Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to enabling a lightweight way of recording and sharing video messages intended to provide input to a future meeting that cannot be personally attended. A person who cannot attend the meeting pre-records their thoughts and remarks for the meeting as video clips for presentation at the meeting. A physical device with at least a display is presented at the meeting. The physically present participants can play the pre-recorded clips on the device. Video of participants' responses to the clips is recorded and made available so that the represented attendee can view the participants' responses.

Abstract: Various technologies pertaining to instant messaging are described herein. A persistent instant messaging group is created, wherein the persistent instant messaging group comprises a plurality of members and persists over a plurality of instant messaging sessions. Instances of an instant messaging application are installed on mobile telephones, and the instant messaging application is used to transmit instant messages between members of the persistent instant messaging group. Messages directed towards offline members of the persistent instant messaging group are transmitted to such members when they come online.

Abstract: Described are systems and user interfaces for facilitating asynchronous communication with video threads. Implementations may enable members of a team to have threaded view of video messages, from which they can capture video, record their screen, and send, receive, and reply to a video message. The screen recording feature enables team members to share parts of their screen while simultaneously narrating, if desired. Video messages are threaded by topic and each conversation is visually represented.

Abstract: Various technologies for sharing digital images within an instant messaging (IM) session between two users. In one implementation, a first user uploads a set of images to the second user. The set of images may be displayed as thumbnails on the displays of both users. By clicking on one of the thumbnails, either user may make the associated image appear as a larger image on both users' displays. In the event that both users click on different images simultaneously, or near-simultaneously, a protocol may be employed that selects which image is displayed.

Abstract: Various technologies pertaining to instant messaging are described herein. A persistent instant messaging group is created, wherein the persistent instant messaging group comprises a plurality of members and persists over a plurality of instant messaging sessions. Instances of an instant messaging application are installed on mobile telephones, and the instant messaging application is used to transmit instant messages between members of the persistent instant messaging group. Messages directed towards offline members of the persistent instant messaging group are transmitted to such members when they come online.

Abstract: A system described herein includes a receiver component that receives a request to create a persistent messaging group for an instant messaging application, wherein the request includes an indication of one or more entities that are desired to be members of the persistent messaging group. The system further includes a group creator component that creates the persistent messaging group based at least in part upon the received group creation request, wherein the persistent messaging group is persisted over multiple instant messaging sessions.

Abstract: A system described herein includes a receiver component that receives a request to create a persistent messaging group for an instant messaging application, wherein the request includes an indication of one or more entities that are desired to be members of the persistent messaging group. The system further includes a group creator component that creates the persistent messaging group based at least in part upon the received group creation request, wherein the persistent messaging group is persisted over multiple instant messaging sessions.

Abstract: A system described herein includes a receiver component that receives a request to create a persistent messaging group for an instant messaging application, wherein the request includes an indication of one or more entities that are desired to be members of the persistent messaging group. The system further includes a group creator component that creates the persistent messaging group based at least in part upon the received group creation request, wherein the persistent messaging group is persisted over multiple instant messaging sessions.

Abstract: Attachment browser is described. In an embodiment, an attachment browser displays a selection of communications received from multiple sources where each of the communications has an attachment. A representative image of each attachment is organized for display according to an attribute of the respective attachment, and a portion of each communication is displayed proximate an associated representative image to maintain the association of a communication and a respective attachment.

Abstract: Techniques for enabling mobile shared group interaction are described. Members of a group may access, through a user interface, group activities that provide a shared, synchronous, interactive experience. An interface may be provided via a mobile device such as a cellular telephone that enables members who are mobile to participate in group activities with other members who are also mobile or who are logged on via a non-mobile device such as a desktop computer system.

Abstract: A system described herein includes a receiver component that receives a request to create a persistent messaging group for an instant messaging application, wherein the request includes an indication of one or more entities that are desired to be members of the persistent messaging group. The system further includes a group creator component that creates the persistent messaging group based at least in part upon the received group creation request, wherein the persistent messaging group is persisted over multiple instant messaging sessions.

