“Local” AJAX section on BBC News
July 31st, 2006Anyone else noticed this?
Last week, the BBC News added an AJAX section to dynamically load news and weather from your local area. Example screenshot below.
It’s still tagged with ‘beta’, but seems reliable enough. An interesting new feature -Â and the way that the BBC web sites are to be developed from now on so I’ve heard – with more customisation and personalisation. Also, from what I can tell, the first major use of AJAXÂ on the BBC’s site.
When I did work experience at the Beeb several years back, a set of web development guidelines I read discouraged the use of JavaScript – but new technologies seem to be being embraced now.
Try it out at http://news.bbc.co.uk/
July 31st, 2006 at 11:31 am
Ever get the feeling they’re doing something for “effect”?
This sort of functionality doesn’t need to be AJAX; in fact it almost feels like they’ve stuck AJAX in as an afterthought. Once the system knows your postcode, it doesn’t need to load anything asynchronously – so why did they have to do it asynchronously in the first place?
I also notice they’ve gone with the other Web2.0/AJAX staples with the Mac loading circle and the lovely gradient-backed buttons. It’s a shame that those buttons will only style up properly in a few browsers; Safari, for example, totally refuses to let you style it’s buttons. Since buttons and input boxes are so deeply ingrained in your operating system, it’s probably a good thing that you can’t…
Anyway, that’s my 10 cents.