Abstract: Creators of computer software provide the most up-to-date versions of their computer software on an update service. A user who has purchased computer software calls the update service on a periodic basis. The update service automatically inventories the user computer to determine what computer software may be out-of-date, and/or need maintenance updates. If so desired by the user, the update service computer automatically downloads and installs computer software to the user computer. By making periodic calls to the update service, the user always has the most up-to-date computer software immediately available. The update service may also alert the user to new products (i.e. including new help files, etc.), and new and enhanced versions of existing products, which can be purchased electronically by a user from the update service.

Abstract: In a mobile device, a context is determined for the mobile device. The context is determined based on a variety of characteristics of the mobile device environment including, for example, the current application being used, any contacts that a user of the mobile device is interacting with or having a conversation with, the current date and/or time, a current topic of the conversation, a current style of the conversation, etc. Based on a set of strings associated with the determined context and user generated text, one or more string predictions are generated for the user generated text. The string predictions may be presented to the user as suggested completions of the user generated text.

Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates providing a realistic simulation within a gaming environment. A gaming environment can enable at least one user to interact with a computer game in order to produce visual feedback in which the computer game includes a simulation that mimics an event in a physical real world. A macroscopic quantum effects (MQE) engine can utilize quantum physics as a basis for at least one simulation within the gaming environment, wherein the MQE engine leverages an equation related to quantum physics which enables the simulation to replicate a property associated with realistic quantum mechanics. An interface can allow data communication between the gaming environment and the MQE engine.

Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates optimally and efficiently utilizing an image file format. A server can host an image that is partitioned into two or more tiles, wherein the two or more tiles collectively represent the image in entirety and are defined in at least one image file format. A tile generator can evaluate at least one tile to identify a suitable image file format based upon at least one of a characteristic of such file format or a context of a use for the tile. A browser can utilize the tile in the identified file format in order to render a portion of the image.

Abstract: The testing of driver output is automated. Embodiments of the invention filter out data that is known to change between two similar outputs of a driver. By filtering this dynamic data out, the remaining data can be compared to known-good data to identify any variations which would appear in a physical manifestation (e.g., a printout) of the data.

Abstract: A moveable displayed user interface element can be used to select an item displayed on a user interface. Once the proper item or items are selected, an area of the moveable displayed user interface element can be activated to perform an operation on the selected item or items. The moveable displayed user interface element can additionally display information about a selected item, and, in some cases, the displayed information can be edited to modify the selected item. A versatile lightweight system can be used to determine when a moveable object is over any of a number of regions associated with specified targets. The lightweight system can be used to implement moveable displayed user interface elements.