Adobe Systems Incorporated finally announced that the first public alpha version of Apollo is now available for download on Adobe Labs. Apollo is the code name for a cross-operating system application runtime (Mac, Win, Linux) that allows web developers to leverage their existing skills in HTML, JavaScript and Ajax, Flash, and Flex to build and deploy rich Internet applications for the desktop. Apollo combines the reach of web development technologies with the richness of desktop applications, working seamlessly across operating systems and outside the browser to deliver a more consistent and engaging user experience. The alpha version of the Apollo application runtime and the Apollo Software Developer’s Kit (SDK) can be downloaded for free from www.adobe.com/go/apollo