Abstract: A computing device can be running a current context and displaying a current interface for the current context when a communication is received on the device. The device can display an alert on a portion of a display screen in conjunction with the current interface being displayed. The alert can include information about the communication, which can allow a user to better determine whether or not the communication requires immediate attention. If the user ignores the alert, it will disappear in a specified amount of time. If the user chooses to deal with the communication, he/she can tap on the alert to bring up an overlay interface for replying to the communication without having to switch to another application specifically configured for handling (e.g., viewing, replying to) the communication. After the user replies to the communication using the overlay interface, he/she can be automatically brought back to the current interface.

Abstract: User devices are used to access data ranging from calendar items to Internet searches. A unified search interface provided by a unified search module enables a user of the user device to search data associated with one or more applications across applications on the user device as well as data in remote locations, such as on a server via a network connection. The unified search module may be provided as part of the operating system module, and accessible without special configuration of the applications.

Abstract: A user interface on a computing device can utilize a calendar bar with various portions of the interface, such as a lock screen and home or application screens. The calendar bar can enable the user to view upcoming appointments and determine how much the user has before those appointments. The user can tilt the device or select an appointment to obtain additional information. If the device is unlocked or otherwise accessible, the user can also navigate back and forth between a calendar display and other information, such as past or present actions with respect to the device, and can scroll back in forth in time using any of these displayed portions.

Abstract: A computing device can be running a current context and displaying a current interface for the current context when a communication is received on the device. The device can display an alert on a portion of a display screen in conjunction with the current interface being displayed. The alert can include information about the communication, which can allow a user to better determine whether or not the communication requires immediate attention. If the user ignores the alert, it will disappear in a specified amount of time. If the user chooses to deal with the communication, he/she can tap on the alert to bring up an overlay interface for replying to the communication without having to switch to another application specifically configured for handling (e.g., viewing, replying to) the communication. After the user replies to the communication using the overlay interface, he/she can be automatically brought back to the current interface.

Abstract: A user interface (UI) enables a user to access a set of options relating to an element of the UI by contacting a region of a touchscreen, or hovering a feature over the region, associated with that element. Upon contacting or hovering for at least a determined period of time, an arranged set of options is displayed and the user can swipe or move the feature in a specified direction to select a specific option. The options can be the same for each instance of a type of item. When a user learns the direction of one of these options, the user does not have to contact or hover long enough to bring up the menu, but can contact or hover long enough to indicate the element of interest and then perform the appropriate motion, which can cause the action to be performed without first displaying the menu.

Abstract: A computing device can be running a current context and displaying a current interface for the current context when a communication is received on the device. The device can display an alert on a portion of a display screen in conjunction with the current interface being displayed. The alert can include information about the communication, which can allow a user to better determine whether or not the communication requires immediate attention. If the user ignores the alert, it will disappear in a specified amount of time. If the user chooses to deal with the communication, he/she can tap on the alert to bring up an overlay interface for replying to the communication without having to switch to another application specifically configured for handling (e.g., viewing, replying to) the communication. After the user replies to the communication using the overlay interface, he/she can be automatically brought back to the current interface.

Abstract: A computing device can be running a current context and displaying a current interface for the current context when a communication is received on the device. The device can display an alert on a portion of a display screen in conjunction with the current interface being displayed. The alert can include information about the communication, which can allow a user to better determine whether or not the communication requires immediate attention. If the user ignores the alert, it will disappear in a specified amount of time. If the user chooses to deal with the communication, he/she can tap on the alert to bring up an overlay interface for replying to the communication without having to switch to another application specifically configured for handling (e.g., viewing, replying to) the communication. After the user replies to the communication using the overlay interface, he/she can be automatically brought back to the current interface.

Abstract: A computing device can be running a current context and displaying a current interface for the current context when a communication is received on the device. The device can display an alert on a portion of a display screen in conjunction with the current interface being displayed. The alert can include information about the communication, which can allow a user to better determine whether or not the communication requires immediate attention. If the user ignores the alert, it will disappear in a specified amount of time. If the user chooses to deal with the communication, he/she can tap on the alert to bring up an overlay interface for replying to the communication without having to switch to another application specifically configured for handling (e.g., viewing, replying to) the communication. After the user replies to the communication using the overlay interface, he/she can be automatically brought back to the current interface.

Abstract: A user interface (UI) enables a user to access a set of options relating to an element of the UI by contacting a region of a touchscreen, or hovering a feature over the region, associated with that element. Upon contacting or hovering for at least a determined period of time, an arranged set of options is displayed and the user can swipe or move the feature in a specified direction to select a specific option. The options can be the same for each instance of a type of item. When a user learns the direction of one of these options, the user does not have to contact or hover long enough to bring up the menu, but can contact or hover long enough to indicate the element of interest and then perform the appropriate motion, which can cause the action to be performed without first displaying the menu.

Abstract: A computing device can be running a current context and displaying a current interface for the current context when a communication is received on the device. The device can display an alert on a portion of a display screen in conjunction with the current interface being displayed. The alert can include information about the communication, which can allow a user to better determine whether or not the communication requires immediate attention. If the user ignores the alert, it will disappear in a specified amount of time. If the user chooses to deal with the communication, he/she can tap on the alert to bring up an overlay interface for replying to the communication without having to switch to another application specifically configured for handling (e.g., viewing, replying to) the communication. After the user replies to the communication using the overlay interface, he/she can be automatically brought back to the current interface.

