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The new web to desktop application support – Apollo Runtime

Apollo, Adobe labs released earlier this month an alpha version of Apollo runtime available for general use, free to download by anyone interested in developing desktop apps and widgets using their technology.

Apollo is meant to be a new cross OS that will allow programmers to develop and distribute enhanced rich Internet applications compiled for desktop use, using and combining their previous knowledge in all other web development areas previously released such as Ajax, Flash/Flex, Java, XHTML. For users, Apollo technologies will provide according to Adobe labs enhanced access to the Internet from a standalone desktop application that does not need the support of a shell program to run.

Once appeared in the world of flash developing for the web, the Apollo technology started making waves and many jumped right in to try and develop with its help. But there still are many people out there that don’t yet realize Apollo from Adobe is quite different from the environments they are used working with. It’s not a Swf to Exe application as many still believe, Apollo is more like the flash player we all use, it requires the installation of Apollo runtime for Apollo applications to be accessible from the respective computer. Once you’ve downloaded and installed your runtime, you can do whatever you want with your RIAs developed with Apollo even when you are offline. Adobe labs try to demonstrate the use of this improved interactivity with their e-bay application that allows the user (while no internet connection is available) access via the Apollo e-bay widget , publish its products, pictures, lists and prices via the runtime and then post them all directly on e-bay once the internet connection in online.

When compared to more known cross OS`s used before in creating widgets, such as Zinc, Apollo fails the standalone tests, as it does require that runtime to be accessible from one’s PC and also it’s applications are not exe files, they are .air files that need to be installed with the help of the runtime. But there is no point in arguing the fact that Apollo is quite promising and it does seem a bit more interactive than anything used before in this field. Now, when it comes to offline web applications, we can’t forget about Microsoft that seems to still remain the main competitor with Apollo, although it seems like Firefox might include in the future support for offline web apps, according to Mozilla representatives.

To give a head start to both developers and potential users, Adobe developed a few desktop applications using Apollo technologies. They are all available for download on their website. As Apollo is a new thing for most people, here is a quick guide into downloading and using any Apollo based widget:

- download Apollo runtime and install it on your PC

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There are already many fun and interesting widgets to be downloaded all over the web, based on Apollo runtime technologies. You can find youtube applications, apps that will help you turn your blog into a widget and many more useful stuff. It already seems like Apollo will be a great hit, and it’s only been a couple of weeks, who know just how deep into Apollo runtime applications we’ll be a year from now?

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You are probably already sick and tired of being continuously fatigued, of gaining so much weight so sudden, of watching your body going through so many changes and of hearing how everyone keep on telling you “stay away from that”, “don’t do that”. But there are so many joy reasons throughout these nine months…If you are simply too gloomy to find at least one, there’s a full list for you!

1. Every time you’ll want to cross the street, all cars will mysteriously stop.
2. People you don’t even know will watch your belly and smile, as if the very thought that you are pregnant makes their day brighter.
3. You can eat all the ice cream you want, along with as much chocolate topping as you feel like and you will never feel guilty afterwards. And you can do this at any time of day!
4. You can – actually you kinda must – nap once in a while, whenever you wish, without anyone calling you lazy.
5. You are in charge of naming a new innocent being.
6. You can watch you husband or partner going from lover to father when he kisses your belly goodnight, reads a story to your unborn baby or stays up all night installing the baby bed if the child suddenly decides to come into the world eight weeks earlier.
7. Sex: It’s the only time when you are not worried you might get pregnant, or, worried that you can’t get pregnant. You can have sex just for fun.
8. It’s the first time when you can go out and buy a bathing suite that is not made to cover-up your defects, but to show off you growing belly.
9. Those pregnancy dreams, wild, intense, amazing that bring out each and every person from your past. No such dream has yet been analyzed or understood.
10. The amazing anticipation. It’s just like all of your birthdays and all the celebrations in your life just collided into one.
11. You are now free to imagine all possibilities and you actually have the time to it.
12. You get more space for yourself! And you don’t even feel bad to claim it.
13. You eat healthier, you drink more water, you read labels more carefully. Suddenly, everything you get into your body counts tremendously.
14. In the middle of a boring meeting or of a pointless discussion, you’ll fell your baby moving and it will help you escape from the real world. It’s you secret way of communication.
15. You can heart you baby’s heartbeat at every check-up.
16. Playing “guess witch part we can feel now”, especially in the evening, before going to bed, when the baby starts moving a lot (the baby will always move more when the mother is relaxed).
17. The increased attention you are getting.
18. You can now benefit from all aspect of the pregnant woman’s beauty: healthy silky hair, long strong nails, wonderful and soft skin, big breasts.
19. You won’t have to wait in a line anymore.
20. You can now shop for a person you haven’t even met yet: tiny clothes, brand new furniture, and lovely decorations for the baby’s room.
21. Enjoy dreams of the moment someone will be calling you “mommy”
22. You get lots of gifts. This will remind you just how special you are for your family and your friends.
23. You are experiencing a continuous feeling of accomplishment. Every day, even if you stay sit around you are actually carrying out a very important work: you are having a baby!
24. You will be spending lots of time trying to remember childhood songs and poems.
25. You know that the bad parts (sickness, swallowed wrists, back pains) won’t last forever. And you also know that, at the end, it will all be worth it.

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