Some of the smartest ideas in technology are also the hardest to explain until you actually see them in operation. Adobe’s ‘Apollo’ technology, which made its debut at the Demo conference today, is a case in point.

Adobe describes Apollo as "the code name for a cross operating system runtime that allows developers to leverage their existing web development skills in HTML, JavaScript, AJAX, Flash and Flex in order to build and deploy rich internet applications to the desktop."

Roughly translated, I think that means Apollo enables developers to build really cool applications that combine the best features of online services like eBay, MySpace and Google Maps with offline desktop applications to create dynamic, interactive services beyond the constraints of a traditional web browser.

In effect users get the interactivity of the web with the performance of the desktop with Apollo providing the bridging technology between the two.

The demo Adobe gave on stage was of a dynamic eBay software package that ran on a desktop but pulled in real-time information from the online auction service and combined it with analytical tools, like an Excel spreadsheet. All in all, it certainly looked pretty impressive.

Adobe (and incidentally eBay) looks like it has a winner - if only the company can find a better way to explain what Apollo does.

January 31st, 2007 in Software | Permalink