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.

Features:

Native process API

Create native installers allowing you to launch and communicate with native processes using standard input and output. Using the native process API, communicate with native libraries built using Java™ and .NET and native applications such as "grep" for file searching. You can also create operating system–specific installers (native installers). Applications that use the native process API must be deployed using a native installer.

Native document handlers to open documents

Open documents in popular file formats like PDF, PSD, DOC, PPT, and MP3 using the native application associated with that file. For example, opening an MP3 file will launch iTunes on systems where iTunes is the default application for MP3 files.

Local microphone API

Record audio locally on your device without the need for a server.

UDP networking support

Take advantage of runtime support for the User Datagram Protocol (UDP) to build time-sensitive, real-time networking applications such as multiplayer games.

WebKit with HTML5/CSS3 support

Benefit from new capabilities such as CSS transforms, animations, and canvas support.

Mass storage device detection

Detect when mass storage devices such as cameras and USB flash memory drives are available to synchronize files such as photos, videos, MP3 files, or other files.

Enhanced drag-and-drop support

Copy files to the local machine by dragging them out of the Adobe AIR application and onto the desktop. This enables new user interaction possibilities for applications such as content management systems or online stores.

Socket servers and peer-to-peer applications

Build peer-to-peer applications or local servers that make it easier to communicate with other local applications or remote applications over the network.

What's New:

• Install AIR Runtime to SD – This feature allows end users to install or move AIR runtime onto SD cards of their Android devices so they can free up storage space on the phone.
• Improved performance on iOS: We have made runtime optimization to allow developers to deliver higher-performance apps on iOS.
• Media Measurement – Measuring video just got easier. Using Adobe® SiteCatalyst® with Adobe AIR 2.7 or Flash Player 10.3, developers can implement video analytics for either standalone apps or websites with as little as two lines of code. Analytics solution providers can use a new set of open APIs to easily implement consistent video analytics irrespective of implementation or delivery protocol. Media Measurement for AIR and Flash Player allows companies to get real-time, aggregated reporting of how their video content is distributed, what the audience reach is, and how much video is played. Please note that Media Measurement is not yet available for the iOS packager in this release.
• Acoustic Echo Cancellation – AIR 2.7 enables developers to create real-time online collaboration experiences with high-quality audio, such as telephony, in-game voice chat, and group conferencing applications outside the browser for desktop OSes. Developers can take advantage of acoustic echo cancellation, noise suppression, voice activity detection, and automatic compensation for various microphone input levels. End users will be able to experience higher quality audio facilitating smoother conversation flow, without using a headset. This feature is available for desktop platforms only
• Enhanced HTMLLoader API – With AIR 2.7, developers will have more control over how clickable links behave in HTML content within a standalone desktop app. This feature will enable content publishers to achieve seamless weblink-style navigation directly within desktop apps such as magazine viewers and ebook readers.

Requirements:

Windows

• Intel Pentium III processor (Pentium 4 recommended)
• Microsoft® Windows XP Home, Professional, or Tablet PC Edition with Service Pack 2 or 3, Windows Server® 2003, Windows Vista® Home Premium, Business, Ultimate, or Enterprise (including 64-bit editions) with Service Pack 1, or Windows 7
• 512MB of RAM (1GB recommended)

Macintosh

• Intel Core Duo or faster processor
• Mac OS X v10.4, v10.5 or v10.6
• 512MB of RAM (1GB recommended)

Linux

• Intel Pentium III processor (Pentium 4 recommended)
• Fedora Core 12, Ubuntu 9.10, or openSUSE® 11.2
• 1GB of RAM

Note: Windows 2000 and Mac PowerPC are not supported with AIR 2. Users can install and run AIR 1.5 applications, but will not be able to install or update to AIR 2. Mac OS 10.4 running on an Intel processor is supported for running AIR 2 applications, but is not supported as development environment with the AIR 2 SDK.

Language versions:

This product is available in the following languages:

• Chinese Simplified
• Chinese Traditional
• Czech
• Dutch
• English
• French
• German
• Italian
• Japanese
• Korean
• Polish
• Portuguese
• Russian
• Spanish
• Swedish
• Turkish