by Timothy Brook
Created
Today, Adobe announced that the public beta of Adobe Integrated Runtime (AIR), formerly code-named Apollo, and the public beta of Adobe Flex 3 are immediately available for download from Adobe Labs. The Adobe Integrated Runtime, along with Flex, are cornerstones of Adobe’s comprehensive RIA strategy for enabling developers and designers to create and deliver rich, dynamic, branded content and applications across all major operating systems.
You can read the press releases here (Adobe Integrated Runtime) and here (Flex 3)
The Adobe Integrated Runtime allows developers to use HTML/CSS, any Ajax framework, Flash and Flex to extend RIAs to the desktop. New features in the Adobe Integrated Runtime beta include an embedded local database (SQLlite), PDF support, enhanced capabilities for JavaScript developers, and deeper integration with Adobe Flex. The free beta versions of Adobe AIR and the Adobe AIR SDK are available for downloaded from www.adobe.com/go/air. You can also get a preview of some of the early applications being developed on the Adobe Integrated Runtime from Adobe Labs.
The Flex 3 beta is a major functional release that adds rich new UI capabilities, enhanced developer productivity, desktop deployment and enterprise testing and performance tools. The Flex 3 public beta also marks the first significant deliverable for the open source Flex project, beginning with the availability of nightly builds, and a public bug database, which will be posted at www.labs.adobe.com/technologies/flex/opensource. The free Flex SDK also makes it easy for Flex and Flash developers to get started with Adobe AIR. Additionally, web developers can use the Eclipse-based Flex Builder, an advanced IDE for creating both desktop and browser-based RIA’s.
Ryan posts here with some deeper analysis.