At first what does Ajax mean?

AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML), is a web development technique used for creating interactive web applications. Ajax is asynchronous, in so far as extra data is requested from the server and loaded in the background. This is intended to increase the web page’s interactivity, speed, functionality and usability. Ajax function calls are usually made in Javascript using the XMLHttpRequest object. The asynchronous content doesn’t need to be formatted in XML.

Scripts for your Website

As quite every modern website makes use of at least a bit of Ajax you may want to have a few of those cool effects for your page. So I collected the best scripts for you. All of them are free to use and easy to install.

Lightbox 2 – Lightbox is a simple, unobtrusive script used to overlay images on the current page. It’s a snap to setup and works on all modern browsers.

thickbox

Thickbox 3.1 – ThickBox is a webpage UI dialog widget written in JavaScript on top of the jQuery library. Its function is to show a single image, multiple images, inline content, iframed content, or content served through AJAX in a hybrid modal.

Glider – This script makes it easy to create a sliding carousel component like the one seen at www.panic.com/coda.

TableOrganize – This script basically allows you to re-organize the rows or columns and browse the table using the up/down arrows.

Clickheat

Clickheat – ClickHeat is a visual heatmap of clicks on a HTML page, showing hot and cold click zones.

reflections

Reflection.js – allows you to add reflections to images on your webpages. It uses unobtrusive javascript to keep your code clean.

AjaxIM – ajax im (“asynchronous javascript and xml instant messenger”) is a browser-based instant messaging client. It uses AJAX to create a near real-time IM environment that can be used in conjunction with community, intranet, and social websites.

Relay – An Ajax directory manager that works and looks like the familiar one of windows and mac systems.

SWFUpload – is a small JavaScript/Flash library to get the best of both worlds. It features the great upload capabilities of Flash and the accessibility and ease of HTML/CSS.

NicEdit

NicEdit -NicEdit is a Lightweight, Cross Platform, Inline Content Editor to allow easy editing of web site content on the fly in the browser.

Vuzit – Vuzit is a web based document viewer you can embed in any web page. It’s fast and it’s free!

flot – Flot is a pure Javascript plotting library for jQuery. It produces graphical plots of arbitrary datasets on-the-fly client-side. The focus is on simple usage (all settings are optional), attractive looks and interactive features like zooming.

ControlTabs

Control.Tabs – creates a tabbed interface from an unordered list of links/anchors that point to any elements on your page that have an id attribute.

IE7 – is a JavaScript library to make MSIE behave like a standards-compliant browser. It fixes many CSS issues and makes transparent PNG work correctly under IE5 and IE6.

Resources for more scripts

Scripteka an extensive library of Prototype and Script.aculo.us based extensions/plugins.

At AjaxDaddy you can see Ajax examples, javascript scripts and web 2.0 demos in action.

MiniAjax, a showroom of nice looking simple downloadable DHTML and AJAX scripts.

And have a look at more than 1000 Ajax examples at AjaxRain.com

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Do you want a special RSS icon for your website? Actually most blogs and newssites have RSS feeds. But many have just a standard button. You might want to show that your are more creative then they are. Use one of these free and fresh RSS icons so that you are in contrast of the masses.

RSS icon pack vol.2

Vektor RSS buttons

RSS feed by Aaron Ovadia

RSS feed by Aaron Ovadia

MycirclesRSS

mycirclesRSS

RSS icon by carlnewton

RSS Icon by carlnewton

Feedicons²

feedicons²

Acid RSS by cavin

Acid RSS by cavin

RSS Owl by balpert

RSS Owl by balpert

RSS icon by datamouse

RSS Icon by datamouse

RSS icon set from smashingmagazine

RSS Iconset from smashingmagazine

3D RSS feeds icon

3D RSS Feeds icon

Circle feeds icons

Circle Feeds Icons

Free RSS feed icons

Free RSS Feed Icons

Alternative RSS icon by mouserunner

Alternative RSS Icon by mouserunner

RSS reader icon by twinware

RSS Reader Icon by twinware

NewsFire by barrymieny

NewsFire by barrymieny

Christmas RSS icons

Christmas RSS Icons

RSS icons from simdes

RSS Icons from simdes

Vektor RSS buttons

Vektor RSS buttons

And for everyone how searches for a standard RSS icon:

Feedicons

Feed icons

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Talking from web2.0, you think of fade effects, live form validation and other nice and often practical effects. But how are these things realized? Is it something that only professional programmer can assemble?

The only thing that would be helpful is a general understanding of Javascript and HTML. Many of the effects you may have in mind are realized by using open-source libraries or other freely available code snippets. You just have to integrate a few Javascripts and call a few functions to have a beautiful web2.0-ish effect for your website.

In my view the best library is script.aculo.us in connection with prototype.js. They are easy to understand, have a large documentation and a good community. Other libraries worth mentioning are jQuery, Dojo, MochiKit, mootools and YUI. After installing the libraries, it’s so easy to create. Make a few Ajax calls, fall back on entire functions, get some groove effects – and your code is much lighter than before! So why not try to use one of these libraries, after a bit practice you will thank yourself for taking this step.

But even if a library can’t provide you the effect you need, there always is a better way than writing everything on your own. Use some ready-made code snippets. You find them everywhere on the Internet. Snippets for some common problems are Lightbox and ThickBox, which make it possible to overlay an image or other content on the current page. Sometimes the snippets make use of a specific Javascript library. But be careful that not all libraries work well together.

To sum up, I can say that both JS libraries and code-snippets will save you a lot of time (and maybe money). So have a look at them and don’t let the complexity awe you.

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WordPress 2.5 Released

March 30, 2008

WordPress

Yesterday WordPress 2.5 has been released with a couple of new features. Those who want to upgrade WordPress now, can do it here.

The popular blogging platform needed six months for this major upgrade. But what changes with the new version? The most important update regards the all-new dashboard. It isn’t a static site anymore but consists of several customizable widgets and only provides you with the most important links. Therefore it is very easy to fit the dashboard according to your needs.

WordPress 2.5 dashboard

The developers of WordPress spend this version a completely new and fresh color scheme, changed the menu order and recoded the media gallery. Now it is possible to easily upload and manage images as well as videos and other files. Further remarkable new features are editing protection for multi-admin blogs and an built-in plugin update function. The whole list of changes can be read at the WordPress Blog. All in all WordPress 2.5 is a recommendable update, I am sure everyone will love.

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Cool Wallpaper for your Mac, made by Ben Adamson. Available in 1024×640 and 1920×1200.

Apple Wallpaper

Apple Wallpaper

Conquer the Universe Background. A galaxy wallpaper with Apple logo to honor the great birth of Leopard. Offered in 1920×1200, with and without the Apple logo.

Apple Wallpaper

Stylish Simpsons Wallpaper with a hungry Homer and a sweet Apple.

Apple Wallpaper

Free and Customizable Leopard Wallpapers. The wallpapers currently come in the following dimensions: 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×960 and 1600×1200. Each of them suits a different mood.

Apple Wallpaper

Leopard (Red) and Leopard Server (Blue) Aurora Wallpaper. Both come in 1024×640 and 2560×1600.

Apple Wallpaper

Apple Wallpaper

30 Apple related wallpapers (Apple logo, MacOS, iPod) that are definitely worth a look.

Apple Wallpaper

Retro Apple logo but with a glassy modern look. The Wallpaper comes in 3 big sizes (1280 x 1024, 1600 x 1200, 2560 x 1600) from which you can create all other common resolutions.

Apple Wallpaper

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