Abstract: A computer-implemented matching service matches users to other users, and/or to user communities, based at least in part on a computer analysis of event data reflective of user behaviors. The event data may, for example, evidence user affinities for particular items represented in an electronic catalog, such as book titles, music titles, movie titles, and/or other types of items that tend to reflect the traits of users. Event data reflective of other types of user actions, such as item-detail-page viewing events, browse node visits, search query submissions, and/or web browsing patterns may additionally or alternatively be considered. By taking such event data into consideration, the matching service reduces the burden on users to explicitly supply personal profile information, and reduces poor results caused by exaggerations and other inaccuracies in such profile information.

Abstract: Techniques are described for providing users with access to computer networks, such as to enable users to interact with a remote configurable network service in order to create and configure computer networks that are provided by the configurable network service for use by the users. Computer networks provided by the configurable network service may be configured to be private computer networks that are accessible only by the users who create them, and may each be created and configured by a client of the configurable network service to be an extension to an existing computer network of the client, such as a private computer network extension to an existing private computer network of the client. If so, secure private access between an existing computer network and new computer network extension that is being provided may be enabled using one or more VPN connections or other private access mechanisms.

Abstract: A technology is described for providing a nondeterministic value to computing instances executing an application as part of a high availability system. An example method may include receiving a request for a nondeterministic value at a physical host that hosts a first computing instance, where the request may be for an application executing on the first computing instance. A nondeterministic value may be obtained from a nondeterministic value source located on the physical host and provided to the application executing on the first computing instance. A second request from a second computing instance may be received at the physical host, where the second request may be associated with a copy of the application executing on the second computing instance. The nondeterministic value may then be identified in the computer memory of the physical host and provided to the second computing instance over a computer network.

Abstract: A node of a storage service is selected as a coordinator of a distributed transaction involving multiple page-level modifications. The coordinator identifies other nodes as members of a node chain collectively storing physical data pages at which proposed modifications are to be performed, including a decider node responsible for a decision to commit the transaction. The coordinator generates a transaction preparation message comprising a representation of an order of respective commit decisions associated with the proposed modifications, and transmits the message to a selected node of the chain for a sequential propagation along the chain. Each chain node performs a local commit analysis for its changes and stores a record of its intent to commit. If a decision to commit is reached at the decider, the proposed modifications are completed.

Abstract: A service provider manages access control to multiple services through an authentication system. One or more services are able to fulfill requests at least in part by submitting requests to other services of the service provider. Such a service is able to obtain, from the authentication system, information that can be passed on to one or more other services to enable the one or more other services to determine request validity without having to contact the authentication system. The information may include, for example, one or more responses that the one or more other services would have received had the one or more services contacted the authentication system themselves.

Abstract: A cooling system for a computer room includes a forced air system. The forced air system moves cooling air through computers in one or more rack systems in the computer room. Stacks are coupled between the rack systems and the ceiling of the computer room. Each stack may include a flexible portion between an inlet portion and an exit portion of the stack. The stacks direct cooling air exiting from exit ports on the rack systems to openings in the ceiling.

Abstract: A media player user interface on behalf of a user associated with a user account is generated that has a social network module that includes music updates associated with other users to which the user is linked. Media player actions associated with the user occurring in the media player user interface are also captured, updates are generated and provided to social network modules in a media player user interface associated with other linked users.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating color names for colors corresponding to images and/or palettes. A color image is obtained, and one or more color palettes corresponding to the color image are identified. The color palette may be generated based on palette generation criteria, which may facilitate or control a palette generation process. Illustratively, the palette generation process may include image pre-processing, color distribution generation, representative color identification, palette candidate generation, and palette determination. A color name for each color identified in the color palette and/or the color image can be identified based at least in part on color name popularity information. Color name popularity information may be identified from color name-related voting results provided by a social network site.

