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Incorporating jQuery version 1.6.4

Just as the 1.6.2 version was able to fix some of the bugs, in the same way the release of the new version 1.6.3 too has been successful but some minor bugs just didn’t seem to go away. This week, jQuery version 1.6.4 was released to put an end to these shortcomings. Users and professionals were sure to find at least one particular change that was disappointing even though the 1.6.3 is able to fix several bugs.

For the request Animation Frame API, the support had been dropped. Animation that was smooth enough earlier and was enabled when addition for the request Animation Frame support was made after release of the 1.6 version, is no more. The reason why API was not able to carry itself forward into jQuery quite well is the fact that it did have some issues that showed up. For those still unsure, you can get your code from the jQuery CDN: http://code.jquery.com/jquery-1.6.4.js.

To get links worked up by jQuery version 1.6.3

People had to wait for animation to unfold, and reported many of the difficulties they faced and then at speeds that were extremely fast the entire sequence would be run. This was then termed as the wormhole. A decision was made the team of jQuery and API was then completely dropped. Efforts are being put in to get the links worked up efficiently so that API can be accordingly re-introduced. Besides this, some fixes that are very minor have to be made. To prevent the script from being disrupted there is now a security fix.

If you’ve had an issue with the jQuery version 1.6.3, make sure you upgrade to jQuery 1.6.4, test, and file a bug if anything goes awry. Though this may need a little time to be the perfect script, feedback from users has helped the jQuery team take necessary steps.

Look up the official blog posting of jQuery

When a selector is preceded with a particular number, the HTML tags will not be allowed by the library of jQuery to remain in the selector. As far as this release which is so minor in the jQuery revolution is concerned, the list of fixing bugs proves to be quite long enough. Third release of jQuery for that reason was quickly followed up by the jQuery 1.6.4 release.

Now that the 1.6.4 version of jQuery has been released, it becomes the fourth rung on jQuery’s attempt to combat bugs and fixes in large numbers. Two copies have been provided out of which one is the uncompressed one which is especially used for reading and debugging, while the other one is a mini version. The highlights of the latest incorporated jQuery version 1.6.4 include XSS attack vectors fixing, no more animation ‘wormholes’ besides easy handling of data attribute names of HTML5. jQuery has added a rung to its lineup of versatile interface enhancers. Continuous feedback is being encouraged so that all issues that cropped up with the release of the jQuery 1.6.3 earlier in the month can be resolved once and for all. It should be remembered that the jQuery 1.6.4 release has less to do with major changes as it’s concentrated primarily as an upgrade that resolves bugs from the previous release.

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Launch details of jQuery Mobile beta 3

jQuery Mobile 3 is a state of the art product which is sure to get you excited and make you want to own one. The jQuery is integrated with a touch optimized web framework, which is applicable for smartphones and tablets. Well now with all the different phones and operating systems which are available in the market, downloading correct application can be quite a treat. jQuery supports all latest operating systems, be it Android, Windows, iOS, or Symbian. One can easily say that this is a major breakthrough in technology. In order to adapt to a range device form factors, they have a built in dynamic touch interface. Even overall feel of the phone is outstanding. One can expand CSS framework to build mobile themes easily. This also gives the power to design full applications.

The jQuery mobile scheduled to release at the end of this month, will mainly aim at cliental which surfs the net. Thus the features in its advanced software have been so developed in order to make online usage more user friendly. It has already been released in beta form to ensure that there is no breaking of sites, ensuring compatibility with functionalities that are older and making changes in the working of different properties. The jQuery team has been quick in incorporating jQuery Mobile Beta 3, and for all the good reasons.

jQuery Mobiles was happy to announce the launch of beta 3 which brought into focus the latest of features and API changes. Beta 3 has witnessed some major improvements which are worthy of mention. Launched on a jQuery framework, this beta 3 will have pushState support along with slick fixed headers and transitions for iOS5 platform along with other additional improvements.

Features and support of jQuery Mobile Beta 3

jQuery Mobile Beta 3 offers top class support to a long list of smartphones currently available in the market.  Apple iOS 3.2-5.0 beta, Android 2.1-2.3, Windows Phone 7, Palm WebOS 1.4-2.0 and 3.0, Firefox Mobile, Opera Mobile, Android Honeycomb, Blackberry 6,7 and Play book and Kindle 3 are some of the smartphones that are supported by jQuery Mobile Beta 3.

Besides these smartphones, a number of desktop versions too such as Chrome 11, 13, Internet explorer 7-9, Opera 10-11 and Firefox 3.6-4.0 too are supported by jQuery Mobile Beta 3.

