First of all, what is Adobe AIR? First I’ll give Adobe’s explanation, then I’ll give you my simplified version. Adobe says:
The Adobe® AIR® 2 runtime enables developers to use HTML, JavaScript, Adobe Flash® software, and ActionScript® to build web applications that run as standalone client applications without the constraints of a browser. Adobe AIR and the Adobe Flash Platform unleash the creativity of designers and developers by providing a consistent and flexible development environment for the delivery of applications across devices and platforms. Support for additional platforms, including Android, is under development.
So basically, Adobe AIR is an application that runs on Windows or Apple. Developers can build scripts that run on Adobe AIR. It’s a quicker application runner that runs programs over your existing ones. It’s rather cool and I definitely recommend it. Once you have it check out the Adobe AIR Marketplace.
But to make life easier, I’ll recommend my 3 favorites right off the bat.
- Facebook Desktop – gives your floating updates from your Facebook in the lower right corner
- Snackr – gives a floating bar at the bottom of your window (that you can hide) that rolls all your RSS feeds.
- Pandora – opens up a window that can play your Pandora playlist
So use it and abuse it. Adobe AIR is a great thing to have. Especially for aspiring designers who want to have everything readily accesible. Such as twitter, facebook, quick image editing programs, and even a nifty Web 2.0 button maker. If you really want to get crazy, then build your own application. Adobe AIR has a kit that you can download to get your started!
