Mashups are the integration of data from different sources to create one unified experience. Adobe's AIR (Adobe Integrated Runtime) platform is revolutionary in that it allows web developers to create applications using familiar technologies (such as Flex, Flash and HTML) but now they can deploy them on the desktop rather than having them locked to a web browser. This means that rather than opening their browser and searching for the information in the example above, they can keep an application on their desktop and run it whenever they want to. This book covers mashups from a web designer and developer point of view, rather than a programmer. It covers everything from the basics and background of mashups to advanced functionality and integrating mashups with the desktop.