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.

[brucemmccarthy]

Browser vs. network

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

[brucemmccarthy]

Browser vs. network

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

[natmbg]

Microsoft's WPF is There Already

Web deployed, connected apps with presentation on steroids, offline, xaml markup etc.

Check out the Times Reader for example.

[natmbg]

Microsoft's WPF is There Already

Web deployed, connected apps with presentation on steroids, offline, xaml markup etc.

Check out the Times Reader for example.

[ecohen1]

This will be critical for mobile professionals

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.

[ecohen1]

This will be critical for mobile professionals

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.