Microsoft sets a new record
Today, Microsoft got fined a record $1.3 billion by the European Union. They now offer to share more information hoping to make it easier for developers to make products for their platform. I don’t really care that much now that we have AIR…Adobe AIR already allows you to make applications that work on their operating system and as an added bonus, they also work on Mac OS and Linux straight out of the box. No need to port or anything like that. And yes… I know it’s about a lot more than just that. But anyway… Back to the story. They’ve delayed complying with the EU ruling for three years now and really didn’t do that much that suggests they are about to comply with it. Respect to Neelie Kroes for really being consistent about this. I think it’s safe to say you better not mess with Neelie ;-)
More in CNN.com
Adobe AIR enables rich internet applications on the Windows, Mac AND Linux desktop
If you haven’t heard, last monday morning we released AIR 1.0 after an extensive period of both private and public beta testing. One of the biggest themes for AIR is cross-platform compatibility with just one installer file and without having to code anything specific (with a few exceptions like application menu’s and dock/system tray icons) for the OS your targetting. Actually, as of now you don’t even have to target a specific OS anymore to make a desktop application. The AIR runtime takes care of that for you. You just make your app using HTML, Javascript, Flash or Flex or even combinations of that, export a .air file and it works cross-platform right out of the box.
We’ve also been talking about Linux support from the very start and Kevin Lynch showed a demo of that at the Engage event in San Francisco. He used the Parleys application. Parleys is a project by the Belgian Java User Group. It allows you to watch all the presentations recorded from numerous JUG-events. I think they currently have some 200 hours of content on the site and now in the app that’s been built by Benjamin Dobler. (Watch the video interview with Benjamin)
Anyway… You don’t have to take my word for it. Just go and check out the video.
Big Spaceship profiled on Apple Pro website
I’m sure most have you have seen more of Big Spaceship’s work than you realize. Remember “Sammy the talking suitcase“? Or HBO Voyeur? I’ve been a fan of their work for quite a while and it’s nice to see them on the Apple Pro website.
Big Spaceship does all their work on Mac’s mainly using Adobe’s CS3 and Apple’s Final Cut Pro. This is a great article that gives you a peak behind the scenes of this Brooklyn-based studio.
All aboard… The onAIR train tour is coming to Europe
If you’re doing webdevelopment (HTML, Ajax, Flash, Flex, …) and you’re interested in taking your application to the desktop, AIR is your next best friend and the onAIR Tour is an event you don’t want to miss. We’ll tell you how to bring your web-app to desktop and combine the power of the desktop with the connectivity of the web by using the HTML, JavaScript, Ajax, Flash, Flex and/or other webdevelopment skills you already have.
Colin Moock AS3.0 tour hitting Europe
In just a week time, Colin Moock’s ActionScript 3.0 From The Ground Up Tour is finally hitting Europe. Colin’s tour will stop in Munich, Amsterdam and London. If you didn’t register for this event yet, you may be out of luck…
However, a little bird just told me that you can still register for the Munich date which is February 20th.
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to learn how to program from one of the world’s top ActionScript instructors! Based on Moock’s best-selling Essential ActionScript 3.0 (O’Reilly, 2007), this one-day event covers the fundamental skills you need to program for Flash Player and Adobe AIR.
Check http://www.adobeas3tour.com/ for more info.
Feel free to follow me on: 
