Abstract: Various embodiments protect against undesirable activities, in at least some embodiments, by combining the protection of a data or message filter with the user's own knowledge and judgment. In at least some embodiments, data or a message that is suspected of being associated with an undesirable activity is identified and indicia is provided to a user that the message is suspect. The data or message is presented to the user in a protected environment that allows the user to access the data or message in full fidelity, but prevents them from interacting with the data or message in a manner which would expose them to the undesirable activity. After reviewing the data or message in the protected environment, the user can decide how the message should thereafter be treated.

Abstract: Various embodiments protect against undesirable activities, in at least some embodiments, by combining the protection of a data or message filter with the user's own knowledge and judgment. In at least some embodiments, data or a message that is suspected of being associated with an undesirable activity is identified and indicia is provided to a user that the message is suspect. The data or message is presented to the user in a protected environment that allows the user to access the data or message in full fidelity, but prevents them from interacting with the data or message in a manner which would expose them to the undesirable activity. After reviewing the data or message in the protected environment, the user can decide how the message should thereafter be treated.

Abstract: An application executes on a client device to automatically subscribe a user to a particular syndication feed. In at least some instances, the user can be preliminarily unaware that they have been subscribed to the feed. In at least some embodiments, the application automatically subscribes to feeds using one or more contact lists that contain contacts that are relevant to the particular user. Specifically, the application is able to access the contact list(s) and ascertain from the individual contacts who, among the user's contacts, constitutes a source of a syndication feed. Once one or more contacts have been identified, the application can automatically subscribe to the feed so that the user can now receive and consume feed data.

Abstract: A control device provides software applications with a set of calibrated axis values that are indicative of a minimum, a center, and a maximum value on an axis. These values are continuously tracked and corrected while the control device is in use. As the user manipulates the control device, input axis values are monitored for calibration drift. When such calibration drift is detected, the minimum and the maximum axis values are automatically adjusted, while the center axis value is adjusted only when such center axis value remains substantially constant for a given time. If the operating system of the computer has default axis values for an uncalibrated axis, the adjusted axis values are scaled accordingly so as not to interfere with such default axis values.

Abstract: The present invention automatically adjusts the sensitivity of a game controller to a player's input. A n-dimensional speed vector having components that are indicative of the speed of an object in an n-dimensional game environment is read from the output of the game controller. Those speed vector components with small dynamics (e.g., small speeds) relative to the other speed vector components are suppressed, thereby producing a filtered speed vector. The components of the filtered speed vector are then tested for oscillations. Oscillations in the components of the filtered speed vector are indicative of small displacements made by the player while focusing on a game task requiring additional controller precision (e.g., focusing on a target). When such oscillations are detected, the ratio of the speed of the object, over the displacement of the game controller (e.g., deflection) is adjusted to some predetermined value.