Abstract: A database system may include a database service and a separate distributed storage service. The database service (or a database engine head node thereof) may be responsible for query parsing, optimization, and execution, transactionality, and consistency, while the storage service may be responsible for generating data pages from redo log records and for durability of those data pages. For example, in response to a write request directed to a particular data page, the database engine head node may generate a redo log record and send it, but not the data page, to a storage service node. The storage service node may store the redo log record and return a write acknowledgement to the database service prior to applying the redo log record. The server node may apply the redo log record and other redo log records to a previously stored version of the data page to create a current version.

Abstract: An architecture for selecting and providing content items to a device includes cloud-based resources of a device management service and one or more content sources. The device is configured to receive instructions and a portion of the content item from the device management service. The instructions direct the device to obtain and buffer the content item from the content source, while simultaneously outputting the portion of the content item to a user.

Abstract: An electrowetting display device includes a black matrix that includes a plurality of openings corresponding to pixels, respectively, a first extension portion extending in a driving direction of an electrowetting layer, the driving direction being a direction in which motion of the electrowetting layer is induced when a voltage difference is applied between a common electrode and a pixel electrode, and a partition wall that partitions the pixels. The first extension portion includes first and second areas respectively extending in opposite directions to each other and a third area having a width substantially the same as a width of the partition wall. The first area has a width less than about half of a first length corresponding to a length extending between both sides of each pixel in the driving direction, and the second area has a width less than the width of the first area.

Abstract: A component executing within a programmable execution system (PES) receives a request to launch a virtual machine instance, such as from a customer of the PES. In response to receiving such a request, the component computes an expected cost of executing the virtual machine instance over its lifetime based upon one or more cost factors. The component also computes an expected value of executing the virtual machine instance over its lifetime based upon one or more value factors. Based upon the computed expected cost and the computed expected value associated with executing the virtual machine instance, the component determines whether or not to launch the virtual machine instance. The component might utilize a similar mechanism to determine whether to instantiate other types of computing resources.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable medium for managing CDN service providers are provided. A network storage provider storing one or more resources on behalf of a content provider obtains client computing device requests for content. The network storage provider processes the client computing device requests and determines whether a subsequent request for the resource should be directed to a CDN service provider as a function of the updated or processed by the network storage provider storage component.

Abstract: An electrowetting element includes a surface having a display area; a first fluid and a second fluid immiscible with the first fluid; and a non-switchable color filter for further determining the display effect. A configuration of the first and second fluids is switchable, using an applied voltage, to determine a size of area that the first and second fluids adjoin the display area, which thereby determines a display effect provided by the electrowetting element. An extent of the non-switchable color filter in a plane parallel to a plane of the display area is smaller than the display area.

Abstract: Functionality is disclosed herein for providing an asynchronous processing service for processing storage mapping information. The asynchronous processing service is configured to receive a storage request including identification of a storage object and a description of a storage operation, perform the storage operation for the storage object in response to receiving the storage request, and asynchronously update mapping information for the performed storage operation.

Abstract: A server includes an input node to receive video streams forming a panoramic video. A module forms a suggested field of view in the panoramic video. An output node sends the suggested field of view to a client device.

Abstract: A technology is described for determining an available screen area for a computing device. An example method may include referencing the dimensions of a root view associated with an application in order to determine an available screen area for a device display. The available screen area may be a portion of the device display that is not occupied by an operating system GUI (Graphical User Interface). A child view attribute associated with a child view descending from the root view may include the dimensions of the root view. The child view attribute may be referenced by an associated application component to obtain the dimensions of the root view and display properties of the application component may be calculated based at least in part on the dimensions of the root view.

Abstract: A method of rotating an inventory holder includes moving an inventory holder towards a rotation area along a straight segment of a path with a first face of the inventory holder facing a first direction. The rotation area includes a portion of a workspace designated for rotation of inventory holders. The method further includes moving the inventory holder into the rotation area along a first arced segment with an orientation of the first face perpendicular to the first arced segment. The method additionally includes executing a rotation maneuver within the rotation area and moving the inventory holder out of the rotation area along a second arced segment with a second face facing the first direction.