Distributing and Monetizing Adobe AIR Apps

On July 21, learn what Adobe and Intel are doing to help you distribute and monetize your AIR applications by understanding the business opportunities and discovering how you can take advantage of the service immediately. Learn more and register today.

Developers that apply to distribute the Adobe AIR runtime are provided access to a tool, the Operating System Identifier (OSID) Generator application, that can be used to identify a platform-specific identifier for an installed AIR application. By obtaining these OS specific IDs, developers can detect and launch an installed AIR application.

A few developers reported that they were experiencing issues using this tool with their AIR 2 applications. In response, we recently made available an updated version of the OSID Generator application that addresses the issue.

Please see the mini-FAQ below for additional information on this update.

Q: Where do I find the updated OSID Generator application that is compatible with AIR 2?

A: If you were approved to distribute the AIR runtime for AIR 2 or earlier versions, you were sent an email that included a link to instructions for how to download the OSID Generator application. Please refer to this email to locate this link.

Q: Where can I find additional information on distributing the AIR runtime so that I can have access to the OSID tool? Where can I apply?

A: To request a distribution agreement for the AIR runtime, please see visit the request page. Once approved, you will be sent a link that includes instructions for how to download the OSID tool.

Q: Though I successfully applied and was approved to redistribute the runtime, I can no longer find the link to the page that allows me to download the OSID application. What should I do?

A: Please reapply to distribute the AIR runtime. Once approved, you will be sent a link that includes instructions for how to download the OSID tool.

Q: Where can I find instructions on how to use the OSID Generator application?

A: Once your distribution request is approved, you receive a link to a page that includes a link to documentation for the OSID Generation Application. Once the link is loaded in your browser, click on the "Download documentation" link in the "Adobe AIR Runtime Installer files" section. Once the "Adobe AIR Runtime Redistribution Instructions" instructions page is loaded, read the section titled "Using the OSID Generator application."

Developers that apply to distribute the Adobe AIR runtime are provided access to a tool, the Operating System Identifier (OSID) Generator application, that can be used to identify a platform-specific identifier for an installed AIR application. By obtaining these OS specific IDs, developers can detect and launch an installed AIR application.

A few developers reported that they were experiencing issues using this tool with their AIR 2 applications. In response, we recently made available an updated version of the OSID Generator application that addresses the issue.

Please see the mini-FAQ below for additional information on this update.

Q: Where do I find the updated OSID Generator application that is compatible with AIR 2?

A: If you were approved to distribute the AIR runtime for AIR 2 or earlier versions, you were sent an email that included a link to instructions for how to download the OSID Generator application. Please refer to this email to locate this link.

Q: Where can I find additional information on distributing the AIR runtime so that I can have access to the OSID tool? Where can I apply?

A: To request a distribution agreement for the AIR runtime, please see visit the request page. Once approved, you will be sent a link that includes instructions for how to download the OSID tool.

Q: Though I successfully applied and was approved to redistribute the runtime, I can no longer find the link to the page that allows me to download the OSID application. What should I do?

A: Please reapply to distribute the AIR runtime. Once approved, you will be sent a link that includes instructions for how to download the OSID tool.

Q: Where can I find instructions on how to use the OSID Generator application?

A: Once your distribution request is approved, you receive a link to a page that includes a link to documentation for the OSID Generation Application. Once the link is loaded in your browser, click on the "Download documentation" link in the "Adobe AIR Runtime Installer files" section. Once the "Adobe AIR Runtime Redistribution Instructions" instructions page is loaded, read the section titled "Using the OSID Generator application."

In recent weeks, we have seen a tremendous amount of activity related to Adobe AIR, Flash Player and other Adobe related technologies due to our recent product launches. In fact, there is so much activity that it can be difficult to keep up.

In the coming weeks and months, we will continue to spotlight new applications that customers are building using Adobe AIR with a focus on AIR 2 capabilities as well as AIR for Android apps. Today, I would like to provide a quick summary of some of the recent announcements that I believe developers may find valuable.