What is pushStart at jQuery Mobile Beta 3

Beta 3 will have pushStart support which means that you will be able to update URL to a clean and standard path in browsers. pushStart support permits an enhancement in navigation.

jQuery Beta 3 mobile works on a wide variety of desktops, smartphones, and e-readers. Even older browsers and phones can get this support due to an enhanced approach. jQuery Mobile Beta 3 version has been updated, but not one too major. In some of the cases situations are on record where crashing of the browser actually takes place. In case as a user you run with beta version, there needn’t be any changes made. If you are interested in getting the new version downloaded, a wise idea would be to see the official source posting for jQuery Mobile Beta 3 when upgrading.

jQuery 1.6.3 update

It isn’t something that’s downright new and different but jQuery 1.6 version is now updated. To ensure that sites do not fret, the 1.6.1 version was released by the team to ensure compatibility of the latest techniques with functionalities of the older version, after the 1.6 version’s big outcry. Just like the way the 1.6.2 took care of a few flaws, in the same way the latest version 1.6.3 fixes a number of bugs, but with an additional change which many people may not be pleased about though.

For the requestAnimation Frame API the support is dropped. To allow animation that is smoother, addition to the animation frame has been made with enhancement provided by jQuery. However this addition is not well carried forward as many issues are faced by the revamped requestAnimationFrame. Issues faced include the animation that takes up too much time after which the entire sequence runs at speeds that are really extreme, the wormhole. The team of jQuery has taken the decision that jQuery would need to wait due to which, the requestAnimationFrame has been dropped completely.

Help can be obtained from the security fix

Once the working out of kinks happens, it is hoped that the frame can get reintroduced once again. The requestAnimationFrame continues to exist for you to use it but not as a jQuery integral feature. Few fixes have been done, but on a minor basis. For preventing injection of scripts, help can be obtained from the security fix. Due to the existence of the selector, the HTML tags are not allowed to stay within as you move on. If a minor quick-fix release is to be considered the bug fix list is quite long.

Fixing an XSS attack vector and animation wormholes will not exist:

Besides this there are some situations which can be fixed, for example where crashing of the browser occurs. In the jQuery code no change needs to be made if the 1.6.1 or the 1.6.2 is run. The jQuery updates include a few highlights out of which one of them is fixing an XSS attack vector. The location.hash is being used to select elements which are being used by many sites. They allow the script to get injected into the page. It is for this reason that prevention of the script injection and the selector recognition has undergone modification.

With the few minor changes, animation worm holes will not exist. The HTML5 data handing can be done in a better way for jQuery as well as the plugins internal use, in addition to the data attributes of HTML5 initial value reading. Improvisation on the ability of using conventions of HTML5 to convert to camelCase from camel-case whenever required is also being made possible. Only the HTML5 data attributes are read by the API. However, the changes are not kept in sync with subsequent changes in the data. The changes looked forward to will increase the versatility of the jQuery applications and make the forum a preferred one.

Animate Share Button:

The all new share button is simple and useful. It is a great marketing tool when put on your websites for better interaction with other online media. It runs pretty well on all browsers especially Chrome and Safari where the transitions are almost smooth. The CSS lets you give a reflection to each picture.

Reel Effect:

Fantastic alternative to flash or Java techniques. Reel effect gives the user a 360 degree view of anything. Done by putting together a series of pictures, this Jquery technique is worth giving a try.

Bubble Up Button:

For a developer who is just beginning to make plug-ins this is the easiest to start with. The animation is simple – when you roll over the mouse to a particular icon it enlarges itself and then resets to its original size once the mouse is taken away. Named bubbleup by its makers, it can be called anything. It appears glossy like you see in this image. If the simplicity appeals to you then the jquery plug-in will win your heart too.

Nivo Image Slider

This slider is pure awesomeness. It is available in 3 stylish themes and 16 transitions. The seamless transitions take your breath away. Loaded with features it is an open source thingi which can make the website look good by making as little impact as possible. You can choose to simply upload the code or add your own CSS to make it more stylized.

Shifting Image Demo:

This one is a delight to watch. Although it is not as smooth as Nivo, it still gives a pretty cool effect by dividing images into small squares and re-arrange them into a complete photo. Check it out now to experience the real thing.

There are so many plugins being developed on a day to day basis that we are sure to come up with another post with few more such popular ones soon.

Until then, try your hand at these 5 plugins and improve the look and feel of your website.

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The latest book of Packt is JQuery UI Themes Beginner’s Guide. While making this announcement Packt is delighted in introducing this new book in which by way of example the JQuery UI Theme framework is covered in detail. Developers are able to gain a proper insight on the way themes work besides providing them a practical guide for getting their own themes designed. Adam Boduch has written this book to offer step by step guidance. The guide goes a long way beyond simply explaining how themes can be switched in a user interface which is built with JQuery UI.

