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Adobe Integrated Runtime on Mobile Internet Device

By Aaron Tersteeg (Intel) (126 posts) on September 19, 2007 at 9:38 am

When I first heard about Adobe Apollo (now called Adobe Integrated Runtime or AIR) my first impression was "Yet another Virtual Machine?" Can Adobe over take Java this late in the development cycle? They must be crazy. But you have to give Adobe credit for being brash and they do have a great track record with introducing technology that can create new markets - Flash video has been a game changer.

At Intel Developer Forum (IDF) today the story came together a little bit more. Don't think of it as trying to replace a solution that we are using today but rather laying the ground work for technology that is currently in the pipeline. From a hardware perspective users need solutions that run on their existing platforms (laptop, desktop, Mac, Windows, Linux) but is light and flexible enough to handle new Mobile Internet Devices (MID) of tomorrow (or at least 2008). There is a large Flash developer base already creating rich applications that present animation and video for social networking sites, but as new handheld devices hit the market the hardware is not guaranteed to be 100% compatible with the form factor and operating system. The solution has not been clear till today at IDF. I see Adobe AIR as being the default software framework to ensure cross system compatibility no matter what the forum factor may entail. All built using tools with an already large developer community.

Because of this partnership between Intel and Adobe I see Intel's MID strategy is sound and look forward to getting my hands on the devices coming down the pipe. And I see developers creating rich media applications that make the always connected internet a true possibility.

Categories: Mobility

Comments (9)

September 19, 2007 1:23 PM PDT Jason Zhu (Intel)

Will the AIR replace the browser to access Internet on MID devices? Java, .Net, and now AIR... I think there will be more and convenient tech's and tools available to create the apps & contents for portable Internet devices, eg. phone, MID, handheld with the open mobile Internet environment to be established. How will mobile phone vendros transit to this direction? and to compete with iPHone, "G-Phone"(Google) or "M-Phone(Microsoft) in the future.

September 19, 2007 10:01 PM PDT Neil Blecherman

Really interesting post, Aaron. The cross-platform compatibility issue is very critical. Jason, great question. AIR could be used by some OEMs (we will see over time as AIR gains traction) to run a new class of applications connected or disconnected, on different hardware form factors. It can also be used to execute internet apps in a browserless state so they look like an internet site. Check out http://www.finetune.com, a music player which is based on AIR, or http://www.kuler.com, Adobe's own color palette community site, to see the usage model first hand. Other apollo apps can be seen on http://www.apollohunter.com.

September 20, 2007 8:27 PM PDT Rob Christensen

Another way to learn more about AIR is to download source code for the sample applications we've written. For each of these applications, there is a download link for the source code. Download source code and basic samples here: http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/air/samples/ To build these applications, you will need to download the Adobe AIR SDK which is free. AIR applications can be built using Flash, HTML (Ajax) or both. Link to download the SDK: http://labs.adobe.com/downloads/airsdk.html Thanks! - Rob --- Rob Christensen Sr. Product Manager, Adobe AIR

September 21, 2007 2:04 AM PDT Jon Mountjoy

I'm not sure about the take on Java. Java has never been strong on the client. Having said that, Sun often touts that Java ME (http://java.sun.com/javame/index.jsp) is the most "Ubiquitous Application Platform for Mobile Devices" - because, after all, it is deployed on billions of devices already...

September 26, 2007 9:56 AM PDT Edison

Intel is the best

September 26, 2007 1:18 PM PDT Jason Zhu (Intel)

Jon, not sure what's your comment on Java vs AIR. Though basic Java VM is lite, but many limitation on capability. if you want to run Java app to play video or do high graphics stuffs on mobile clients, still need to implement the JSR extension to support, http://www.jsr.org. That's mean Java client will become heavier. Though Java runs on many various devices, but still lots of compatibility issues.

March 23, 2008 2:12 PM PDT Frank

it will be a splendid future for the mobile air!

March 29, 2008 9:47 AM PDT elvin yakatori

thanks just send me this info

January 21, 2010 9:35 AM PST Suzie Mobile

I find Air very useful, great invention.

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