• Aptana, in partnership with Adobe, released the Adobe AIR Plug-In for Aptana Studio. The updated version of the plug-in allows JavaScript developers to easily build rich, out-of-browser applications powered by the latest capabilities availabilities in AIR 2. The plug-in includes advanced support for debugging, profiling, code hinting and more. For instructions on how to install the plug-in, see this page.
• Flash developer Grant Skinner recently published two very impressive experiments using Adobe AIR and Android. In his first experiment, he built a wireless slot car gas pedal. In his second experiment, he built a multi-screen game called Androideroids that, well, must be seen to be believed.
• Adobe AIR team member Christian Cantrell released MailBrew, an email notifier that supports Gmail (regular Gmail, and Google Apps email accounts) and IMAP. For a quick overview of the application, be sure to check out the video Christian put together.
• Serge Jespers not only posted a video tutorial demonstrating how to create native installers in AIR 2, he built an application using AIR that helps you package your native installers. The application is called Package Assistant Pro and is currently available for download.
• Greg Wilson announced the launch of Tour de Flex 2.0 powered by Adobe AIR 2. A special thank you to Greg and Holly Schinsky for helping to develop additional AIR 2 examples in this update
• Adobe recently released the 1.0 version of the Open Source Media Framework (OSMF). This framework simplifies the development of media players by allowing developers to assemble components to create high-quality, full-featured video playback experiences in Flash Player or Adobe AIR. The framework is now available for download. There are also many resources for developers interested in getting started with OSMF. If you are developing an AIR application that takes advantage of OSMF, please leave a comment and let us know as we are seeking out showcase applications.

Below are links to two of Grant Skinner's recent AIR and Android experiments. Be sure to check these out!

In recent weeks, we have seen a tremendous amount of activity related to Adobe AIR, Flash Player and other Adobe related technologies due to our recent product launches. In fact, there is so much activity that it can be difficult to keep up.

In the coming weeks and months, we will continue to spotlight new applications that customers are building using Adobe AIR with a focus on AIR 2 capabilities as well as AIR for Android apps. Today, I would like to provide a quick summary of some of the recent announcements that I believe developers may find valuable.

• Aptana, in partnership with Adobe, released the Adobe AIR Plug-In for Aptana Studio. The updated version of the plug-in allows JavaScript developers to easily build rich, out-of-browser applications powered by the latest capabilities availabilities in AIR 2. The plug-in includes advanced support for debugging, profiling, code hinting and more. For instructions on how to install the plug-in, see this page.
• Flash developer Grant Skinner recently published two very impressive experiments using Adobe AIR and Android. In his first experiment, he built a wireless slot car gas pedal. In his second experiment, he built a multi-screen game called Androideroids that, well, must be seen to be believed.
• Adobe AIR team member Christian Cantrell released MailBrew, an email notifier that supports Gmail (regular Gmail, and Google Apps email accounts) and IMAP. For a quick overview of the application, be sure to check out the video Christian put together.
• Serge Jespers not only posted a video tutorial demonstrating how to create native installers in AIR 2, he built an application using AIR that helps you package your native installers. The application is called Package Assistant Pro and is currently available for download.
• Greg Wilson announced the launch of Tour de Flex 2.0 powered by Adobe AIR 2. A special thank you to Greg and Holly Schinsky for helping to develop additional AIR 2 examples in this update
• Adobe recently released the 1.0 version of the Open Source Media Framework (OSMF). This framework simplifies the development of media players by allowing developers to assemble components to create high-quality, full-featured video playback experiences in Flash Player or Adobe AIR. The framework is now available for download. There are also many resources for developers interested in getting started with OSMF. If you are developing an AIR application that takes advantage of OSMF, please leave a comment and let us know as we are seeking out showcase applications.

Below are links to two of Grant Skinner’s recent AIR and Android experiments. Be sure to check these out!

Following up on our recent Adobe AIR 2 runtime availability announcement, we are pleased to also announce that the Adobe AIR 2 SDK is available for download! To help developers quickly get up to speed on the latest capabilities of this release, we are making a number of resources available including release notes, documentation, articles, videos and sample applications.

Release Notes

First, be sure to review the AIR 2 Developer Release Notes where you will find additional information about the latest features, tips and tricks and known issues. This document is an excellent resource for learning about the release. The developer release notes are also available in Japanese and Chinese as well.

Documentation

Links to the Adobe AIR 2 documentation can be found on here.

Articles

If you are looking for tips on how to get started with AIR 2, visit the Adobe AIR Developer Center. Below are several new articles and videos related to AIR 2 that will help you get started with some of the new capabilities in the runtime.

• What's new about HTML, HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript in AIR 2 by Mihai Balan
• Using the AIR 2 NativeProcess API to create a screen recorder by Benjamin Dobler
• Writing multiscreen AIR apps by Christian Cantrell
• Communicating between Flash Player and Adobe AIR with sockets by Charles Ward
• Video: Creative Native Installers in Adobe AIR 2 by Serge Jespers

Sample Applications With Source Code

In addition to articles, our team developed a number of sample applications with source code available to help get your started on the new runtime features. Sample applications are available for Flex, Flash and HTML/JavaScript.