The feel and look of a user interface is nowadays enhanced with use of JavaScript, at least to some extent in many of the applications on the web. Besides a particular framework for applying and developing themes, a set of widgets is also given to the web developers by the JQuery UI toolkit. All web developers who want to have their web applications designed with a professional appearance are now considering the use of JQuery UI Themes Beginner’s Guide, especially those who are very resilient and bounce back with every change. The guide starts with the themes in general and the reason why these themes are important for many of the applications on the web nowadays.

ThemeRoller application for adjusting theme settings

As you read through, the basics of jQuery UI are covered in length after which a full understanding of the entire framework can be gained. One of the most powerful tools is the ThemeRoller application in which the settings of the theme can be adjusted by the developer. Internals of the CSS framework are also given an in-depth analysis which in turn allows the adjustment of themes for the reader along with the working of the ThemeRoller. Custom widget theme setting and also the special effects are included. In fact, it becomes very clear about how the themes can be used for changing a number of things.

Building web applications and theme jargon

Abstractions for theme-able widgets, animation and interactions at low levels and advanced effects built on jQuery JavaScript Library’s top is provided by the jQuery UI theme. All this helps in building a web application that is highly interactive. Using the coordinated consolidated and fully theme-able mechanisms, the ThemeRoller demonstrates all the versatile widgets of jQuery UI that can be deployed. A lot can be learnt from the top level constructs of CSS and methods of applying different kinds of styles to the user interfaces.

Based on the widgets, the feel and look of the user interface can be given a complete changeover. After the book is read by a developer, he gets well versed with the jargon of theme setting. After that, all that web developer needs to do is have just one look at the jQuery UI application and get a proper understanding of how it appears. Many diagrams, examples as well as screenshots are presented in the book for CSS designers and developers of web applications. The book is for web application developers and CSS designers who want a better understanding of how to build themes with a jQuery UI toolkit. Readers are expected to have basic working knowledge of JavaScript and why it is used in web applications.

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Microsoft MIX 11 Conference long awaited release

If the applications that are web based are to stand out amidst stiff competition then technologies that are unique and new will be a pre-requisite. It is for this demand that developers these days are coming up with the most innovative web technologies. For all those developers who move to the RIA or the Rich Internet Application from the desktop, this proposition can be truly challenging. For enabling developers learn the latest technologies in JavaScript, HTML5 as well as CSS3, a new application – Microsoft’s MIX 11 Conference (also known as the ‘Account at a Glance’) has been built.

Its release is expected shortly. Important web technologies have been well integrated within, which is also used for displaying information on brokerage accounts to consumers. It is John Papa (Entity Framework Code-First coding), by Dan Wahlin (client-side and server-side coding), Jarod Ferguson (client-side and all around coding guru) and Corey Schuman (design and client-side coding) by whom the application was built in 2011. Feedback offered by Scott Guthrie, John Papa and Giorgio Sardo show good results, alongside the expert take on key ideas as well as solutions incorporated within.

Cutting edge technologies offered through the latest on jQuery

The application amply displays how technologies offering cutting edge advantages have been built. It is being used for

• Build up of applications that are dynamic
• Account information display
• News on the market
• Video news
• Charts
• Quotes

Plugins can be accordingly used. Within this new application, the AJAX technology is dynamically loaded with data. Re-rendering of the data interface takes place with the ‘drag and drop’ frill, in different locations and dependent on the size of the tile that is targeted.

Display of data in different ways can be single solution in two projects

In many different ways, display of data takes place and a means is provided to customize how the information on the account should be displayed by moving around the tiles. On the screen’s different segments, dragging of tiles takes place easily and using the templates by jQuery, resizing of tiles automatically takes place. Various kinds of technologies are used in the application, ‘Account at a Glance’ like jQuery templates, Modernizer, Nuget and HTML5 features.

Canvas, CSS3, HTML5 Boilerplate, ASP.NET MVC 3, SQL Server 2008, JSON and AJAX technologies, Repository Pattern for data access, several jQuery plugins, Unity IoC Container, Entity Framework 4.1 Code-First and SVG are the other technologies ingrained as well. A single solution, the application ‘Account at a Glance’ gives any site competing edge. While the first project in which ASP.NET MVC 3 project template is used in the Account at Glance application, in the second project which is a Class Library project, the Account at Glance model flaunts versatility.

