Abstract: In a virtual reality system, a user may travel from a first virtual location to a second virtual location. During travel, a dynamic virtual animation may be displayed within a portal in the field of view by the user, allowing the user to experience a sensation of traveling from the first virtual location to the second virtual location. A fixed feature may be displayed in the field of view, surrounding the portal. The arrangement and position of the fixed feature may remain fixed while the dynamic virtual animation is displayed within the portal, to provide a stable frame of reference while experiencing the sensation of traveling. The stable frame of reference provided by the fixed feature may mitigate a feeling of disorientation and/or motion sickness during travel due to a mismatch between the dynamic visual experience and the stationary physical experience.

Abstract: In a system for moving and scaling in a virtual reality environment, a user may a move from a first virtual position in the virtual environment toward a selected feature at a second virtual position in the virtual environment. While moving from the first position toward the second position, a user's scale, or perspective, relative to the user's surroundings in the virtual environment, may be adjusted via manipulation of a user interface provided on a handheld electronic device.

Abstract: This application discloses a method implemented on a casting device to control display of media content on an output device coupled to the casting device. After it is determines that the output device operates at an inactive state, the casting device detects a client device associated with the casting device, and determines a proximity of the client device, including determining whether the client device is within a proximity threshold from the casting device. In accordance with a determination that the client device is within the proximity threshold from the casting device, the casting device controls the output device to change from the inactive state to an active state, and receives media content from one or more content sources for display on the output device.

Abstract: A method is implemented on a casting device to enable a follow-me mode in which the casting device controls display of media content on an output device coupled to the casting device. The casting device detects a client device associated with the casting device, and determines a proximity of the client device. In accordance with a determination that the client device is within a proximity threshold of the casting device, the casting device receives content information associated with content recently accessed by the client device, obtains the content from a content source in accordance with the content information, and outputs the obtained content to an output device in accordance with the content information.

Abstract: In a system for teleporting and scaling in a virtual reality environment, a user may teleport from a first virtual location, being experienced at a first scale, to a second virtual location, to be experienced at a second scale. The user may select the new, second virtual location and the new, second scale with a single external input via a handheld electronic device so that, upon release of a triggering action of the electronic device, the user may teleport to the newly selected second virtual location at the newly selected scale.

Abstract: A system and method of operating an audio visual system generating an immersive virtual experience may detect when a user approaches a physical boundary of a real world space, and may generate an alert indicating the proximity of the physical boundary. Activity in and interaction with the immersive virtual experience may be temporarily paused as the user completes a physical re-orientation in the real world space in response to the alert. Upon detection of completion of the physical re-orientation in the real world space, activity in and interaction with the immersive virtual experience may resume at the point at which activity was temporarily paused. This may provide for relatively continuous movement in the immersive virtual experience within the boundaries of the real world space.

Abstract: In one general aspect, a method can include receiving, by a computing device, a selection of a group of devices that receive content under control of the computing device, and identifying a first device and a second device included in the group of devices. The computing device and each device included in the group of devices can be connected to a network. The first and second devices can be available to receive content, under the control of the computing device, from a server connected to the network that is remote from the group of devices and the computing device. The method can include providing an indication that the content be provided to the first device by the server and providing an indication that at least a portion of the content be provided to the second device synchronously with the providing of the content to the first device.

Abstract: In one general aspect, a method can include setting an alarm on a computing device. The setting can include setting a predetermined time to trigger the alarm, indicating a target application to launch when the alarm is triggered, and identifying content for access by the target application when the target application is launched. The method can include launching the target application based on the triggering of the alarm, identifying an external device for execution of the identified content, and providing the identified content for execution on the external device.

Abstract: An approach is provided for providing uniform content management for a user equipment. A uniform content management platform determines new content from a plurality of content of different categories. The uniform content management platform further initiates presentation of the new content via a graphical user interface that includes: a dashboard providing a layout of the new content, a content manager that is invoked upon selection of a particular one of the new content for managing a group of content of a common category, and a content editor that is invoked upon selection of one of the content in the group for editing the selected content.