Apollo is the code name for a cross-operating system runtime being developed by Adobe that allows developers to leverage their existing web development skills (Flash, Flex, HTML, JavaScript, Ajax) to build and deploy rich Internet applications (RIAs) to the desktop.Some of the features included in the Apollo alpha include, but are not limited to:

• Full HTML support within Flex- and Flash-based content.
• Full file I/O API
• Multiple window chrome modes (including native and custom/transparent)
• Native windowing API (partially implemented)
• ActionScript/JavaScript script bridging
• Flex components
• Low-level update APIs
• Icon support

It is important to step back for a second and point out what Apollo is not. Apollo is not a general desktop runtime meant to compete with lower-level application runtimes. This means that you probably wouldn’t want to build Photoshop on top of Apollo.Apollo’s primary use case is enabling Rich Internet and web applications to be deployed to the desktop. This is a very important but subtle distinction, as enabling RIAs on the desktop is the primary use case driving the Apollo 1.0 feature set.

Apollo is also not a browser. While it does allow developers to use web technologies such as HTML, and Flash to build applications, it does not provide any default UI to the user for browsing web pages. It is possible to build a browser on top of Apollo, but at a basic level, Apollo is a runtime that enables developers to build end user applications, and is not an end user application itself.
Download the Apollo SDK from here.

Create Apollo Apps in Flash CS3

Now that Flash CS3 is available, a lot of people have been asking when they will be able to author Apollo applications with it.
Fortunately, Guy Watson has released an extension for Flash CS3 that makes it much easier to test Apollo content directly from Flash CS3. So, if you are loving Flash CS3, and are interested in Apollo, then check out Guy’s extension.
Download the Test in Apollo extension here. (source code: here.)

Other inteteresing links

Why Apollo – Apollo Lab Main Page – FAQ – Articles and Tutorials – Applications – Videos – Forums and Mailing Lists