Adobe launches AIR into cyberspace

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Monday, 25 February 2008 14:33

Business IT - Technology

Adobe’s concept of ‘Rich Internet Applications’ (RIA) has finally taken flight with the launch of Adobe’s AIR and Flex 3 software programs. The programs let developers and designers create ‘engaging applications’ for the web, usable through multiple browsers, desktops and operating systems.

The era of ‘Rich Internet Applications’ (RIA) started with Flash sites and continued with Web 2.0 sites using a variety of technologies. Now the next generation of RIAs is here, with Adobe hoping to remain at the forefront by creating a new ‘technology platform’.

Adobe says that developers and designers can use Adobe RIA technologies to “rapidly create and deploy rich, branded content and applications”, with the release of Adobe AIR signalling  the “next wave of Adobe RIA innovation by bridging the real-time, dynamic capabilities of the Web with the computing power and data capabilities of the desktop”.

Adobe also wants businesses that leverage the Web as a platform to use Adobe’s RIA technologies, with some examples on display at Adobe’s website and more information below.

Kevin Lynch, chief technology officer at Adobe, said that: “For 25 years, Adobe has delivered technology innovation for our customers, beginning with desktop publishing and extending to multimedia and the Web”.

Lynch continued that: “Now, we continue to advance the future of digital experiences by enabling our customers to create highly interactive, expressive applications. This is an exciting time for Adobe, for innovation in software, and for designers and developers who are driving the Web forward.”

Adobe has worked with “leading companies across industries such as entertainment, finance, media, retail and social networking” to have a range of RIA applications at launch.

These companies include Deutsche Bank, The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc., and The New York Times Company, among others.

Al Hilwa, Program Director at IDC said in Adobe’s press release that: “Adobe has been focused on improving the Web experience and delivering the underlying technologies to produce more interactive and expressive Web sites and applications, and the Adobe technology platform for RIAs hits right at a key need companies have today”.

Hilwa continued that: “The ROI of RIAs is real. A more engaging product visualization experience in eCommerce applications for example, helps customers understand what they are buying, which leads to less online abandonment and increased average order size through cross-sell and up-sell visualization.”

Adobe says it is also “delivering new applications built with Adobe Flex and deployed on Adobe AIR, such as Adobe Media Player, now in beta release, which is a fusion of TV and the Internet that allows users to watch their favorite shows anytime and anywhere, as well as Buzzword, an elegant online word processor that has built-in collaboration capabilities”.

So, what’s in Adobe’s technology platform for RIAs? Please read onto page 2.