Several new sample applications, grouped by product area, that we are making available for AIR 2 include:

• Native Process API
  • SearchCentral (Mac only) - SearchCentral lets you search your desktop, Google, or Wikipedia from within a single application. SearchCentral takes advantage of the new native process API to communicate with the Mac OS X Spotlight feature. It also uses the open document API to open files when double-clicked.
• Networking
  • KeePIPE - a JavaScript-based application that lets users share files on the same network. The application demonstrates how the new networking capabilities can be used to create peer-to-peer applications. KeePIPE also demonstrates the new open document capabilities. If you use an application such as VMWare, you can use this application to transfer files between your VM and host computer.
  • HTTPeek - HTTPeek is a proxy which demonstrates the new ServerSocket APIs in AIR 2. It listens on a designated port, and proxies HTTP requests while displaying the both the request and response HTTP headers.
• Mass Storage Device Detection
  • FileTile - FileTile demonstrates two new capabilities in AIR 2: mass storage device detection, and opening files with their default applications. When running, FileTile detects when a storage device (such as a USB drive or a Flip video camera) is connected, and displays the contents of the files on that device. Right-click on images to preview them, or double-click to open files with their default application.
• Local Audio Recording
  • Microphone - Microphone records and plays back audio locally. It demonstrates a new feature in AIR 2 that lets you write audio locally without requiring a server. You can also speed-up or slow-down the playback speed of the recorded audio.
  • EchoExample - The EchoExample application records a sound, then plays it back simulating an echo using the new ability in AIR 2 to sample microphone data directly. It also demonstrates the use of the SoundTransform object to modify the sound dynamically before playing it back.
• Multi-touch & Gestures
  • PhotoPhysics - PhotoPhysics is a multi-touch application that includes a built-in physics engine. Note: PhotoPhysics requires a multitouch device such as an HP TouchSmart PC or a Dell Latitude XT2 running Windows 7.
  • GeoTest - GeoTest lets you throw images around the screen using a built-in physics engine. This application demonstrates how a user with a non-multi-touch system may tests multi-touch APIs. Note: GeoTest does not require a multi-touch device.
  • SpriteFract - SpriteFract demonstrates a mouse-compatible, direct-manipulation interface. It has a built-in physics engine and leverages the new multi-touch APIs. It also uses PixelBender to asynchronously process a large amount ...

Following up on our recent Adobe AIR 2 runtime availability announcement, we are pleased to also announce that the Adobe AIR 2 SDK is available for download! To help developers quickly get up to speed on the latest capabilities of this release, we are making a number of resources available including release notes, documentation, articles, videos and sample applications.

Release Notes

First, be sure to review the AIR 2 Developer Release Notes where you will find additional information about the latest features, tips and tricks and known issues. This document is an excellent resource for learning about the release. The developer release notes are also available in Japanese and Chinese as well.

Documentation

Links to the Adobe AIR 2 documentation can be found on here.

Articles

If you are looking for tips on how to get started with AIR 2, visit the Adobe AIR Developer Center. Below are several new articles and videos related to AIR 2 that will help you get started with some of the new capabilities in the runtime.

• What’s new about HTML, HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript in AIR 2 by Mihai Balan
• Using the AIR 2 NativeProcess API to create a screen recorder by Benjamin Dobler
• Writing multiscreen AIR apps by Christian Cantrell
• Communicating between Flash Player and Adobe AIR with sockets by Charles Ward
• Video: Creative Native Installers in Adobe AIR 2 by Serge Jespers

Sample Applications With Source Code

In addition to articles, our team developed a number of sample applications with source code available to help get your started on the new runtime features. Sample applications are available for Flex, Flash and HTML/JavaScript.

Several new sample applications, grouped by product area, that we are making available for AIR 2 include:

