Abstract: A wireless remote control device for a portable media device can include a touch-sensitive faceplate and a base section coupled to the faceplate such that the faceplate is rotatable relative to the base section. The base section can house electronic circuitry including a wireless transmitter that transmits signals to portable media device in response to a user touching the faceplate. Clamping feet can be attached to the base section, e.g., using hinges so that the wireless remote control device can be mountable on a vehicle steering wheel. The hinges can be movable in a lateral direction to vary the pitch between the clamping feet to accommodate various thicknesses of steering wheels. The clamping feet can be movable in an arcuate motion in order to clamp to or unclamp from the steering wheel.

Abstract: A storage medium is encoded with a video program created using authoring systems and methods. The processor-based authoring system removes an author from consideration of low-level configuration functions during authoring. The authoring system includes an authoring engine having an interactive graphical authoring interface, a data management engine, an emulator, a compiler, a multiplexer and a simulator. The authoring methods include the use of summary authoring data, a compiler that builds a skeleton-form layout structure comprising abstracted components that include movie chapters, menu buttons and command segements. The compiler resolves abstracted connections between combinations of the abstracted components to produce a video program. Instructions associated with the command segments and a configuration of the command segments within a video program video space and domain structure are abstracted the functional during authoring.

Abstract: Improved techniques that facilitate the use of podcasts are disclosed. The improved techniques can pertain to publishing, hosting, accessing, subscribing, managing, organizing, searching, browsing, transferring, and/or playing podcasts. According to one aspect, tags are embedded into syndication feeds (e.g., RSS feeds) that may be made available for distribution by an online media store to facilitate the management of podcasts. Such tags can include a block tag that may be embedded into a syndication feed to indicate whether the feed is to be blocked from being included in the online media store. According to another aspect, management of podcasts may be facilitated by other mechanisms. In accordance with one embodiment, a user may challenge the ownership of a podcast to block or remove a podcast from the online media store. In accordance with another embodiment, images may be stored to allow efficient retrieval of the corresponding episode(s) of a podcast.

Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) having functionality for inline customization is disclosed. A first set of user manipulable elements are displayed within a GUI object. Each of the user manipulable elements of the first set is selectable for display within the GUI object. A selection of a second set of user manipulable elements from among the first set of elements is received. Unselected elements of the first set of elements are removed from the GUI object. The second set of user manipulable elements are displayed within the GUI object. In one aspect, a first user input renders the first set of user manipulable elements selectable for display within the GUI object, while a second user input renders the second set of user manipulable elements unselectable. In various aspects, the GUI object may be a window, a menu bar, or an object that describes properties of a file.

Abstract: A technique for operating a wireless communication device includes assigning a reference signal bandwidth to a reference signal. Cyclic shift control bits (associated with the reference signal) are then allocated based on the assigned reference signal bandwidth. The allocated cyclic shift control bits specify a cyclic shift associated with the reference signal.

Abstract: A video conferencing system having video and/or audio capture device for video and audio communications is disclosed. The video and audio capture device may include one or more switches for securely activating and deactivating the device. Furthermore, an indicator may be hard-wired to the video and/or audio components so to provide a true indication of when these components are on and off. The video and audio capture device may also be integrated into a single unit.

Abstract: It has been discovered that identifying files introduced into a system, particularly those originating from external sources, as being subject to security evaluation and deferring the security evaluation until access or attempted access of the file reduces security vulnerabilities of a system. A file introduced into a processing system is tagged with a security tag if the file is introduced via a supervised introduction point and/or introduced by a supervised program. Upon access or attempted access of the tagged file, security evaluation is initiated on the file.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed for implementing an inter-processor communication channel including power-down functionality. In one embodiment, the apparatus may comprise a first integrated circuit (IC), a second IC coupled to the first IC via a communication interface, wherein the first IC is in one or more low power states and unable to monitor the communication interface. The apparatus may further comprise an inter-processor communication (IPC) channel coupled between the first and second ICs, wherein the IPC channel is separate from the communication interface and wherein the second IC generates at least one advisory signal to the first IC via the IPC channel.

