Adobe this week released the first public preview of its long-anticipated new desktop rich-client technology, code-named Apollo. Apollo is based on the open-source WebKit, the same software that is also at the core of Apple's Safari and the KDE project's Konqueror browser.

Apollo, according to Adobe chief software architect Kevin Lynch, is the first significant outcome of the Macromedia/Adobe merger:

We both saw over time that Macromedia would be adding electronic document capability to RIAs [rich Internet applications] and that Adobe would add RIA capability around electronic documents. Rather than pursue those paths separately and duplicate efforts, we joined forces to deliver our vision for the next generation of documents and RIAs, bringing together the world's best technology for electronic documents and the world's best, most pervasive technology for RIAs.

Lynch noted that Apollo will enable new types of applications that combine features of online and offline software:

Apollo enables people to more easily maintain a connection with information in their web applications. Just like a desktop app, Apollo applications have an icon on the desktop, in the Windows start menu, or in the OS X dock. Also, when you're running a web application today, it's a separate world from your computer. You can't easily integrate local data with your web app. For example, you can't just drag and drop your local contacts onto a web-based mapping application to get directions to your friend's house. With Apollo applications you will be able to this kind of integration as it bridges the chasm between your computer and the Internet.

Lynch also pointed out that Apollo's goal is to make the development of rich-client desktop applications easier. For instance, the simplest Apollo applications can be built entirely with HTML, while more complex applications can incorporate Flex, and even combine HTML, JavaScript, and Flex:

With Apollo, you can leverage existing web development skills (HTML, Flash, JavaScript, Ajax, Flex) to build and deploy RIAs to the desktop. Just like web publishing allowed anyone with basic HTML skills to create a website, Apollo will enable anyone with basic web development skills to create a desktop application. The HTML engine in Apollo is WebKit, which is open source and is also used Apple's Safari browser.

What do you think of Apollo's approach of combining the desktop and online experience?