Internet Applications for the Desktop
The rapid transformation of web-based applications to employ new and more interactive functions, generally lumped together under the broad heading of Web 2.0, may now be migrating to the desktop. Developers and users alike have been frustrated by some of the basic limitations of web-based applications, which seem never to be as rich in functionality as the fully developed desktop application, and always require a lot of bandwidth to make the user interface seem truly worthwhile. New technologies such as AJAX and FLEX have been at the forefront of the latest generation of developer tools supporting the new batch of web applications.
The concept of rich internet applications is poised to combine the best of the new internet applications with desktop based software applications. Adobe, a standard bearer for cross-system application development, has today released a public alpha of a whole new application environment using internet technologies to create desktop applications. In its news release, Adobe said that "Apollo is the code name for a cross-operating system application runtime that allows web developers to leverage their existing skills in HTML, JavaScript and Ajax, as well as Adobe® Flash® and Adobe Flex™ software to build and deploy rich Internet applications (RIAs) on the desktop. Apollo combines the reach of Internet technologies with the richness of desktop applications, working seamlessly across operating systems and outside the browser to deliver a more consistent and engaging user experience. The alpha version of the Apollo application runtime and the Apollo Software Developer’s Kit (SDK) can be downloaded for free from www.adobe.com/go/apollo ."
The basic capabilities promised for Apollo are described in the press release about the alpha testing.
The idea of rich internet applications being built for the desktop using the same tools and development approaches originally designed for the web can lead to lower costs and faster development time for desktop applications. The the justice world, this kind of capability will result in more innovative uses of technology than the conventional programming models and methodologies.
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