Abstract: A user interface (UI) enables a user to access a set of options relating to an element of the UI by contacting a region of a touchscreen, or hovering a feature over the region, associated with that element. Upon contacting or hovering for at least a determined period of time, an arranged set of options is displayed and the user can swipe or move the feature in a specified direction to select a specific option. The options can be the same for each instance of a type of item. When a user learns the direction of one of these options, the user does not have to contact or hover long enough to bring up the menu, but can contact or hover long enough to indicate the element of interest and then perform the appropriate motion, which can cause the action to be performed without first displaying the menu.

Abstract: A computing device can be running a current context and displaying a current interface for the current context when a communication is received on the device. The device can display an alert on a portion of a display screen in conjunction with the current interface being displayed. The alert can include information about the communication, which can allow a user to better determine whether or not the communication requires immediate attention. If the user ignores the alert, it will disappear in a specified amount of time. If the user chooses to deal with the communication, he/she can tap on the alert to bring up an overlay interface for replying to the communication without having to switch to another application specifically configured for handling (e.g., viewing, replying to) the communication. After the user replies to the communication using the overlay interface, he/she can be automatically brought back to the current interface.

Abstract: A computing device can be running a current context and displaying a current interface for the current context when a communication is received on the device. The device can display an alert on a portion of a display screen in conjunction with the current interface being displayed. The alert can include information about the communication, which can allow a user to better determine whether or not the communication requires immediate attention. If the user ignores the alert, it will disappear in a specified amount of time. If the user chooses to deal with the communication, he/she can tap on the alert to bring up an overlay interface for replying to the communication without having to switch to another application specifically configured for handling (e.g., viewing, replying to) the communication. After the user replies to the communication using the overlay interface, he/she can be automatically brought back to the current interface.

Abstract: A device can display content on a page associated with a dimension. A user can adjust an orientation of the device to adjust a displayed orientation of the page, enabling pages for additional dimensions to be displayed. A user can select one of these dimensions, and adjust an orientation of the device to enable the user to access content for the selected dimension. The change in orientation can be a tilt or flick of the device in a first direction to select a dimension, and then a user could tilt or flick the device in another direction to view pages, sub-dimensions, or other groupings of content among that dimension. Such an approach can enable a user to quickly locate content corresponding to a sub-dimension without having to scroll down a long page of content or otherwise manually navigate to specific content.

Abstract: A user interface on a computing device can utilize a calendar bar with various portions of the interface, such as a lock screen and home or application screens. The calendar bar can enable the user to view upcoming appointments and determine how much the user has before those appointments. The user can tilt the device or select an appointment to obtain additional information. If the device is unlocked or otherwise accessible, the user can also navigate back and forth between a calendar display and other information, such as past or present actions with respect to the device, and can scroll back in forth in time using any of these displayed portions.

Abstract: A user interface on a computing device can utilize a calendar bar with various portions of the interface, such as a lock screen and home or application screens. The calendar bar can enable the user to view upcoming appointments and determine how much the user has before those appointments. The user can tilt the device or select an appointment to obtain additional information. If the device is unlocked or otherwise accessible, the user can also navigate back and forth between a calendar display and other information, such as past or present actions with respect to the device, and can scroll back in forth in time using any of these displayed portions.

Abstract: A computing device can be running a current context and displaying a current interface for the current context when a communication is received on the device. The device can display an alert on a portion of a display screen in conjunction with the current interface being displayed. The alert can include information about the communication, which can allow a user to better determine whether or not the communication requires immediate attention. If the user ignores the alert, it will disappear in a specified amount of time. If the user chooses to deal with the communication, he/she can tap on the alert to bring up an overlay interface for replying to the communication without having to switch to another application specifically configured for handling (e.g., viewing, replying to) the communication. After the user replies to the communication using the overlay interface, he/she can be automatically brought back to the current interface.

Abstract: A computing device can be running a current context and displaying a current interface for the current context when a communication is received on the device. The device can display an alert on a portion of a display screen in conjunction with the current interface being displayed. The alert can include information about the communication, which can allow a user to better determine whether or not the communication requires immediate attention. If the user ignores the alert, it will disappear in a specified amount of time. If the user chooses to deal with the communication, he/she can tap on the alert to bring up an overlay interface for replying to the communication without having to switch to another application specifically configured for handling (e.g., viewing, replying to) the communication. After the user replies to the communication using the overlay interface, he/she can be automatically brought back to the current interface.

Abstract: A graphical user interface can provide a three-dimensional appearance that is consistent for changes in a current location or point of view of a user. The user's point of view can be determined by analyzing images showing a current relative location of the user with respect to the device, and motion sensors operable to provide information about changes in orientation or position of the device. In addition to point of view updates, the interface can render active elements such that the elements appear to be closer to an outer surface of the display element. Such rendering can enable the user to easily determine which elements are active, such as may be used to provide text input to the device.

Abstract: Graphical elements displayed on a two-dimensional display screen have an appearance that is consistent with a three-dimensional view of those elements over a range of viewing angles. A current viewing angle of a user is determined, and a view of an element to be rendered can be determined that includes an orientation appropriate for the current viewing angle. An image manipulation process is applied in order to enable the element to have the determined view from the current viewing angle of the user, taking into account the angle of the display screen with respect to the user. In at least some embodiments, an anamorphic skewing process can be used to correlate locations on the display screen with apparent positions of those locations at the current viewing angle, and cause the graphical elements to be rendered on the display screen with a skew or distortion based on the correlated locations.