Abstract: Systems, methods, and software are disclosed herein for presenting add-in previews. In an implementation, a service receives a request for a preview of an application add-in. The service identifies a template document in response to the request and applies the application add-in to the template document to generate an enhanced preview of the application add-in. The service replies to the request with the enhanced preview.

Abstract: Concepts and technologies are described herein for user interface placeholders for application extensions. In accordance with the concepts and technologies disclosed herein, user interface placeholders are inserted into user interfaces to represent extensions that have been activated or inserted into an application program or file. The placeholders describe the extension, provide instructions for activating the extension via an entitlement process, display visual indicia associated with the extensions, and/or provide functionality that is executed by a device in response to detecting interactions with the placeholders. After completing the entitlement process, the application program, file, placeholder, or extension can be updated manually or by an application callback to reflect the user's entitlement to use the extension.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software are disclosed herein for curating templates. In an implementation, templates are annotated with information that describes various factors descriptive that describe perceived qualities of the templates. A templates service automatically ranks the templates based on the factors, including functional and aesthetic factors, as well as a randomizing factor. A determination is then made about which of the collection of templates to include in a gallery set that is downloaded to local applications. The templates service replies to requests for the gallery set with results comprising graphical representations of the templates included in the gallery set.

Abstract: A reduced capability subset of an application referred to as a “starter application” is provided on a computer device prior to purchase and intended for use by a user purchasing the computer device. The starter application may monitor input from the user when the starter application is executing to ascertain opportunities to inform the user of an upgrade and then solicit the user for purchasing the upgrade. The starter application may use a limited access browser to contact a server to assist in the solicitation and complete the transaction. Upon completing the transaction, the upgrade is provided to the computing device. The upgrade may comprise the full capability version of the application, templates, clip art, or other software. The upgrade may entail transmitting the upgrade to the computer device or providing an authorization key to unlock the upgrade that is already stored on the computer device.

Abstract: An application sender can control the distribution and use of an application using an authorization token encapsulating distribution terms submitted by the application sender and the application license specification submitted by a developer of the application. The application sender can access an application store and perform various functions such as selecting one or more applications for use by an application receiver, combining one or more applications into a bundle for use by an application receiver, and/or combining several applications to form a new application for use by an application receiver. The application receiver can utilize the application in accordance with the authorization token generated by the distribution terms.

Abstract: A reduced capability subset of an application referred to as a “starter application” is provided on a computer device prior to purchase and intended for use by a user purchasing the computer device. The starter application may monitor input from the user when the starter application is executing to ascertain opportunities to inform the user of an upgrade and then solicit the user for purchasing the upgrade. The starter application may use a limited access browser to contact a server to assist in the solicitation and complete the transaction. Upon completing the transaction, the upgrade is provided to the computing device. The upgrade may comprise the full capability version of the application, templates, clip art, or other software. The upgrade may entail transmitting the upgrade to the computer device or providing an authorization key to unlock the upgrade that is already stored on the computer device.

Abstract: An app in an app store may be associated with a statically or dynamically generated list of the app's features, modes, content, and/or target device. Different descriptions, icons, titles, and the like may be shown in the app store for each of those features, modes, and content. Based on the mapping and display of individual options, users may be enabled to purchase just one of those modes, features, and/or content. If a user finds one of the provided options and acts to acquire it, the app may start up in a mode tailored to the options (feature, mode, content) rather than activating in a generic way. App stores may limit a number of options per app that can appear in search results, to prevent result spamming by collapsing displayed results, limiting the actual number of displayed results, or filtering by user.

Abstract: An application sender can control the distribution and use of an application using an authorization token encapsulating distribution terms submitted by the application sender and the application license specification submitted by a developer of the application. The application sender can access an application store and perform various functions such as selecting one or more applications for use by an application receiver, combining one or more applications into a bundle for use by an application receiver, and/or combining several applications to form a new application for use by an application receiver. The application receiver can utilize the application in accordance with the authorization token generated by the distribution terms.

Abstract: A system and method for multimodal input into an application program. The method may include performing speech recognition on speech audio input to thereby produce recognized speech text input for insertion into a document of an application program, the document having keyboard focus. The method may also include identifying the document as being text service framework unaware. The method may further include displaying the recognized speech text input in a scratchpad graphical user interface for editing the recognized speech text input. The method may further include reflecting keyboard input bound for the document to the scratchpad graphical user interface, while preserving the keyboard focus of the document. The method may also include displaying the reflected keyboard input on the scratchpad graphical user interface, to thereby effect edits in the recognized speech text input.

Abstract: A reduced capability subset of an application referred to as a “starter application” is provided on a computer device prior to purchase and intended for use by a user purchasing the computer device. The starter application may monitor input from the user when the starter application is executing to ascertain opportunities to inform the user of an upgrade and then solicit the user for purchasing the upgrade. The starter application may use a limited access browser to contact a server to assist in the solicitation and complete the transaction. Upon completing the transaction, the upgrade is provided to the computing device. The upgrade may comprise the full capability version of the application, templates, clip art, or other software. The upgrade may entail transmitting the upgrade to the computer device or providing an authorization key to unlock the upgrade that is already stored on the computer device.

