Installing AIR and AIR applications on mobile devices

End users of your app can install the AIR runtime and AIR applications using the normal application and distribution mechanism for their device.

On Android, for example, users can install applications from the Android Market. Or, if they have allowed the installation of apps from unknown sources in the Application settings, users can install an app by clicking a link on a web page, or by copying the application package to their device and opening it. If a user attempts to install an Android app, but doesn’t have the AIR runtime installed yet, then they will be automatically directed to the Market where they can install the runtime.

On iOS, there are two ways to distribute applications to end users. The primary distribution channel is the Apple App Store. You can also use ad hoc distribution to allow a limited number of users to install your application without going though the App Store.

    Install the AIR runtime and applications for development

    Since AIR applications on mobile devices are installed as native packages, you can use the normal platform facilities for installing applications for testing. Where supported, you can use ADT commands to install the AIR runtime and AIR applications. Currently, this approach is supported on Android.

    On iOS, you can install applications for testing using iTunes. Test applications must be signed with an Apple code-signing certificate issued specifically for application development and packaged with a development provisioning profile. An AIR application is a self-contained package on iOS. A separate runtime is not used.

    Installing AIR applications using ADT

    While developing AIR applications, you can use ADT to install and uninstall both the runtime and your apps. (Your IDE may also integrate these commands so that you do not have to run ADT yourself.)

    You can install AIR runtime on a device or emulator using the AIR ADT utility. The SDK provided for the device must be installed. Use the -installRuntime command:

    adt -installRuntime -platform android -device deviceID -package path-to-runtime

    If the -package parameter is not specified, the runtime package appropriate to the device or emulator is chosen from those available in your installed AIR SDK.

    To install an AIR application on Android or iOS (AIR 3.4 and higher), use the similar -installApp command:

    adt -installApp -platform android -device deviceID -package path-to-app

    The value set for the -platform argument should match the device on which you are installing.

    Note: Existing versions of the AIR runtime or the AIR application must be removed before reinstalling.

    Installing AIR applications on iOS devices using iTunes

    To install an AIR application on an iOS device for testing:

    1. Open the iTunes application.

    2. If you have not already done so, add the provisioning profile for this application to iTunes. In iTunes, select File > Add To Library. Then, select the provisioning profile file (which has mobileprovision as the file type).

    3. Some versions of iTunes do not replace the application if the same version of the application is already installed. In this case, delete the application from your device and from the list of applications in iTunes.

    4. Double-click the IPA file for your application. It should appear in the list of applications in iTunes.

    5. Connect your device to the USB port on your computer.

    6. In iTunes, check the Application tab for the device, and ensure that the application is selected in the list of applications to be installed.

    7. Select the device in the left-hand list of the iTunes application. Then click the Sync button. When the sync completes, the Hello World application appears on your iPhone.

    If the new version is not installed, delete it from your device and from the list of applications in iTunes, and then redo this procedure. This may be the case if the currently installed version uses the same application ID and version.

    Running AIR applications on a device

    You can launch installed AIR applications using the device user interface. Where supported, you can also launch applications remotely using the AIR ADT utility:

    adt -launchApp -platform android -device deviceID -appid applicationID

    The value of the -appid argument must be the AIR application ID of the AIR app to launch. Use the value specified in the AIR application descriptor (without the air. prefix added during packaging).

    If only a single device or emulator is attached and running, then you can omit the -device flag. The value set for the -platform argument should match the device on which you are installing. Currently, the only supported value is android.

    Removing the AIR runtime and applications

    You can use the normal means for removing applications provided by the device operating system. Where supported, you can also use the AIR ADT utility to remove the AIR runtime and applications. To remove the runtime, use the -uninstallRuntime command:

    adt -uninstallRuntime -platform android -device deviceID

    To uninstall an application use the -uninstallApp command:

    adt -uninstallApp -platform android -device deviceID -appid applicationID

    If only a single device or emulator is attached and running, then you can omit the -device flag. The value set for the -platform argument should match the device on which you are installing. Currently, the only supported value is android.

    Setting up an emulator

    To run your AIR application on a device emulator, you must typically use the SDK for the device to create and run an emulator instance on your development computer. You can then install the emulator version of the AIR runtime and your AIR application on the emulator. Note that applications on an emulator typically run much slower than they do on an actual device.

    Create an Android emulator

    1. Launch the Android SDK and AVD Manager application:

      • On Windows, run the SDK Setup.exe file, at the root of the Android SDK directory.

      • On Mac OS, run the android application, in the tools subdirectory of the Android SDK directory

    2. Select the Settings option and select the "Force https://" option.

    3. Select the Available Packages option. You should see a list of available Android SDKs.

    4. Select a compatible Android SDK (Android 2.3 or later) and click the Install Selected button.

    5. Select the Virtual Devices option and click the New button.

    6. Make the following settings:

      • A name for your virtual device

      • The target API, such as Android 2.3, API level 8

      • A size for the SD Card (such as 1024)

      • A skin (such as Default HVGA)

    7. Click the Create AVD button.

    Note that Virtual Device creation may take some time depending on your system configuration.

    Now you can launch the new Virtual Device.

    1. Select Virtual Device in the AVD Manager application. The virtual device you created above should be listed.

    2. Select the Virtual Device, and click the Start button.

    3. Click the Launch button on the next screen.

    You should see an emulator window open on your desktop. This may take a few seconds. It may also take some time for the Android operating system to initialize. You can install applications packaged with the apk-debug and apk-emulator on an emulator. Applications packaged with the apk target do not work on an emulator.

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