Abstract: Various technologies for sharing digital images within an instant messaging (IM) session between two users. In one implementation, a first user uploads a set of images to the second user. The set of images may be displayed as thumbnails on the displays of both users. By clicking on one of the thumbnails, either user may make the associated image appear as a larger image on both users' displays. In the event that both users click on different images simultaneously, or near-simultaneously, a protocol may be employed that selects which image is displayed.

Abstract: A novel technique enables participants of an online group interaction to capture and encapsulate an ongoing activity at a particular moment in time. During the online group interaction, a user activates an icon, and is enabled to select properties of the saved memory, such as icon color/image for the saved material, what parts of the shared experience to save, etc. For example, the user may want to save all or some of the conversation, music played, scores for a game played, and the pictures viewed during the session, as well as any other portion desired. The saved material may represent a snapshot of the activity at save time, or may comprise a sequence of events up to the point that the material was saved. While saving the selected material, the application displays an animation such as an origami-type animation of a box folding up from a flat sheet.

Abstract: Providing a customizable online environment for a user on a client. An instruction is received from the user for assigning a background image for the online environment. The online environment is to be rendered on a display of the client. One or more graphical elements are identified on the background image. A profile is received from the user, and the profile includes a plurality of user-customizable data each having properties associated therewith. Graphical representations are provided for the plurality of user-customizable data. Each of the graphical representations depends on and visually indicates the properties associated with each of the plurality of user-customizable data. The provided graphical representations are rendered onto a position of the background image on the online environment.

Abstract: The invention is a user interface for browsing a database of media that is tagged by geographic location information including photos, videos, and panoramas. Interchangeable panels are used for determining query constraints and viewing query results, grid-aligned media dots indicate how many media should be associated with a location on a map, and a reflective UI shows how query constraints and query results are related through cursor interaction.

Abstract: A method for creating events for use by an electronic calendar application. A computer device running a calendar application displays a GUI having a representation of a calendar. A first widget on the GUI initiates a software routine for defining an event. The routine generates an interface window having a plurality of event detail widgets which allow the user to interactively define details of the event. Once the details are entered, the event is saved as a multimedia object, and the multimedia object is placed onto the calendar representation. Further, details of the event may include additional multimedia content. Also, the calendar representation itself may include multimedia content. The event may be defined with an approximate time frame rather than a specific time frame. For example, an event may be linked to another event rather than to a specific time frame.

Abstract: An input to a computer system is made by manipulating a physical object disposed adjacent to an interactive display surface. An application having at least one changeable attribute is executed on the computer system. When the physical object is disposed adjacent to the interactive display surface, it is identified and its location is determined based upon a shape, a size, an infrared reflectance, or some other optical quality. The initial location and orientation of the physical object on the interactive display surface relative to the interactive display surface is identified. The attribute of the application is correlated with the physical object and is changed in response to movement of the physical object. The physical object can thus be used, for example, to select menu options and parameters within the application being executed.

Abstract: Data collection is described. A network-based data collection service enables users to define and manage data collections. Data items can be selected from any type of data source (e.g., a web page, a local document, an image file, an audio file, a video file, etc.) and added to a data collection. Data items may be any type of data (e.g., text, image, sound, video, etc.). A data collection may be shared by any number of users having various access permissions to the data collection. The data collection may also be viewed as a graphical presentation of each of the data items associated with the data collection such that each data item may be resized and/or repositioned within the graphical presentation.

Abstract: Strategies are described for propagating and responding to announcements within an environment having pre-established social groups, such as pre-established instant messenger social groups. More specifically, a member within a group can create an announcement, whereupon the announcement becomes associated with the member's identity. The member can then propagate that announcement out as part of their identity to members within the member's immediate social order group. If the member so authorizes, the announcement can also be propagated out to other social groups linked to the member's immediate social group. A member within the immediate social group or one of the linked social groups can responds to the announcement. The use of pre-established social groups to transact announcement-related exchanges provides a level of trust not offered by conventional network-based messaging and merchandising services.

Abstract: Attachment browser is described. In an embodiment, an attachment browser displays a selection of communications received from multiple sources where each of the communications has an attachment. A representative image of each attachment is organized for display according to an attribute of the respective attachment, and a portion of each communication is displayed proximate an associated representative image to maintain the association of a communication and a respective attachment.