Adobe has launched a desktop media player capable of watching online video streams and downloaded videos from Adobe partners. Adobe Media Player has been available as a public beta since last year, but the version that officially launches this week is much more stable and has a much improved library of content.

You'll need to install Adobe AIR before installing Adobe Media Player. AIR is a platform for applications that bridge the gap between the web and the desktop. And Adobe Media Player fits the bill, letting you view web-based videos from sources including MTV, CBS, PBS, Universal Music Group, Revision3, and Blip.TV

Adobe has also launched Adobe TV, a video channel featuring Adobe-related tutorials and content. You can watch Adobe TV videos on the web, or using the Adobe Media Player.

This summer the BBC launched its innovative iPlayer software. The service lets UK television viewers watch any program that aired on a BBC channel over the last seven days. Missed the latest episode of Last of the Summer Wine? No problem, just fire up the iPlayer and watch it a few days after its original air date. No PVR required.

But the service drew a few groans for its inclusion of digital rights management technology, and for the fact that Linux and Mac users were left out in the cold. Well, while the BBC isn't lifting the DRM restrictions on downloaded episodes, it looks like Mac and Linux users will soon have a way to watch iPlayer content.

The BBC has partnered with Adobe to create a browser-based version of the iPlayer which will stream video using Adobe's Flash player. Adobe plans to add H.264 support to its Flash player soon. So while we don't know what video quality the BBC videos will stream at, the interface could theoretically support HD video.