cache_images.js

// This is the conclusion to my tests of determining the best way to cache images.
// I used apache access logs to determine when an image was actually requested from the web server.


// The following code, although not that elegant, works fine in IE6, IE7, IE8, FF3, Safari, Chrome, Opera 

var _cacheImages = [];
	
function cacheImages(images){
	
	$.each(images, function(index, val){
		
		var image = new Image()
		image.src = val;
		
		_cacheImages.push( image );
	});
};

// The following will NOT work in IE6:
function cacheImages(images){
	
	$.each(images, function(index, val){
		
		var image = new Image()
		image.src = val;
	});
};

// Also the following will NOT work in IE6 (sorry!)
function cacheImages(images){
	
	$.each(images, function(index, val){
		
		new Image().src = val;
	});
};

// It seems you need to save a reference to the image object in order for IE6 to send a request to retrieve it