Abstract: Features are disclosed for facilitating remote access to the state of an application or content item currently executing or rendered on a user computing device. A connection between the user computing device and another computing device (or connections between the user computing device and an intermediary system, and between another computing device and the same intermediary system) may be established according to a bidirectional communication protocol. The user computing device may receive and act on communications from the other computing device, including requests for data regarding the current state of an application or content page on the user computing device, instructions to execute some function in the application or content page, etc. In addition, user computing devices may be grouped such that an application or content may be monitored/tested/debugged among a variety of user computing devices.

Abstract: Items of content may be available in any of a number of versions. Major aspects of each content version, such as overall plot and major characters, may generally overlap. However, minor aspects, such as level of description, minor characters, or sub-plots may vary between versions. Accordingly, systems and methods are provided for managing playback of multiple content versions, and enabling users to switch between such content versions. In some embodiments, a playback path including portions of multiple content versions may be provided, such that a user may consume only desired portions of each content version. In other embodiments, a determined playback path may be utilized to create a customized content version, which may be provided to a user.

Abstract: Base items of content may be conveyed by a user computing device. These base items of content may be enhanced with enhancement content, such as sounds, songs, video clips, animations, images, multimedia content, and the like. Characteristics and enhancement objects may be identified in a portion of the base item of content, and enhancement content may be assigned to that portion automatically by a content enhancement service. In one embodiment, enhancement sounds or songs may be provided and conveyed to enhance an audiobook or electronic book.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating an identifier that identifies a specific position within content. For example, at least a portion of content may be presented in a manner such that any position within the presented content can be selected, such as a specific word or line of text content. A selection may be received indicating a position within the content, where the selection corresponds to a request to generate an identifier that identifies the selected position. In response, an identifier may be generated that includes information identifying the content and the position within the content, such that selection of the identifier causes presentation of a representation of the content at the given position.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide techniques for sharing network service access credentials among multiple devices that share a common user or are associated in a device group. After connecting to a network service (e.g., a wireless network, wired network, or web site), a first device can upload the credentials used to access the network service to a cloud-hosted credential service. The credential service can store the credentials and associate them with the first device and/or its user. Later, a second device can log in to the credential service and receive a download of one or more sets of credentials to enable access to one or more network services that are authorized for the second device. Various embodiments include a credential management interface to enable an authorized user to manage device/network service pairings, permissions, and/or restrictions for network service access.

Abstract: A content alignment service may generate content synchronization information to facilitate the synchronous presentation of audio content and textual content. In some embodiments, a region of the textual content whose correspondence to the audio content is uncertain may be analyzed to determine whether the region of textual content corresponds to one or more words that are audibly presented in the audio content, or whether the region of textual content is a mismatch with respect to the audio content. In some embodiments, words in the textual content that correspond to words in the audio content are synchronously presented, while mismatched words in the textual content may be skipped to maintain synchronous presentation. Accordingly, in one example application, an audiobook is synchronized with an electronic book, so that as the electronic book is displayed, corresponding words of the audiobook are audibly presented.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for causing aural and/or visual presentation of representative content in response to a request to progress or navigate through audio content at a scan rate exceeding a threshold playback rate. In some embodiments, a current position marker in the audio content may be repeatedly updated based on the scan rate. For each updated position of the current position marker, one or more characteristic words associated with the content near the current position marker may be determined. A continuous presentation of the determined characteristic words may be generated and presented aurally and/or visually in order to provide an indication as to the subject matter of the content at the current position.

Abstract: A content customization service is disclosed. A user computing device and/or a content customization server may customize a narration associated with an item of content at the request of a listener or a rights-holder. One or more user interfaces may be provided to facilitate these requests. Some examples of customization include specifying settings for the language, accent, mood, or speaker of the narration. Other examples of customization include specifying settings for the bass, treble, pitch, pace, or contrast of the narration. These settings may be collected as narration settings information. The content customization service may distribute this information over an electronic network. The content customization service may provide recommendations to help users select customizations.

Abstract: Features are disclosed for identifying multiple users contending for use of a shared media device with which to present a content item. Users may be detected by the shared media device or a management component, and each user may have previously begun and stopped consumption at a different point within the content item. When multiple users wish to consume the content, a component or module determines which presentation position to use, or creates a new presentation position for use. In cases in which not all users have begun consuming or wish to consume the same content item, a component or module determines which content item to present.

Abstract: Features are disclosed for managing presentation of content to improve the content consumption experience as a user moves around or when there are multiple users. Based on user positions within a content consumption location and optionally on the layout of the location, presentation of content can be adjusted. The volume of audio content may be raised or lowered based on a user's position. Audio or visual content can be paused or stopped if a user leaves the location or the user's view is obstructed. When multiple users are consuming a content item, one or more users may have priority and any adjustment may be made to first improve the experience of the priority user. In some cases, no user has priority, and adjustments may be made to improve the experience of many or all users.