Abstract: A method and system for facilitating centralized interaction with a user includes providing a recognized voice command to a plurality of application modules. A plurality of interpretations of the voice command are generated by at least one of the plurality of application modules. A centralized interface module visually renders the plurality of interpretations of the voice command on a centralized display. An indication of selection of an interpretation is received from the user.

Abstract: System and methods for facilitating syndication of subscriptions with retailers are described. The retailer can manage the customer relationship and may optionally automatically renew the customer's subscription. The platform fulfilling the subscription receives payment from a retailer and provisions the renewal subscription to the customer. A customer can purchase an entitlement card from the retailer. The entitlement card can be for a subscription redeemable through a platform holder system (via entry of a token) and includes (or is assigned) an indicator of the retailer that sold the card. The indicator can be used by the platform fulfilling the subscription to provide a differentiated or customized experience for a customer based on the retailer at which the subscription was purchased. Third-party providers can use the platform to syndicate their products and services with retailers.

Abstract: A method and system for facilitating centralized interaction with a user includes providing a recognized voice command to a plurality of application modules. A plurality of interpretations of the voice command are generated by at least one of the plurality of application modules. A centralized interface module visually renders the plurality of interpretations of the voice command on a centralized display. An indication of selection of an interpretation is received from the user.

Abstract: A reduced capability subset of an application referred to as a “starter application” is provided on a computer device prior to purchase and intended for use by a user purchasing the computer device. The starter application may monitor input from the user when the starter application is executing to ascertain opportunities to inform the user of an upgrade and then solicit the user for purchasing the upgrade. The starter application may use a limited access browser to contact a server to assist in the solicitation and complete the transaction. Upon completing the transaction, the upgrade is provided to the computing device. The upgrade may comprise the full capability version of the application, templates, clip art, or other software. The upgrade may entail transmitting the upgrade to the computer device or providing an authorization key to unlock the upgrade that is already stored on the computer device.

Abstract: A global licensing service facilitates the mapping of consumers to purchases made by the consumer in one or more stores. One or more consumer identifiers used by a consumer in various stores are stored in a central data store. The various consumer identifiers are mapped to purchases made by the consumer to provide a centralized transaction mapping. The global licensing service may enable cross-store licensing by providing a way in which a store may determine that a consumer has previously purchased a product in another store. In some implementations, if the consumer has previously purchased a product, the consumer may be offered the product for free or offered a discount price for the product.

Abstract: Representations of user input associated with one or more computer-readable customer profiles that are associated with a subscription service can be received. Additionally, a potential upcoming cancellation of a subscription to the subscription service for a subject customer profile can be detected. After the detection of the potential upcoming cancellation, a tailored customer saving procedure can be selected from among a plurality of available customer saving procedures (e.g., using a weighted algorithm and/or set selection rules). The selection of the tailored customer saving procedure can use and be based on computer-readable data representing user input associated with the one or more customer profiles. In response to the detection of the potential upcoming cancellation, the selected tailored customer saving procedure can be performed.

Abstract: A potential upcoming cancellation of a subscription to a subscription service for a subject customer profile can be detected. After the detection of the potential upcoming cancellation, a tailored customer saving procedure can be selected from among a plurality of available customer saving procedures (e.g., using a weighted algorithm and/or set selection rules). The selection of the tailored customer saving procedure can use and be based on computer-readable data representing user input associated with one or more customer profiles. In response to the detection of the potential upcoming cancellation, the selected tailored customer saving procedure can be performed. Definitions of at least a portion of the available customer saving procedures can be received from a second entity that is independent of a first entity that manages computing component(s) performing the foregoing acts.

Abstract: A software product with an integrated application platform can provide functionality for modifying, adding, or removing features of a software product through the use of applications that are integrated into the software product. A software product with an integrated application platform can also provide for the ability of a third party to modify the features of a generic version of a software product to create a custom software product. The developer of the software product can identify features of the software product that are modifiable and/or extendable. When a user selects one or more features to be modified, the features to be modified can be checked against a feature list to see if the features are modifiable. If the features are modifiable, the software product can invoke a search mechanism to allow a user to search various sources for applications that are usable within the software product.

Abstract: An application sender can control the distribution and use of an application using an authorization token encapsulating distribution terms submitted by the application sender and the application license specification submitted by a developer of the application. The application sender can access an application store and perform various functions such as selecting one or more applications for use by an application receiver, combining one or more applications into a bundle for use by an application receiver, and/or combining several applications to form a new application for use by an application receiver. The application receiver can utilize the application in accordance with the authorization token generated by the distribution terms.

Abstract: An approach is described for performing a name search using a name search operation and a ranking operation. The name search operation may take text as input and apply a fuzzy matching operation and a lookup operation to generate a collection of candidate names with respective probability scores. In other cases, speech or handwriting recognition may generate the collection of candidate names and probability scores. The ranking operation may then rank these candidate names using a ranking function. The ranking function may rank the candidate names based on the probability scores associated with the names and at least one other factor. One such factor may reflect whether information provided by a user matches profile information associated with a candidate name under consideration. Another factor may reflect an extent of a nexus between the user and a person associated with the candidate name. Other types of factors can be used.