Short for
Adobe Integrated Runtime, AIR is a new Adobe environment that is an
extra layer of software that allows the same program to run on different
operating systems and hardware, much like
Java runs. AIR allows applications to
be installed on the local operating system and accessed from the
desktop just
like the other applications that the desktop user runs. At the same time, AIR
applications can access online information. AIR applications can run either
online or offline, but is aimed at Web developers and its primary use is to
enable Web applications and
Rich Internet Applications (RIAs) to be deployed to
the desktop. The eBay Desktop and Google Analytics are examples of prototypical
AIR applications.
See Rich Internet Application (RIA).
See also "Building
Desktop Applications For The Web With Adobe Integrated Runtime" on
Developer.com.
