a9 and JS
a9 is yet more evidence that the rules of web interface construction are changing. Based on 36K of JavaScript, the interface is fluid and uses DHTML to effect reload-less state keeping. In essence, the client side does what clients should do: maintain their own damn state. Informing the server for the purpose of keeping preferences intact is one thing, but allowing the client side to handle it on it's own is clearly preferred. The cookie and iframe approach that a9 is using get much, much closer the user expectation mark.
Horray for the user winning.