AIR Beta 2 launched

Adobe released the beta 2 version of Adobe AIR. The runtime lets developers use their existing web development skills in HTML, AJAX, Flash and Flex to build and deploy rich Internet applications to the desktop. This release tackles a number of issues and dramatically improves desktop integration.

Here is a list of the new enhancements:

• System Tray icon/Dock Bar Bounce
• Synchronous database API
• Native menus
• Drag and drop enhancements including bitmap support
• Windowing improvements such as Z-order control and enhanced Activation and focus support
• Improved Install dialog look and feel
• Application-initiated runtime updates
• HTML security model improvements
• Mouse support for double-click and scroll-wheel
• Per-machine runtime installs
• Performance and memory enhancements
• XSLT support
• Support for Windows 2000
• Bug fixes

Users can download the new application from here.

Adobe AIR beta 2 was released on October 1, 2007 and contains a timeout that will cause it to stop working on June 1, 2008.