• Native Process API
  • SearchCentral (Mac only) – SearchCentral lets you search your desktop, Google, or Wikipedia from within a single application. SearchCentral takes advantage of the new native process API to communicate with the Mac OS X Spotlight feature. It also uses the open document API to open files when double-clicked.
• Networking
  • KeePIPE – a JavaScript-based application that lets users share files on the same network. The application demonstrates how the new networking capabilities can be used to create peer-to-peer applications. KeePIPE also demonstrates the new open document capabilities. If you use an application such as VMWare, you can use this application to transfer files between your VM and host computer.
  • HTTPeek – HTTPeek is a proxy which demonstrates the new ServerSocket APIs in AIR 2. It listens on a designated port, and proxies HTTP requests while displaying the both the request and response HTTP headers.
• Mass Storage Device Detection
  • FileTile – FileTile demonstrates two new capabilities in AIR 2: mass storage device detection, and opening files with their default applications. When running, FileTile detects when a storage device (such as a USB drive or a Flip video camera) is connected, and displays the contents of the files on that device. Right-click on images to preview them, or double-click to open files with their default application.
• Local Audio Recording
  • Microphone – Microphone records and plays back audio locally. It demonstrates a new feature in AIR 2 that lets you write audio locally without requiring a server. You can also speed-up or slow-down the playback speed of the recorded audio.
  • EchoExample – The EchoExample application records a sound, then plays it back simulating an echo using the new ability in AIR 2 to sample microphone data directly. It also demonstrates the use of the SoundTransform object to modify the sound dynamically before playing it back.
• Multi-touch & Gestures
  • PhotoPhysics – PhotoPhysics is a multi-touch application that includes a built-in physics engine. Note: PhotoPhysics requires a multitouch device such as an HP TouchSmart PC or a Dell Latitude XT2 running Windows 7.
  • GeoTest – GeoTest lets you throw images around the screen using a built-in physics engine. This application demonstrates how a user with a non-multi-touch system may tests multi-touch APIs. Note: GeoTest does not require a multi-touch device.
  • SpriteFract – SpriteFract demonstrates a mouse-compatible, direct-manipulation interface. It has a built-in physics engine and leverages the new multi-touch APIs. It also uses PixelBender to asynchronously process a large amount ...

We are pleased to announce the immediate availability of the Adobe AIR 2 runtime. Starting today, you can download and install the new version at get.adobe.com/air/. Developers can now deploy applications built for AIR 2 on Windows, Mac OS and Linux. (Note that the AIR 2 SDK is available in CS5 and will be available as a free standalone download on Tuesday, June 15^th.)

AIR APPS

The Adobe AIR runtime is already installed on nearly 300 million desktop computers. We have carefully crafted a seamless installation and upgrade experience that makes it very easy for developers to distribute apps on Mac OS, Windows and Linux. With a few clicks, the Adobe AIR “badge” embedded on the app download page takes care of installing or updating to the right version of AIR if needed. In addition, once a week AIR apps check to see if an AIR update is available, and if so, users are presented with the option to update to the most up‐to‐date version, helping to ensure that end users get the benefits of improved security and performance.

There are some amazing apps built with AIR that will work even better with AIR 2. Here are a few we expect will work better because of reduced memory usage and improved performance:

• Graphic.ly: a splendid comics book reader that connects people who love sharing their passion about graphic novels
• The complete National Geographic: 120 years of National Geographic magazine at your fingertips in stunning digital clarity
• Moviefone: the latest HD movie trailers in outstanding quality
• The Simpsons unleashed: experience The Simpsons like never before as the characters come alive and interact with you on your desktop.
• Adobe Story: a collaborative story writing tool, part of the new CS Live online services.

WHAT’S NEW IN ADOBE AIR 2

Adobe AIR 2 is our most significant update to AIR since its original release two years ago.

Here is just one example of developer reaction to this release:

Adobe AIR 2 is the most robust & versatile yet. With minimum development effort, I was able to convert my AIR for Android app into a desktop app that runs on Windows, Mac OS X & even Linux. Being able reuse 90% of my code to build an application that runs on desktops, as well as mobiles is truly an amazing feature. AIR 2 has evolved into a ubiquitous platform! — Lee Graham, Co‐Founder of TRImagination

We have made huge improvements in the overall performance of the runtime. Without changing your AIR apps, they will now use less CPU and up to 30% less memory.

We are also introducing dozens of new features and hundreds of new APIs for developers to take advantage of. For example, our much improved networking APIs will make it possible to build new apps, from multi‐player games to enterprise collaboration apps. AIR is now even more tightly integrated with the operating system, including better interaction with the file system, detecting mounting and un‐mounting of volumes, improved printing APIs, support for native installers and, of course, one of our most request features, support for integrating native code with your application using the NativeProcess API.

We’re very excited to see the new class of apps made possible by our new multi‐touch and gesture APIs. Those APIs are also available on the beta mobile version of Flash Player and on the AIR for Android pre‐release, and more and more laptops and desktops are multi‐touch capable. We believe this is a great opportunity to build apps with innovative user interactions.

We have also made improvements to HTML support in AIR 2, which you can take advantage of whether you are building an application using only HTML/CSS and JavaScript, or incorporating the HTMLLoader view as part of a Flash/ActionScript‐based application. We have added support for some CSS3 and HTML5 features as well, including CSS transforms, transitions and animations and the <canvas> tag. Additionally, the new JavaScript engine in AIR 2 has been clocked up to twice as fast as before.