Abstract: Described herein are systems, methods, and apparatus for initiating one or more actions based at least in part on an audio output device. Upon connection of an audio output device such as headphones one or more actions may be configured to occur. These actions may include playing at least a portion of an audio content, presenting information on a display, and so forth.

Abstract: A content processing service may analyze an item of original content and identify several objects, attributes of those objects, and relationships between those objects present in the item of original content. The content processing service may also analyze a source graph, such as a social graph or supplemental graph, and identify several objects, attributes of those objects, and relationships between those objects present in the source graph. The content processing service may customize the item of original content by selecting an original object and selecting a source graph object. One or more of the attributes or relationships of the selected original object in the item of original content may be replaced by one or more of the attributes or relationships of the selected source graph object, thereby forming an item of modified content.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for graphically representing associations between one or more stories and one or more referents of interest. In some embodiments, a score may be determined for each of a set of stories based at least in part on a number of associations between the given story and one or more referents of interest. A graphical representation of the stories may then be presented for display. The graphical representation may include indicia, where each indicium graphically indicates the strength of association between a given story and the one or more referents of interest. The strength of association for a given story may be determined, for example, based at least in part on the determined score for the story.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to managing licenses for playback of digital content. A license management device may create licenses that determine the number of playback devices that can be authorized by the license. Each license may be included in a corresponding digital content. In addition, each license may be distributed to a set of playback devices. Thereafter, a playback device may playback digital content that includes a license when the playback device stores a matching license. A single license can be used to provide authorization to play digital content from multiple sources and/or multiple types of content. Playback devices can store multiple licenses, which allows playback devices to belong to multiple sets of playback devices authorized to playback various digital content. In one embodiment digital content files can contain multiple licenses to allow the content files to be shared by multiple sets of playback devices.

Abstract: Systems and associated processes for guiding users to provide more useful reviews are described. These systems and processes can provide guided reviews in certain embodiments by presenting questions to a user in the form of an interview. The questions can be relevant to the item being reviewed, and as such, may be specifically and dynamically selected based on the particular item under consideration. Many other criteria may be used to select the types of questions presented to users, examples of which will be described below. Presenting review questions to users can have the effect of reducing or eliminating the “blank page” effect of having to write a review from scratch, with no guidance. Accordingly, review questions can potentially elicit more thorough and useful feedback than existing review systems in some embodiments.

Abstract: Features are disclosed for searching within audio content. Users may submit search terms in text format. An index of text that is audibly presented in the audio content may be searched to identify an instance of a search term. A play position corresponding to the instance may be obtained, and a user may be provided with access to a portion of the audio content based on the play position. The particular play position that is chosen may be based on additional factors, such as popularity of the portion, prior search history and interactions, etc.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for presenting a set of instructions to a user, such as instructions associated with a recipe. In some embodiments, recipe data may be retrieved and analyzed to identify one or more recipe instructions included in the recipe. A time estimate associated with at least one of the identified recipe instructions may be determined, where the time estimate represents an estimated time for the identified recipe instruction to be completed by the user. The recipe instruction may then be presented to the user, such as by presenting audio data or visual data. Based at least in part on a determination that an amount of time equal to the time estimate has elapsed after presenting the recipe instruction to the user, one or more additional recipe instructions may then be automatically presented to the user.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed which facilitate identifying extra substantive material within a content item not included within corresponding companion content items. For example, extra substantive material may include commentary, interviews, or improvisation included within an audio book and not included within a corresponding electronic book. Specifically, an electronic marketplace is disclosed that may analyze two companion content items to determine similarities and differences between the content items. Thereafter, portions that differ between the content items may be further analyzed to determine whether these portions include extra substantive material. Also disclosed is an electronic marketplace for providing information regarding content items, including the existence of extra substantive material within a content item. In some instances, the electronic marketplace may be configured to provide samples of extra content within a content item to a user.

Abstract: A content customization service is disclosed. The content customization service may identify one or more speakers in an item of content, and map one or more portions of the item of content to a speaker. A speaker may also be mapped to a voice. In one embodiment, the content customization service obtains portions of audio content synchronized to the mapped portions of the item of content. Each portion of audio content may be associated with a voice to which the speaker of the portion of the item of content is mapped. These portions of audio content may be combined to produce a combined item of audio content with multiple voices.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for enabling a user to associate a story with one or more referents. In some embodiments, information representing a first version of a story may be caused to be displayed, and in the display of information representing the first version of the story, a user may be enabled to associate a referent with a first point in the first version of the story, where the referent is at least one of an event, a character, an object, a subject, a time, a place and a person. In some embodiments, the referent may be automatically associated with a second point in a second version of the story based at least in part on a point map associated with the first version of the story and the second version of the story.