Abstract: A portable electronic device may display one of a plurality of soft keyboards in a first display area and input characters in a second display area. The user may select a key on the soft keyboard, causing a plurality of objects corresponding to the plurality of soft keyboards to be displayed. The user may then select one of the objects, and the soft keyboard corresponding to the selected object is displayed and made operational. The soft keyboards corresponding to the objects not selected are not made operational.

Abstract: A video decoder includes a mode of operation for reverse playback that includes dividing a sequence of coded video data into groups of pictures (GOPs) and further subdividing the groups of pictures into a plurality of spans. GOPs extend in coding order from a first key frame to a terminal frame that precedes another key frame in coding order. Each span is processed in reverse coding order by decoding the first key frame and any reference frames that precede the currently processed span in coding order, selecting a plurality of frames from the currently processed span for decode and display and further selecting for decode but not display any reference frames from the currently processed span that were omitted by the first selection. All selected frames are decoded but only those marked for display are rendered at a display device. The method accommodates control parameters that define the number of spans selected from each GOP and the number of frames selected from each span for decoded and display.

Abstract: Described is a method for performing parallel operations in a computer system when one or more conditional dependencies may be present, where a given conditional dependency includes a dependency associated with at least two data elements based on a pair of conditions. During operation, a processor receives instructions for generating a vector of tracked positions of actual dependencies, where a given tracked position indicates the position of a given actual dependency, and where the given actual dependency occurs when the pair of condition matches one or more criteria. Then, the processor executes the instructions for generating the vector of tracked positions.

Abstract: Portable computer structures are provided. The portable computer structures may include hard drive mounting structures. The hard drive mounting structures may include elastomeric support members. Each elastomeric support member may have a relatively rigid inner portion. The inner portion may include a hole that receives a hard drive mounting pin. Each elastomeric support member may also have a relatively flexible outer portion. The relatively flexible outer portion may be mounted within an opening in a plastic support member. The rigid inner portion may have a square outline and may be mounted within a square opening in the flexible outer portion.

Abstract: An electrical plug and receptacle relying on magnetic force from an electromagnet to maintain contact are disclosed. The plug and receptacle can be used as part of a power adapter for connecting an electronic device, such as a laptop computer, to a power supply. The plug includes electrical contacts, which are preferably biased toward corresponding contacts on the receptacle. The plug and receptacle each have a magnetic element. The magnetic element on one of the plug or receptacle can be a magnet or ferromagnetic material. The magnetic element on the other of the plug or receptacle is an electromagnet. When the plug and receptacle are brought into proximity, the magnetic attraction between the electromagnet magnet and its complement, whether another magnet or a ferromagnetic material, maintains the contacts in an electrically conductive relationship.

Abstract: Systems and methods, including computer software for performing operations enable interleaving of charging operations in a charging pump. A first charge pump is charged to a predetermined level, and a first operation is performed using a charge stored in the first charge pump after it reaches the predetermined level. A second charge pump is charged during a time that overlaps with performing the first operation. A second operation is performed using a charge stored in the second charge pump as a result of charging the second charge pump.

Abstract: Techniques that facilitate pairing of wireless devices with other wireless devices are disclosed. According to one aspect, a pair of wireless devices can be paired for wireless data exchange using an available wired link. Advantageously, the wired link can be used to transport a pin code from one of the wireless devices to the other. Consequently, pairing of the wireless devices can be completed without necessitating user entry of a pin code so long as the wired link is available.

Abstract: Improved techniques and systems for utilizing a portable electronic device to monitor, process, present and manage data captured by a remote sensor during a physical activity session are disclosed. The portable electronic device offers a convenient user interface that can be visual and/or audio based customized to a particular application, user-friendly and/or dynamic. The portable electronic device can pertain to a personal media device and thus also provide media playback.

Abstract: This specification describes technologies relating to user interfaces for mobile devices. In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods that include the actions of receiving a touch input to access an application management interface on a mobile device; presenting an application management interface; receiving one or more inputs within the application management interface including an input to install a particular application; installing the selected application; and presenting the installed application.