A broad range of AIR 2 applications are expected to be available shortly after the release of the AIR 2 runtime, ranging from publicly available apps like ...

We are pleased to announce the immediate availability of the Adobe AIR 2 runtime. Starting today, you can download and install the new version at [get.adobe.com/air/](http://get.adobe.com/air/). Developers can now deploy applications built for AIR 2 on Windows, Mac OS and Linux. (Note that the AIR 2 SDK is available in CS5 and will be available as a free standalone download on Tuesday, June 15^th.)

# AIR APPS

The Adobe AIR runtime is already installed on nearly 300 million desktop computers. We have carefully crafted a seamless installation and upgrade experience that makes it very easy for developers to distribute apps on Mac OS, Windows and Linux. With a few clicks, the Adobe AIR “badge” embedded on the app download page takes care of installing or updating to the right version of AIR if needed. In addition, once a week AIR apps check to see if an AIR update is available, and if so, users are presented with the option to update to the most up‐to‐date version, helping to ensure that end users get the benefits of improved security and performance.

There are some amazing apps built with AIR that will work even better with AIR 2. Here are a few we expect will work better because of reduced memory usage and improved performance:

* [Graphic.ly](http://www.graphic.ly): a splendid comics book reader that connects people who love sharing their passion about graphic novels
* [The complete National Geographic](http://www.nationalgeographic.com/completeng/): 120 years of National Geographic magazine at your fingertips in stunning digital clarity
* [Moviefone](http://www.moviefone.com/syndication/top‐hd‐trailers‐app): the latest HD movie trailers in outstanding quality
* [The Simpsons unleashed](http://www.thesimpsons.com/unleashed/): experience The Simpsons like never before as the characters come alive and interact with you on your desktop.
* [Adobe Story](http://www.adobe.com/products/creativesuite/cslive/): a collaborative story writing tool, part of the new CS Live online services.

# WHAT’S NEW IN ADOBE AIR 2

Adobe AIR 2 is our most significant update to AIR since its original release two years ago.

Here is just one example of developer reaction to this release:

>Adobe AIR 2 is the most robust & versatile yet. With minimum development effort, I was able to convert my AIR for Android app into a desktop app that runs on Windows, Mac OS X & even Linux. Being able reuse 90% of my code to build an application that runs on desktops, as well as mobiles is truly an amazing feature. AIR 2 has evolved into a ubiquitous platform!
> — Lee Graham, Co‐Founder of [TRImagination](http://www.trimagination.com/)

We have made huge improvements in the overall performance of the runtime. Without changing your AIR apps, they will now use less CPU and up to 30% less memory.

We are also introducing dozens of new features and hundreds of new APIs for developers to take advantage of. For example, our much improved networking APIs will make it possible to build new apps, from multi‐player games to enterprise collaboration apps. AIR is now even more tightly integrated with the operating system, including better interaction with the file system, detecting mounting and un‐mounting of volumes, improved printing APIs, support for native installers and, of course, one of our most request features, support for integrating native code with your application using the `NativeProcess` API.

We’re very excited to see the new class of apps made possible by our new multi‐touch and gesture APIs. Those APIs are also available on the beta mobile version of Flash Player and on the AIR for Android pre‐release, and more and more laptops and desktops are multi‐touch capable. We believe this is a great opportunity to build apps with innovative user interactions.

We have also made improvements to HTML support in AIR 2, which you can take advantage of whether you are building an application using only HTML/CSS and JavaScript, or incorporating the `HTMLLoader` view as part of a Flash/ActionScript‐based application. We have added support for some CSS3 and HTML5 features as well, including CSS transforms, transitions and animations and the “ tag. Additionally, the new JavaScript engine in AIR 2 has been clocked up to twice as fast as before.

A broad range of AIR 2 applications are expected to be available shortly after the release of the AIR 2 runtime, ranging from publicly available ...

Adobe Story is a new collaborative tool designed for writing scripts and screenplays and is a part of the new CS Live online services. Story includes a number of powerful productivity features including collaborative screenwriting, auto-completion tools, Adobe Premiere CS5 and OnLocation integration, scene tagging and many more.

Using Adobe Story, screenwriters have the option of either using a web browser or a desktop application powered by Adobe AIR to access the application.

The video demonstration below provides an excellent tutorial on Adobe Story including a demonstration of the AIR app. This is another stunning application of the types of advanced applications that can be built, in part, with Flash Player and AIR. Congratulations to the Adobe Story team for its public release of a terrific new tool!