Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing a drag and drop discovery mode in electronic touch sensitive devices. In response to a user dragging and dropping a content icon into a search box, the content discovery mode may perform a search for content similar to that deposited into the search box. The search box may increase in size or change appearance while receiving the content icon. The results of such a search may be displayed to the user with a content discovery animation that shows similar content icons emerging from the search box and populating the device screen. The animation may be accompanied by sound effects. The newly discovered content may be randomly scattered over a portion of the screen, or they may be bundled into groups based on similar characteristics, and each group may be accompanied by a header notifying the user of the characteristics of the group.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing a drag and drop discovery mode in electronic touch sensitive devices. In response to a user dragging and dropping a content icon into a search box, the content discovery mode may perform a search for content similar to that deposited into the search box. The search box may increase in size or change appearance while receiving the content icon. The results of such a search may be displayed to the user with a content discovery animation that shows similar content icons emerging from the search box and populating the device screen. The animation may be accompanied by sound effects. The newly discovered content may be randomly scattered over a portion of the screen, or they may be bundled into groups based on similar characteristics, and each group may be accompanied by a header notifying the user of the characteristics of the group.

Abstract: In-store promotion techniques for alerting an electronic device user of local in-store promotional events are disclosed. The in-store promotion mode may determine the user's taste profile based on the user's shopping cart, wish list, search history, purchase history, content ratings, favorite authors, and/or event preferences. A promotion notification relating to promotions matching the user's taste profile may be displayed to the user, for example, with a pop-up window, a message on the user's welcome screen or home page, or other notification displayed to the user on the device screen. The promotion notifications may be limited to promotional events taking place at the user's local retail store, and the user may designate the local retail store. The promotion notification may be a generic message notifying the user of the existence of a promotion, and upon visiting the retail store a welcome message including the promotion details may be displayed on the device.

Abstract: In-store sampling techniques using short-range wireless communication are disclosed. An NFC-enabled device may transmit an NFC signal that can automatically power an NFC tag located on an item in a store and read information stored on the tag. The information may be associated with digital content relating to the item containing the tag, and the NFC-enabled device may receive in-store access to that digital content. The item in the store may be a book and the digital content may be an electronic copy of the book, for example. The digital content may be added to the device's shopping bag or wish list and the content may be downloaded or streamed to the device through a store's local network. The in-store sampling techniques may allow consumption of the digital content while connected to the store's network, and upon leaving the store access to the digital content is removed from the device.