The applications and the technologies embedded within the jQuery solution are all time and again tried and tested for ultimate optimization. For clicks to convert and the niche to applaud, investment in the platform is pivotal. The rave reviews already online are ample proof of the customizations and profitability possible with a simple investment.

jQuery mobile library completes overall user experience

Software history is dotted with incidents of stiff competition and arguments break out among people trying to determine which of the new technologies will take over an older technology eventually. It is not very uncommon to experience such kind of a scenario and in fact in the recent times a raging debate continues in finding out if which of the mobile applications are less preferable or which of the websites are more favored.

HTML5, JavaScript or maybe HTML while in use will need a code to be written for a website that is mobile compatible. In case of such websites, the options for graphics are very limited and besides this, the kind of hardware that is used for accessing the site is not under control basically unlike the mobile applications. As far as the mobile sites are concerned the overall experience of the user will be different than in a case where the content is available in a different form as in native application in mobiles.

Preliminary version available currently has easy use of languages

In certain cases the performance of the site will also be a bit different. If in case HTML5 is supported by the mobile browser and if against the capabilities of the local storage a code is used then more bandwidth is required by the website and round trips would be needed much more frequently. A native application has to be created for each of the platform for mobile that you intend providing support which is considered the mobile apps’ downside. For making development of the mobile site productive as well as easy a library in preliminary version available currently can be introduced.

In the development of the web a few things have been changed by the jQuery library. The JavaScript as well as AJAX have been used making it an integral part of the experience on the web. While considering the service calls out of band and also the functionality of the client and server side a holistic thought is being provided to this. The jQuery library has enabled making easy use of languages due to which a large number of people have been able to get the library assimilated besides the model for programming. Parent library of jQuery as well as the jQuery Mobile are related closely which indicates that the expression of ‘chip off the old block’ has been summarized perfectly, as an affiliation between both of them.

Well adapted library to the mobile world aided with jQuery solutions

From the parent jQuery the jQuery Mobile has been inherited and has been able to get the library well adapted to the mobile development world. The jQuery library has to be referenced if in case the jQuery Mobile has to be used. It is for enabling cross browser programming, cross platform programming and cross device programming that the jQuery Mobile library seems to be purposeful. Just as in the case of the full jQuery the same programming as well as architecture is shared by the jQuery library.

jQuery is one among the many Javascript libraries that help the web-developers write extremely complex code in very simple and straightforward manner. With its excellent support for DOM manipulation and judicious use of the Javascript framework, the jQuery does provide a very easy way to use its core functionality without the need to understand Javascript in detail. Moreover, since the platform developers continue to optimize the codebase of the tool, jQuery selectors have become quite fast and are just marginally slower as compared to the native DOM functions.

Chaining – Blessing or Curse?

The problem comes with the way in which the jQuery utilizes “chaining”. While this highly appreciated feature allows you to do a large set of things in the same line, thus allowing you do a lot of powerful things in a single line, the solution may not always be optimal. The ease of use of the jQuery chaining does not make this visible at first, and you may keep adding more steps to the code without thinking about the performance much.

However, the problem with computational code is that the time complexity of adding a new loop does not grow linearly, but the addition of each extra link makes the complexity grow exponentially, and thus, a simple addition of few steps may increase a lot of algorithmic complexity. This also causes the code to keep reiterating, thus causing a performance issue, which can have detrimental effects on the page load time.

Few Code Optimization Solutions

While there are many things that can be done to improve the overall performance of the code, the chaining slowdowns can be resolved or minimized by taking care of the following things in your code.

• Cache repeated selections - If you find that the code makes a condition-less call to some of the selectors, the value of that selector can be stored into a variable, thus ensuring that the actual selection only runs once, instead of being called once for each loop iteration.
• Merge chained functions – In normal coding, it makes sense to try to divide the result sets into small subsets so that each subroutine has to work on smaller dataset, however, for jQuery, it can result in calling another chained function. This sort of mindset needs to be developed, where you can put conditions to the inner chain-function to ignore the outer function’s element, thus calling a single function instead of multiple chain-functions.
• Use native DOM APIs - If they are available for the functionality you need, always try to make use of native DOM functions, since they will be faster than the jQuery, and if used in loops, the performance gain will be substantial.
• Other Algorithmic Changes – which can reduce loops or time complexity, will also help in improving the performance of the scripts.

To Summarize

Overall, most web developers do not consider performance as key for jQuery, since it is quite optimized and being a client-side application, it will not be loading the servers. Moreover, since load on client machines is lower the scripts will be expected to execute faster, however, putting small checks and optimizations will ensure that the code loads faster even for visitors, who have slow machines.

