Abstract: Users can share a content stream and can create and/or edit playlists that include content items of the content stream. Each user device, or a subset of the user devices, can edit the playback commands of the content stream once it is being shared. Playback of the content items is synchronized between the sharing devices. If one device is associated with a content restriction, an alternate version may be provided to that device. The two versions can still be played synchronously with one another.

Abstract: Third-party apps on a mobile device can expose their content, such as audio content, video content, music stations, audio books, and so forth, to an in-vehicle computing device via a standardized format for content items that is decoupled from the user interfaces of the third-party apps. In this way, the in-vehicle computing device can display the content items in an in-vehicle user interface without granting providers of the content items access to the in-vehicle user interface. This system can present the content items in a different, independent user interface, even though the content items are associated with a third-party app having its own user interface. Content items encapsulate metadata describing the media, such as a title, subtitle, artwork, playback progress, a content item type, whether the content item is playable, whether the content item is a container item, and so forth.

Abstract: Methods and systems for implementing multi-screen video user interfaces. A handheld device is used to search for content to be displayed on a television. The handheld device presents data according to a first user interface, and while searching for content, any changes to the navigation state of the handheld device are sent to the television. The television receives an update and reformats the data according to a second user interface optimized for displaying the data on the television. The first user interface is native to the handheld device and the second user interface is native to the television. The user of the handheld device is able to utilize a familiar format while searching for content while viewers of the television are able to see the same navigation state as the handheld device but in a familiar format on the television.

Abstract: A user listening to a content item on a preceding device and wishes to continue with the listening experience on a subsequent device initiates a continuity request from the subsequent device to the preceding device. The preceding device responds to the received continuity request by determining a multiverse identification that is contained in the continuity request, such that the multiverse identification uniquely identifies the content item that is currently playing on the preceding device over all known playback devices with which it has communicated. The subsequent device determines if the content item exists in a local database of the subsequent device and, if it exists, the subsequent device plays the content item from the local database of the subsequent device, and otherwise obtains the content item.

Abstract: Third-party apps on a mobile device can expose their content, such as audio content, video content, music stations, audio books, and so forth, to an in-vehicle computing device via a standardized format for content items that is decoupled from the user interfaces of the third-party apps. In this way, the in-vehicle computing device can display the content items in an in-vehicle user interface without granting providers of the content items access to the in-vehicle user interface. This system can present the content items in a different, independent user interface, even though the content items are associated with a third-party app having its own user interface. Content items encapsulate metadata describing the media, such as a title, subtitle, artwork, playback progress, a content item type, whether the content item is playable, whether the content item is a container item, and so forth.

Abstract: Techniques for automatically configuring and controlling a digital media device are described. A digital media device can be configured or controlled by a mobile device, e.g., a smart mobile phone. When the digital media device is being configured, the digital media device can broadcast a signal, indicating that the digital media device is requesting configuration information from a mobile device. A mobile device located in proximity of the digital media device, upon detecting the signal, can perform various security checks to determine that the request is legitimate, and then open a communication channel with the digital media device. The mobile device can provide user preferences of the mobile device, as well as credentials for accessing and downloading remote content, to the digital media device through the communication channel. Upon receiving the configuration information, the digital media device can use parameters in the configuration information as its settings.

Abstract: An electronic device is configured to receive a first request to display a user interface of a first third-party application on a respective display that is in communication with the device. The device is further configured to, in response to receiving the request, obtain a first user-interface template configured to be used by a plurality of third-party applications, and request, from the first application, one or more values for populating the first template. The device is also configured to receive, from the first application, while the first application is running on the device, a first set of values for populating the first template; populate the first template with the first set of values; generate a first user interface for the first application using the first template populated with the first set of values; and send information to the respective display that enables the first user interface to be displayed.