe AIR runtime complements the browser.
- Adobe AIR offers integrated support for SQLite database providing easy development of desktop application that run both online & offline
Conclusion
Adobe AIR (Adobe Integrated Run time) is based on the technology that allows creating desktop applications using web technologies like HTML, Ajax or Flash. Developers can take advantage of their knowledge in website creation to develop multimedia applications. The main advantage of the program is that the applications created with AIR are multi platform. Adobe AIR offers an exciting new way to engage customers with innovative, branded desktop applications, without requiring changes to existing technology, people, or processes
