Ajax desktops aggregate various web services based on the concept of simulating the organisation of a user's desktop by making multiple services available immediately. The advantage of using Ajax is that its combination of JavaScript and XML allows continuous contact with the server, eliminating the time lapse that previously occurred and making possible services like Google Earth and Google Suggests.
Most Ajax desktops are so far based around the use of RSS feeds. The user can add feeds to the desktop and change their appearance on the page. This also works for Google's email service gmail. More complex XML-based services can also be developed using OPML and Microsoft's gadgets, or Apples's widgets. Most also feature bookmarking sites like Flickr and del.icio.us, enabling users to search on tags and to store their own tagged sites within the site. One of the most popular Ajax desktops, Netvibes has taken this a step further, to integrate their site with Writely documents.
Some examples of ajax/flash desktops available:
- Eskobo
- favoor
- Goowy (Flash, not Ajax)
- Microsoft Live
- Netvibes
- Pageflakes
- Protopage
- Zoozio
Source: wikipedia & techcrunch
This post is partially published directly from Netvibes using xfruits blog-it API.
Tags: Ajax, api, apple, arc, art, blog, book, ces, example, flash, Flickr, Gadgets, google, ia, im, Internet News, King, lan, live, microsoft, nomadcom.net, post, search, services, space, user, web, Web Design, windows, wp, www
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My favorite is pageflakes.com!
I love it, those startpages, they are virtual desktops really nice, and they help me a lot to organize my life, i tried many of them but i prefer http://www.pageflakes.com , it look likes more usefull, clear because there are more modules to add
Thanks for your feedback.
Personaly I’ve never tried pageflakes but as both of you seem very enthusiastic I’ll test it as soon as I get a good internet connection again.
Is it possible to browse across pageflakes modules and feeds using only the keyboard ?
Hey cedric…
I don’t know if pageflakes has this feature! but why to use the keyboard if you have a mouse?
They got skins now, you can change the colors.
Where are you from ?
Why the keyboard.. well because I love to read my news while travelling and where you don’t always have a good place for your mouse. Of course my laptop has a touchpad, but jumping from a module to another one, moving up & down on RSS links etc.. the keyboard is far more user friendly.. or is it because I miss MS-Dos 3?
I’m from Geneva, Switzerland but living overseas