Abstract: In some implementations, a computing device can be configured to automatically turn off notifications when generating a notification would cause a disturbance or be unwanted by a user. The device can be configured with quiet hours during which notifications that would otherwise be generated by the computing device can be suppressed. In some implementations, quiet hours can be configured as a time period with a start time and an end time. In some implementations, quiet hours can be derived from application data. For example, calendar data, alarm clock data, map data, etc. can be used to determine when quiet hours should be enforced. In some implementations, the device can be configured with exceptions to quiet hour notification suppression. In some implementations, the user can identify contacts to which the quiet hours notification suppression should not be applied.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for use in conjunction with a computing device with a touch screen display comprises: detecting one or more finger contacts with the touch screen display, applying one or more heuristics to the one or more finger contacts to determine a command for the device, and processing the command. The one or more heuristics comprise: a heuristic for determining that the one or more finger contacts correspond to a one-dimensional vertical screen scrolling command, a heuristic for determining that the one or more finger contacts correspond to a two-dimensional screen translation command, and a heuristic for determining that the one or more finger contacts correspond to a command to transition from displaying a respective item in a set of items to displaying a next item in the set of items.

Abstract: Systems, methods and machine readable media for processing voicemails are described. In one embodiment, a method includes presenting, on a first data processing system, a first user interface which is capable of presenting data representing a plurality of voicemails and receiving from the first user interface a selection for playback of one of the plurality of voicemails. The data representing the plurality of voicemails are received from a second data processing system which includes a voicemail system which records voicemails left for customers of a public telephone carrier, and the first user interface is configured to receive the selection of any one of the plurality of voicemails in any order. Systems, media and other methods are also described.

Abstract: A portable multifunction device displays a first user interface object and a second user interface object on a touch screen display. Upon detecting a finger-down event at the first user interface object and one or more finger-dragging events on the touch screen display, the device moves the first user interface object on the touch screen display along a path determined by the finger-dragging events until the first user interface object at least in part overlaps the second user interface object. Upon detecting a finger-up event at the second user interface object, the device visually replaces the second user interface object with the first user interface object.

Abstract: A portable electronic device having a touch screen display detects a first finger-down event at a first position on the touch screen display. The first position is adjacent to first and second user interface objects. The portable device detects a second finger event at a second position on the touch screen display. The second finger event is either a finger-dragging event or a finger-up event. The portable device determines a type of the second finger event and a distance between the first position and the second position. The portable device performs a first action associated with the first user interface object if the distance is greater than a predefined threshold and performs a second action associated with the second user interface object if the distance is equal to or less than the predefined threshold and the second finger event is a finger-up event.

Abstract: Systems, methods and Computer readable media for providing or managing or using voicemails are described. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, at a first data processing system, data representing an expiration time of a voicemail left for a user of the first data processing system and storing the data representing the expiration time for later use by the first data processing system. Systems, media, and other methods are also described.

Abstract: Methods, program products, and systems of motion-based device operations are described. A mobile device can coordinate operations of a motion sensor and a proximity sensor. The mobile device can determine a gesture event using the motion sensor. The mobile device can determine a proximity event using the proximity sensor. The mobile device can use the gesture event and proximity event to confirm one another, and determine that the mobile device has moved in proximity to a target object following a specified gesture. Upon confirmation, the mobile device can perform a specified task.

Abstract: A virtual assistant uses context information to supplement natural language or gestural input from a user. Context helps to clarify the user's intent and to reduce the number of candidate interpretations of the user's input, and reduces the need for the user to provide excessive clarification input. Context can include any available information that is usable by the assistant to supplement explicit user input to constrain an information-processing problem and/or to personalize results. Context can be used to constrain solutions during various phases of processing, including, for example, speech recognition, natural language processing, task flow processing, and dialog generation.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for providing email at a portable communications device with a touch screen display is disclosed. A first portion of a list of entries with information about corresponding electronic messages is displayed in a first area of the touch screen display. A first portion of an electronic message that corresponds to an entry in the list of entries is displayed in a second area of the touch screen display that is separate from the first area. In response to a first gesture by a user in the first area of the touch screen display, the list of entries is scrolled to display a second portion of the list of entries. In response to a second gesture by the user in the second area of the touch screen display, the electronic message is moved in two dimensions to display a second portion of the electronic message.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for management of voicemail messages, performed at a portable electronic device with a touch screen display, includes: displaying a list of voicemail messages; detecting selection by a user of a respective voicemail message in the list; responding to the user selection of the respective voicemail message by initiating playback of the user-selected voicemail message; displaying a progress bar for the user-selected voicemail message, wherein the progress bar indicates the portion of the user-selected voicemail message that has been played; detecting movement of a finger of the user from a first position on the progress bar to a second position on the progress bar; and responding to the detection of the finger movement by restarting playback of the user-selected voicemail message at a position within the user-selected voicemail message corresponding substantially to the second position on the progress bar.

