How to Use Adobe Air

Adobe Air is a new platform that supports the deployment Internet applications running on your desktop. Simply put, it lets you run all kinds of nifty programs with online connectivity directly from your computer, as standalone applications. The programs are acquired from the Adobe Air marketplace, which follows the model of the popular Apple App store. Available apps include, among many, an all-in-one social networking people tracker - Nomee, and a Google Earth on steroids, called Earthbrowser.

Free from the confines of a browser, these tools can run faster and have more features than regular web applications. Let's find out how we can install and give Adobe Air a test drive.

Step 1 Go to the product's page, listed in this article under Resources.

Step 2 Scroll down until you see 'Next Steps' on the left side of your browser window, and under that click on 'Get Adobe AIR now'

Step 3 This will take you to the download page. Click on the big yellow button which says 'Download Now'

Step 4 On the pop-up window, click 'Save'. This will download the file 'AdobeAirInstaller.exe'. Locate this program and run it. Adobe Air is now installed!

Step 5 Now, let's get to the fun part, the apps! Head on to the Adobe Air Marketplace, which you can find on the same page I mentioned in Step 1, by clicking on the link 'Get Air Applications' , which is also located under 'Next Steps'.

Step 6 In the marketplace, browse till you find something you like and simply click on it. A new page with a detailed description of the application will appear. Locate the orange button 'Download from Publisher' and click on it.

Step 7 Follow the instructions on the publisher's page, which vary from app to app.

Step 8 Once the app is installed, it will put an icon on your desktop (if allowed) and it will also appear in your computer's Programs menu, just like any installed programs. Enjoy!

Step 9 To uninstall Adobe Air or any of the apps that run on it, follows the same procedure as you would use to uninstall regular programs. For instance, in Windows, go to Control Panel/ Add Remove Programs,locate the app and click 'Remove'