I don't think I would really count that as AJAX. To be considered as proper AJAX, it has to use the XMLHttpRequest (or the IE equivalent). However, what Facebook has done is put all the data for the entire photo album on the page when you load it. Open up an image, and look at the pages, source. Near the bottom of the page, you'll see inside a tag, something like this:
This is probably what I would have done as well. I think it's great.
Ben Kessler
· 2 years ago
Yeah, this is awesome, I wrote in about it and wasn't sure if I was crazy or not. iPhone users have enjoyed this for sometime now and it's nice to see it finally make it to the full site.
Nick O'Neill
· 2 years ago
Great point Dan. Thanks for pointing out that it isn't completely AJAX. It is instead a javascript preloading script. Regardless, it makes things a lot smoother!
Tan The Man
· 2 years ago
Finally. Smoothness is definitely a plus.
facebooker
· 2 years ago
now if only they'll add that option to let you choose only specific individual/contact(s) to view your photo albums. the "only friends" option is not sufficient. facebook really needs to learn from multiply in the photos department.
William O'Neill
· 2 years ago
I clearly remember a discussion with my mom back in the 90's about the potential of javascript preloading scripts. I thought at the time that she was crazy, but apparently she was right on! The poof is in the prudding when it comes to smooth graphic interfaces. And no... it really isn't straight AJAX, but who cares?
All Comments
To be considered as proper AJAX, it has to use the XMLHttpRequest (or
the IE equivalent). However, what Facebook has done is put all the
data for the entire photo album on the page when you load it. Open up
an image, and look at the pages, source. Near the bottom of the page,
you'll see inside a tag, something like this:
onloadRegister(function() {new Photostream($("myphoto"),
"http:\/\/photos-d.ak.facebook.com\/photos-ak-sf2p ...
This is probably what I would have done as well. I think it's great.