Adobe Releases Cross-Operating System Runtime

An anonymous reader writes to mention that Adobe released the first public version of their new cross-operating system runtime today nicknamed 'Apollo'. "The software relies on HTML, JavaScript, Flash, and Adobe Flex. The alpha version, which presently works on Windows and Macintosh, can be downloaded for free at http://www.adobe.com/go/apollo. Once the Apollo apps are created, users can launch them from their desktops, without using their browser or connecting online. An Apollo application can connect automatically to online data or services when an Internet connection is detected, with new components automatically downloaded and integrated. The user needs the Apollo runtime to run the apps, just as a Flash player is needed to run Flash animations."

Re:Translation...

[sammy baby]

Could be worse.

Could be Java.

What? No Duct Tape?

[shadowrat]

Surely an architecture like this can't function without duct tape.

Re:Linux?

[thewils]

...and 64-bit support will be available shortly after Duke Nukem Forever is released.

Re:Translation...

[Anonymous Coward]

Could be even worse.

Could be .NET.

Re:Write once, spam everywhere?

[Randolpho]

"What evil can it be used for?"

"Can it run Linux?"

Isn't that a bit redundant?

The 1990's called...

[mustafap]

they want java back.

It's "cross platform" you insensitive clod.

[wsanders]

Oh, wait, it's not.

Nevermind.

Re:Developers developers etc.

[Bastian]

Why would we need another java or flash?

Because those products are ancient. They've been on the market for literally years, about a decade (!!!) each. How can you possibly make money selling a software brand that old? Adobe and Flash are the Chia Pet and Hula Hoop of the industry. Blah.

TFA is very sparse on details what is so much better about apollo and why that can't be done with flash or java.

You would clearly make a terrible manager.

Re:Translation...

[Em Ellel]

Could be worse.

Could be Java.

actually, it sounds suspiciously like xul (http://www.mozilla.org/projects/xul/) with some flash thrown in. mind you, i've not read the article or played with any of the apps so i'm just guessing wildly.

There is no Appolo, just XUL....;-)

Re:Wrapper

[ZombieRoboNinja]

GIMP is great until you need to, say, draw a straight line. Then you get bounced around their website to a highly sarcastic tutorial [gimp.org] that makes it sound like ANY moron should know their weird shift-clicking technique with no explanation. And then OSS people say it's unfair that they have a rep for not being "user-friendly." /rant

Re:The 1970's called...

[Ungrounded Lightning]

They want Smalltalk back.

And they're welcome to it. B-)

Re:Could be very useful

[riceboy50]

Link? :P

Cross platform?

[dtfinch]

It's kind of pointless if there's no Linux build. I wonder if it'll work in Wine.

At least they're not using Microsoft's definition of cross-platform: It runs on Vista _and_ XP.

Re:Could be very useful

[illegalcortex]

Just give up. Otherwise, this will eventually end with them complaining that it doesn't run on the VIC-20.