Abstract: Services for a personal electronic device are provided through which a form of background processing or multitasking is supported. The disclosed services permit user applications to take advantage of background processing without significant negative consequences to a user's experience of the foreground process or the personal electronic device's power resources. To effect the disclosed multitasking, one or more operational restrictions may be enforced. A consequence of such restrictions, a process may not be able to do in the background state, what it may be able to do if it were in the foreground state. In one embodiment, while a background task may be permitted to complete a first task, it may not be permitted start a new task—being suspended after completion of the first task. Implementation of the disclosed services may be substantially transparent to the executing user applications.

Abstract: Services for a personal electronic device are provided through which a form of background processing or multitasking is supported. The disclosed services permit user applications to take advantage of background processing without significant negative consequences to a user's experience of the foreground process or the personal electronic device's power resources. To effect the disclosed multitasking, one or more of a number of operational restrictions may be enforced. By way of example, thread priority levels may be overlapped between the foreground and background states. In addition, system resource availability may be restricted based on whether a process is receiving user input. In some instances, an application may be suspended rather than being placed into the background state. Implementation of the disclosed services may be substantially transparent to the executing user applications and, in some cases, may be performed without the user application's explicit cooperation.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for management of voicemail messages, performed at a portable electronic device with a touch screen display, includes: displaying a list of voicemail messages; detecting selection by a user of a respective voicemail message in the list; responding to the user selection of the respective voicemail message by initiating playback of the user-selected voicemail message; displaying a progress bar for the user-selected voicemail message, wherein the progress bar indicates the portion of the user-selected voicemail message that has been played; detecting movement of a finger of the user from a first position on the progress bar to a second position on the progress bar; and responding to the detection of the finger movement by restarting playback of the user-selected voicemail message at a position within the user-selected voicemail message corresponding substantially to the second position on the progress bar.

Abstract: Techniques for handling a file associated with a program are described herein. According to an aspect of the invention, in response to a request for accessing a file received through a first program, the file is stored in a first sandboxed storage area, where the file is to be accessed by a second program. An atomic move operation is then performed on the file that atomically moves the file from the first sandboxed storage area to a second sandboxed storage area, where the first sandboxed storage area is not accessible to the first program and second program. The second program is launched to access the file stored in the second sandboxed storage area, where the second sandboxed storage area is a part of a sandbox associated with the second program.

Abstract: Among other things, techniques and systems are disclosed for implementing contextual voice commands. On a device, a data item in a first context is displayed. On the device, a physical input selecting the displayed data item in the first context is received. On the device, a voice input that relates the selected data item to an operation in a second context is received. The operation is performed on the selected data item in the second context.

Abstract: A plurality of icons on a touch-sensitive display are displayed. A respective icon in the plurality of icons corresponds to at least one symbol. One or more recommended words are displayed. The one or more recommended words are in accordance with a user history. The one or more recommended words are displayed prior to detecting any contacts by a user corresponding to symbol selection by the user in a current application session. A contact by the user with the touch-sensitive display is detected. The contact includes a gesture. A respective recommended word corresponding to the gesture is selected.

Abstract: A plurality of icons are displayed on a touch-sensitive display. A respective icon in at least a subset of the plurality of icons corresponds to two or more symbols. A contact by a user with the touch-sensitive display that corresponds to a selection of the respective icon, wherein the contact includes a respective gesture, is detected. A respective symbol in the two or more symbols for the respective icon to which the contact further corresponds is determined. The respective symbol is a first symbol in the two or more symbols if the respective gesture includes a continuous contact and the respective symbol is a second symbol in the two or more symbols if the respective gesture includes a discontinuous contact.

Abstract: A plurality of icons are displayed on a touch-sensitive display. Two or more subsets of the plurality of icons are arranged in corresponding rows on the touch-sensitive display. A space greater than a pre-determined value is included between adjacent rows. A contact by a user with the touch-sensitive display that corresponds to a respective icon is detected. A symbol corresponding to the respective icon is displayed in the space between a respective row corresponding to the respective icon and a neighboring row while the contact is maintained.

Abstract: A plurality of icons are displayed on a touch-sensitive display. A respective icon in at least a subset of the plurality of icons corresponds to two or more symbols. A first symbol in the two or more symbols belongs to a first subset of symbols and a second symbol in the two or more symbols belongs to a second subset of symbols. The first symbol has a probability of occurrence that is greater than a first pre-determined value and the second symbol has a probability of occurrence that is less than the first pre-determined value. A contact by a user with the touch-sensitive display that corresponds to a selection of the respective icon is detected. The contact includes a respective gesture. A respective symbol in the two or more symbols for the respective icon to which the contact further corresponds is determined.

Abstract: A plurality of icons are displayed on a touch-sensitive display. A respective icon in at least a subset of the plurality of icons corresponds to two or more symbols. A contact by a user with the touch-sensitive display that corresponds to the respective icon is detected. A respective symbol in the two or more symbols to which the contact further corresponds is determined. The displayed respective icon is modified to indicate that the contact corresponds to the respective symbol.