runtime

How to check for and disable Java in OS X

There's some concern over the use of Java in OS X following a recent finding that Flashback malware variants are now taking advantage of currently unpatched vulnerabilities in the Java runtime.

Even though this malware development should not affect the majority of Mac users running OS X 10.7 or later since Apple no longer includes Java with the OS, some people may nonetheless be wondering what the Java runtime is, and how they can go about checking for and removing it from their systems to ensure they are safe.

What is Java? The essence of Java is its … Read more

Cross-platform consistency, now with speed

As Adobe has focused on Flash Player development in the aftermath of the rise of HTML5, it hasn't ignored its other content-delivery system: Adobe AIR. AIR 3 brings some hefty speed improvements to the system, thanks to a little something new called Stage3D.

In case you're new to AIR, which means Adobe Integrated Runtime, it's a platform that runs applications across multiple systems without coding in more than one language. It's powerful and respected for giving people the same end-user experience, whether on Windows, Mac, or Linux. One very well-known AIR app is TweetDeck. If you … Read more

Cross-platform consistency, now with speed

In case you're new to AIR, which stands for Adobe Integrated Runtime, it's a platform that runs applications across multiple systems without coding in more than one language. It's powerful and respected for giving people the same end-user experience, whether on Windows, Mac, or Linux. One very well-known AIR app is TweetDeck. If … Read more

Mac OS X Lion known issues: Adobe products

Adobe has released an initial knowledge base article detailing some of the early known issues when upgrading Mac systems to OS X 10.7 Lion.

For all products, items stored in the Library folder in Mac OS X Lion are now hidden. Adobe products store several files in the Mac Library folder including preferences, presets, and other customization applications and settings. To view the Library folder in Mac OS X Lion:

From the Finder menu bar navigate to Go > Go to Folder. Type: ~/Library Click Go, and you will be presented with a Finder window with the Library folder … Read more

Silverlight 5 to bring media boost, windowed apps

Microsoft today unveiled the next iteration of its Silverlight technology, Silverlight 5, which the company said will improve things like media playback and the time it takes to develop applications, along with adding support for 3D and hardware acceleration.

"There's been a lot of angst on this topic in the last few weeks," Scott Guthrie, corporate vice president for Microsoft's developer division, told attendees of the company's Silverlight-focused Firestarter event at its headquarters in Redmond, Wash. "Let me say upfront that there is a Silverlight future, and we think it's going to be … Read more

As promised, Adobe's AIR hits Android

Adobe Systems has finally brought its AIR platform to smartphones, with an application for Android phone users that hit the Android Market last night.

The AIR platform, which began on the desktop, stands for Adobe Integrated Runtime. It's a platform for users to run rich Internet applications locally, much like a typical software application. In that same vein, AIR apps can take advantage of the hardware they're running on in ways that Web apps in the browser sometimes can't.

Back in February, while at the Mobile World Congress show in Barcelona, Adobe said it would be bringing … Read more

Desktop tweeting

One of the first desktop Twitter services built on the Adobe AIR platform, Twhirl rolls the functionality of many ancillary services into one. For example, Twhirl automatically swaps in shortened in place of long URLs, sends photos to TwitPic, and searches for Twitter topics using a built-in TweetScan engine. In the settings, you can configure Twhirl to cross-post updates to Jaiku and Pownce, much like the service Ping.fm. An acquisition by Seesmic results in video tweets courtesy of that service.

Though cheery, the interface is also economical, providing extensive options for viewing and updating statuses and messages for all … Read more

Desktop tweeting

One of the first desktop Twitter services built on the Adobe AIR platform, Twhirl rolls the functionality of many ancillary services into one. For example, Twhirl automatically swaps in shortened URLs in place of long URLs, sends photos to TwitPic, and searches for Twitter topics using a built-in TweetScan engine. In the settings, you can configure Twhirl to cross-post updates to Jaiku and Pownce, much like the service Ping.fm. An acquisition by Seesmic results in video tweets courtesy of that service.

Though cheery, the interface is also economical, providing extensive options for viewing and updating statuses and messages for … Read more

Cross-platform consistency

A single platform to download individual applications across multiple operating systems. What's not to love? Adobe Air (which stands for Adobe Integrated Runtime) is a sleek runtime platform that installs and runs an application on Windows, Mac, and Linux computers. You'll need it to download applications built using Air. Since developers need only make one version of the app for all three computing platforms, they can spend more quality time creating their product.

Or so the theory goes. As a runtime and delivery mechanism, Air won't determine how well the app fulfills its purpose, but programs built … Read more

Desktop Twitter

Built on Adobe AIR, Twhirl is a stand-out desktop Twitter service that rolls the functionality of many ancillary services into one. For example, Twhirl automatically posts TinyURLs in place of long URLs, sends photos to TwitPic, and searches for Twitter topics using a built-in TweetScan engine. In the settings, you can configure Twhirl to cross-post updates to Jaiku and Pownce; it now also rolls in support for Ping.fm, itself a service that updates multiple social networks.

Twhirl's other goodies include spell check, improved search, and a Bit.ly link shortener. In addition, Seesmic users can record video, whereas … Read more