January 31, 2007 9:42 AM PST

Adobe Apollo: Cool demo

A cool Flash interface to eBay

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Adobe has been pitching its Apollo technology since last year. It's the new platform that will let you install Web apps on the desktop. At Demo 07, we got a nice demo of an eBay app--a Flash interface to the auction site. The app kept working when the Internet connection was pulled. When the demonstrator's laptop was plugged back into the network, the app synced its data back to eBay.

Honestly, the idea of apps that work when disconnected is becoming less important as bandwidth becomes more ubiquitous, but it's still interesting, and the Apollo demos look really good. What's really important is not that they work when disconnected, but rather that they work without a browser. I look forward to seeing a growth of apps that use the Internet but that don't have to live within a browser nor inherit all the user interface elements that aren't necessary in a real app.

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Add a Comment (Log in or register) 7 comments
Browser vs. network
by brucemmccarthy February 5, 2007 4:28 AM PST
I spend two hours nearly every weekday disconnected from the net while commuting on the train. It's a productive 2 hours because Outlook keeps working while I am disconnected. I can read and compose email, update my calendar and tasks lists, etc. I wish all my webapps worked that way.

I can see a lot of value in having things work while I'm disconnected. I couldn't care less whether they run in browser. What effect would that have on their usability?

I think you've got it backwards.

- Bruce McCarthy, www.userdriven.org
Reply to this comment
Browser vs. network
by brucemmccarthy February 5, 2007 4:28 AM PST
I spend two hours nearly every weekday disconnected from the net while commuting on the train. It's a productive 2 hours because Outlook keeps working while I am disconnected. I can read and compose email, update my calendar and tasks lists, etc. I wish all my webapps worked that way.

I can see a lot of value in having things work while I'm disconnected. I couldn't care less whether they run in browser. What effect would that have on their usability?

I think you've got it backwards.

- Bruce McCarthy, www.userdriven.org
Reply to this comment
Microsoft's WPF is There Already
by natmbg February 6, 2007 8:12 PM PST
Web deployed, connected apps with presentation on steroids, offline, xaml markup etc.

Check out the Times Reader for example.
Reply to this comment
Microsoft's WPF is There Already
by natmbg February 6, 2007 8:12 PM PST
Web deployed, connected apps with presentation on steroids, offline, xaml markup etc.

Check out the Times Reader for example.
Reply to this comment
This will be critical for mobile professionals
by ecohen1 March 14, 2007 2:54 PM PDT
Rafe,

You are correct that this may be less important for the home user or static office user that is always online on broadband.

But for us mobile professionals this is critical. It will be at least a few years before we have truly ubiquitous wireless broadband. Until then, these apps will allow us to get far better use of Web based apps.
Reply to this comment
This will be critical for mobile professionals
by ecohen1 March 14, 2007 2:54 PM PDT
Rafe,

You are correct that this may be less important for the home user or static office user that is always online on broadband.

But for us mobile professionals this is critical. It will be at least a few years before we have truly ubiquitous wireless broadband. Until then, these apps will allow us to get far better use of Web based apps.
Reply to this comment
by kardelen133 May 29, 2008 6:55 AM PDT
very nice information.
ankara nakliyat
Reply to this comment
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