Adobe Air is an application development platform, you can learn more at rich Internet applications | Adobe AIR . Basically it's for those that want to develop using Flash/Flex, or those that want to develop using HTML/JavaScript. On the PlayBook RIM's WebWorks is probably better for HTML/JavaScript development, unless you're looking to have one app which works on multiple platforms. Expect to see it used mostly for Flash/Flex development. I wouldn't get too excited, every developer I know using Flex says it's poorly designed and buggy. Most of the good Air apps are the HTML/JavaScript ones. Air is useful on desktops where HTML/JavaScript can't natively be used to create desktop apps, but as I said, WebWorks makes that functionality redundant.
I'm far more excited about the possibilities for the native SDK with C/C++ support. I don't personally like programming in C/C++, but when performance matters (like gaming) it's the standard. And personal opinions aside, they're popular languages.
Basically that's it. The important difference is that an Air app is entirely local. Air is not just a web browser displaying the app like GMail or Google Maps, it's like a web server and web browser in one (it doesn't actually contain a web server, it's just *like* that).
Basically that's it. The important difference is that an Air app is entirely local. Air is not just a web browser displaying the app like GMail or Google Maps, it's like a web server and web browser in one (it doesn't actually contain a web server, it's just *like* that).
oh, ok, that explanation cleared up a misunderstanding I had of the purpose of AIR. thanks AGAIN!