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jQuery UI Solutions for building backward compatibility with DotNetNuke 5 and 6

As part of the build of DotNetNuke 6.0 which is standard, now included is jQuery which is truly fantastic.  Developers of the module no longer have to worry about the jQuery library package as this allows functionality of a component that is built-in. To get the feel and look of the DotNetNuke 6.0 that is native and to get the custom module with a look that is similar, jQuery makes it an easy task. Things can get a bit complicated only if a module has to be built that will accordingly target environments in multiples.

You may have to put in some effort to find solutions that can build compatibility backwards into the module of DotNetNuke 5 or 4 versions. This will have to be done so that the module is compatible with a DotNetNuke 6.0 version that could be supported by you. With this introduction of DotNetNuke 6.0 in just twenty four hours, releasing as well as building of a module is not yet considered as very feasible, being compatible to 6.0 only.

Understanding incorporated changes from jQuery with DotNetNuke 5 and 6

This will prove to be feasible only in the case where the module will be released into just one environment. As far as jQuery is related it is necessary to understand the changes incorporated into DotNetNuke6.0. For providing a consistent, updated and modern user interface, many of the jQuery plugins are used by DotNetNuke 6.0 module. Developers that are third party too can make use of these plugins which can be used best in conjunction with patterns of the DNN HTML form. Components like the jQuery plugins are client-side and reusable in nature.

Goals to be kept in mind and the two methods available

Different kinds of components are included in the module DotNetNuke 6.0 while keeping in mind a few goals for which the creation of plugins took place. For a user experience that is consistent in the module, all across the framework it allows reuse. Besides this, to register the script it exposes a public API method for avoiding file registrations that are duplicated in nature. From the markup, the plugin logic is separated physically. On initialization, through the settings of the plugin, all the markup context as well as information can get injected. For encouraging form pattern usage consistently and for implementation that is easier, defaults that are based on convention can be used for matching the DNN 6 form pattern.

Whenever needed, for overriding settings of default, flexibility is provided. To insert the jQuery UI libraries as well as jQuery on the DotNetNuke page there are two main methods.  One is DotNetNuke.Framework.jQuery.RequestRegistration which from DNN 5.0 onwards is included. If this method is deployed, it will ensure that a reference to the library of jQuery is put into the page by DotNetNuke. The other method is DotNetNuke.Framework.jQuery.RequestUI Registration which is included from DNN 6.0 onwards. This method as well will ensure that the jQuery UI library reference is put on the page to empower unparalleled functionality.

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For interaction between web users many interface designs have already been incorporated and continue to be introduced. The effect in light box style is quite familiar these days especially for making overlays of pages as well as pop-up windows. Many professional designers of websites in the present times are putting their best foot forward in the effort of making useful components not only readily available but reusable as well and generic so that dropping these components on the website bag enhancement as never before.

One of the latest techniques being adopted is the jQuery Ajax overlay plugin which has been recently launched for the benefit of web users. In case you own a website for books then the site can now feature a page each, for any kind of book that is already in the market or is being published, and all that the web user has to do is click onto the ‘add to list’ button which in turn helps in doing just what the command directs – under various sections like ‘to read’ or a ‘Favorite books’ section. The options are multiple and the overall results are enriching as they add functionality to the site for better visibility.

jQuery plugin a commonplace indulgence now

Using jQuery plugin is becoming commonplace indulgence now. For overlay windows and for jQuery plugins (for the light box effect) it is usually a production in-house. The rate, at which the need for frequent use of jQuery plugins is considered, greatly influences either under delivery or over delivery. As far as components of carousel are concerned, a mixture of jCarousel Lite and jCarousel is being used by many designers, besides the carousel component available in-house. Page assets from a large set can be added. JCarousel delivers overkill as far as needs of the user is concerned.

jQuery Ajax overlay plugin is highly compatible for different web users and sites

In the case of Carousel Lite, it is comparatively smaller and has limited scope. For pacifying and meeting related issues, the plugin is a version that is highly compatible for different web users and sites. The key is the plugin use case. The functionality caters to a number of scenarios, presently. Included in these usages is the ability to take elements that already exist in DOM prior to presenting them to users. This can be done by getting a form submitted via AJAX, which is then displayed on the overlay windows resulting page.

This enables access to the much needed source of a URL via the AJAX system, which pops up on the screen of the user. All that the user has to do is to enter the jQuery Ajax Overlay plugin which has 300 lines of code. For getting the overlay styled, there are as few corresponding CSS dictates which can also be adopted. Options like the ‘recursive-selector’ callbacks etc are elements that prove to be very useful. Improvement to the site can be done in a number of areas like getting the overlay resized, unbinding and binding events, and addressing the need for application of CSS as well.