Abstract: A sliding side menu GUI interface for computerized devices that shows indicia of updated content on at least some of its various menu items. These indicia can include icons representing graphics or thumbnail images representing individuals that caused the updated content, type of updated content, amount of updated content, or other useful information. This enables the user, while operating an original application screen, while still retaining the original screen in short term human memory, to quickly call up the sliding side menu, look for indicia of updated content or interesting new content, and if there is no such content return to the original screen without significant human short term memory loss of the original screen. The method may be implemented by server software, device software, or combination of server and device software. The method is well suited for small touchscreen devices such as smartphones and tablets.

Abstract: An internet client-server method to rapidly preview video files. Source video files are compressed into lower resolution preview video files, thumbnail image files, and stored on a preview internet server. Typically only a small fraction of the source video frames, such as 1 frame in 60, is used for the preview. A user using a touch sensitive computerized device such as a smartphone can view the thumbnail video images while the compressed video files load in the background. When the user touches or swipes an image of interest, or shakes the device, device video preview application software detects the action and directs the device to start playing the preview video file(s). The application software detects when the user swipes the preview video, and changes the rate and direction of playback of the preview video file, and trickplay functionality, often according to the speed and/or direction of the swipe.

Abstract: As social networks such as Twitter become an integral part of a growing number of smartphone and tablet apps and other software, app users more frequently encounter brief foreign language comments from other users. The invention provides a convenient touch screen user interface and method by which a user, with a minimal set of finger touches, may request a translation of such foreign language comments without otherwise leaving the app display screen where the comment was originally found. By using the appropriate set of finger movements, the user's device can be directed to first initiate translation, and then display the translation in a user finger gesture controlled manner in which the comment may be viewed both in its original language and in the foreign language. When the user is satisfied, the app can then resume operations at its original initiating display screen.

Abstract: An internet client-server method to rapidly preview video files. Source video files are compressed into lower resolution preview video files, thumbnail image files, and stored on a preview internet server. Typically only a small fraction of the source video frames, such as 1 frame in 60, is used for the preview. A user using a touch sensitive computerized device such as a smartphone can view the thumbnail video images while the compressed video files load in the background. When the user touches or swipes an image of interest, or shakes the device, device video preview application software detects the action and directs the device to start playing the preview video file(s). The application software detects when the user swipes the preview video, and changes the rate and direction of playback of the preview video file, and trickplay functionality, often according to the speed and/or direction of the swipe.

Abstract: A software implemented method and system for screencasting display screen video and sound from third party applications, such as video game software, running on Smartphones, annotating the captured video, compressing it, and uploading it to various online social networks. The method provides a providing a display screen capture and recording application capable of recording Smartphone display screen video output at a rate of at least 10 frames per second, along with recording game sounds and game player audio commentary. The method further compresses the recordings and uploads them to various online social network internet servers, either directly or via a video distribution server. The method further provides a simple user interface to facilitate this process.

Abstract: An internet client-server method to rapidly preview video files. Source video files are compressed into lower resolution preview video files, thumbnail image files, and stored on a preview internet server. Typically only a small fraction of the source video frames, such as 1 frame in 60, is used for the preview. A user using a touch sensitive computerized device such as a smartphone can view the thumbnail video images while the compressed video files load in the background. When the user touches or swipes an image of interest, or shakes the device, device video preview application software detects the action and directs the device to start playing the preview video file(s). The application software detects when the user swipes the preview video, and changes the rate and direction of playback of the preview video file, and trickplay functionality, often according to the speed and/or direction of the swipe.