Abstract: A computing device is described that receives a notification generated by a notification source, determines a set of notification channels defined by the notification source, each notification channel having one or more parameters defined by the notification source, and determines a particular notification channel from the set of notification channels assigned to the notification. The computing device determines one or more parameters of the particular notification channel and outputs an indication of the notification according to the one or more parameters of the particular notification channel. In this way, a user may be provided with an indication of the manner in which a given notification is being handled by the computing device. This may provide further information on the notification itself and allow efficient interaction in light of the knowledge thereby provided.

Abstract: A computing device is described that receives a notification generated by a notification source, determines a set of notification channels defmed by the notification source, each notification channel having one or more parameters defmed by the notification source, and determines a particular notification channel from the set of notification channels assigned to the notification. The computing device determines one or more parameters of the particular notification channel and outputs an indication of the notification according to the one or more parameters of the particular notification channel. In this way, a user may be provided with an indication of the manner in which a given notification is being handled by the computing device. This may provide further information on the notification itself and allow efficient interaction in light of the knowledge thereby provided.

Abstract: A computing device is described that receives, from a source, a notification. The computing device determines content of the notification other than a quantity of notifications currently pending for the source of the notification and based at least in part on the content, determines a notification badge that reflects the content of the notification. The device displays the notification badge near a graphical element for launching the source of the notification. In reflecting content of the notification, the badge icon may facilitate efficient interaction with the computing device by resolving one or more ambiguities that would otherwise arise.

Abstract: A computing device is described that receives one or more notifications, categorizes, each of the one or more notifications as either: important and ongoing, person-to-person, or regular, by-the-way, and groups the one or more notifications according to category. The computing device receives a user input for displaying a notification area of a graphical user interface and displays the notification area such that: by-the-way notifications are displayed least prominent, regular notifications are displayed more prominent than the by-the-way notifications, person-to-person notifications are displayed more prominent in than regular notifications, and important and ongoing notifications are displayed more prominently than person-to-person notifications. Appropriate categorization of notifications may provide a user with information relating to underlying operation of the computing device, and may for example immediately indicate the significance of one or more notifications to that operation.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes determining, at a first mobile device associated with a first user, whether a second mobile device is within range for near field communication (NFC). When in range, the method includes receiving, at the first mobile device, first data and second data from the second mobile device via an NFC transmission, the first data being based on input from a second user associated with the second mobile device, the second data being metadata indicating a software application configured to process the first data. When the first mobile device does not have the software application indicated by the second data, the method includes retrieving, at the first mobile device, the software application via a network. The method also includes providing, at the first mobile device, the first data to the first user via the software application.

Abstract: A computer-implemented technique includes establishing, at a first computing device including one or more processors, a near field communication (NFC) link with a second computing device. The technique includes identifying, at the first computing device, an application having a foreground designation in an operating system of the first computing device, the identifying being performed upon establishment of the NFC link with the second computing device. The technique includes determining, at the first computing device, an identifier for the application, wherein the identifier uniquely identifies the application at a source external to the first computing device. The technique also includes transmitting, from the first computing device, the identifier for the application via the NFC link to the second computing device.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes determining, at a first mobile device associated with a first user, whether a second mobile device is within range for near field communication (NFC). When in range, the method includes receiving, at the first mobile device, first data and second data from the second mobile device via an NFC transmission, the first data being based on input from a second user associated with the second mobile device, the second data being metadata indicating a software application configured to process the first data. When the first mobile device does not have the software application indicated by the second data, the method includes retrieving, at the first mobile device, the software application via a network. The method also includes providing, at the first mobile device, the first data to the first user via the software application.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes determining, at a first mobile device associated with a first user, whether a second mobile device is within range for near field communication (NFC). When in range, the method includes receiving, at the first mobile device, first data and second data from the second mobile device via an NFC transmission, the first data being based on input from a second user associated with the second mobile device, the second data being metadata indicating a software application configured to process the first data. When the first mobile device does not have the software application indicated by the second data, the method includes retrieving, at the first mobile device, the software application via a network. The method also includes providing, at the first mobile device, the first data to the first user via the software application.

Abstract: A computing system includes at least one processor and at least one module operable by the at least one processor to receive location information associated with a computing device, including indications of locations at which the computing device was previously located and an indication of a current location of the computing device, determine, based at least in part on the location information, a predicted destination, determine, based at least in part on the current location of the computing device and the predicted destination, a predicted travel route, determine, based at least in part on an amount of traffic along the predicted travel route, a predicted arrival time, determine, based at least in part on the predicted destination, one or more other users, and send an indication of the predicted arrival time to one or more computing devices associated with the one or more other users.

Abstract: A computing device includes an image capture device, a display, and at least one processor. The image capture device is configured to capture a digital enrollment image of a face of an authorized user and a digital authentication image of a face of an authenticating user. The display is configured to present the enrollment and authentication images. The at least one processor is configured to automatically alter the authentication image for presentation by the display and compare the authentication image to the enrollment image to unlock the computing device for use by the authenticating user.

Abstract: Generally, aspects of the present disclosure are directed to techniques for determining a transport mechanism to transfer data peer-to-peer between computing devices. One or more alternative transport mechanisms supported by both a first computing device and a second computing device may be determined. The first computing device may determine whether to use one of near-field communication (NFC) and one of the one or more alternative transport mechanisms as a transport mechanism to transfer data between the first computing device and the second computing device based at least in part on at least one attribute of the data to be transferred. Data may be transferred between the first computing device and the second computing device using the transport mechanism.

Abstract: A computer-implemented technique includes establishing, at a first computing device including one or more processors, a near field communication (NFC) link with a second computing device. The technique includes identifying, at the first computing device, an application having a foreground designation in an operating system of the first computing device, the identifying being performed upon establishment of the NFC link with the second computing device. The technique includes determining, at the first computing device, an identifier for the application, wherein the identifier uniquely identifies the application at a source external to the first computing device. The technique also includes transmitting, from the first computing device, the identifier for the application via the NFC link to the second computing device.