Datasheet
FIGURE 1.38
Checking traffic conditions in the UK the Ajax way
E-mail the Ajax way
Another popular use of Ajax is supporting browser-based e-mail, and you can see an example at
http://demo.nextapp.com/Email/app, shown in Figure 1.39.
The problem with browser-based e-mail was that you’d see a list of e-mails sent to read, but each
time you clicked an e-mail, you’d be taken to an entirely new page. Then you’d have to go back to
the e-mail list and scroll down again to check other e-mails.
Handling e-mail the Ajax way is different. You can see the list of e-mails in Figure 1.39; clicking
one automatically downloads the e-mail and displays it — without a browser refresh — as you see
in Figure 1.40. The body of the e-mail appears at the bottom of the application.
In other words, once again, Ajax has been successful at turning a desktop application into an
online one, solving the problems normally faced by online applications.
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Fundamental Ajax
Part I
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