Abstract: Systems and methods for generating and using performance metadata associated with a media piece (e.g., music or video) are provided. An electronic device can monitor a user's workout performance while playing a particular media piece. Workout performance may include the user's rate of motion and/or one or more physiological metrics of the user. Based on the user's workout performance, the electronic device can create new or modify existing performance metadata associated with the media piece. In some embodiments, the performance metadata based on a particular user's workout performance in response to a media piece may be combined with collective performance metadata based on the workout performances of multiple users in response to the media piece. The combined performance metadata may then be stored as new collective metadata. Accordingly, the collective performance metadata can represent the average response to a media piece over multiple users.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to sharing of user interface objects via a shared space in a data sharing application. In example embodiments, a data sharing application provides a shared space. A user command may then be received to transfer a respective UI object from each of a plurality of applications to the shared space. In response, each transferred UI object may be displayed within the shared space, such that each displayed UI object retains associated functionality from the corresponding application within the shared space. Finally, each UI object in the shared space may be shared with a plurality of users granted access to the shared space.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that allow steps to be counted in multiple pedometer modes. For example, a pedometer application on an electronic device can count steps in an ambient mode of operation and a session mode of operation. By maintaining separate counters for each pedometer mode and continuously monitoring the desired mode of operation, the pedometer application can accurately count the number of steps during a certain time period. In response to detecting a change in the desired mode, the pedometer application can seamlessly switch to the corresponding mode counter. In some embodiments, the pedometer application can display graphical representations of historical step information for one or more pedometer modes.

Abstract: Systems, methods and machine-readable media are disclosed for providing media pools in a communications network. For example, a media pool application on an electronic device can generate media pools (e.g., static media pools and temporary media pools) in a communications network. In addition, the media pool application can provide one or options for a user to manage the media pools. In some embodiments, the media pool application can provide one or more candidate media pools that a user may join. For example, the one or more candidate media pools can be generated based on metadata associated with media items that are located on one or more electronic devices in the communications network.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for monitoring a user's progress towards a workout goal spanning multiple workouts and providing a workout reminder based on the progress. An electronic device can monitor the user's progress towards the goal by monitoring the user's rate of motion and/or one or more physiological parameters of the user. Based on the user's progress towards the goal, the electronic device can provide a workout reminder. For example, if a user's progress is not sufficient to achieve the workout goal, the electronic device may provide a reminder to the user. The reminder can include a visual and/or audio alert to the user, and the reminder may interrupt other functions on the device.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to drag and drop application launches within a user interface (UI). In example embodiments, a command is received by which a UI object currently displayed in a window of a first application is dragged from the window and dropped onto a home screen of an operating system. A second application suitable for displaying an object type of the UI object is then identified. Finally, the second application is launched in a new window in response to the drop of the UI object on the home screen, such that the new window displays the UI object.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for monitoring a user's progress towards a workout goal spanning multiple workouts and providing a workout reminder based on the progress. An electronic device can monitor the user's progress towards the goal by monitoring the user's rate of motion and/or one or more physiological parameters of the user. Based on the user's progress towards the goal, the electronic device can provide a workout reminder. For example, if a user's progress is not sufficient to achieve the workout goal, the electronic device may provide a reminder to the user. The reminder can include a visual and/or audio alert to the user, and the reminder may interrupt other functions on the device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating and using performance metadata associated with a media piece (e.g., music or video) are provided. An electronic device can monitor a user's workout performance while playing a particular media piece. Workout performance may include the user's rate of motion and/or one or more physiological metrics of the user. Based on the user's workout performance, the electronic device can create new or modify existing performance metadata associated with the media piece. In some embodiments, the performance metadata based on a particular user's workout performance in response to a media piece may be combined with collective performance metadata based on the workout performances of multiple users in response to the media piece. The combined performance metadata may then be stored as new collective metadata Accordingly, the collective performance metadata can represent the average response to a media piece over multiple use.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating and using performance metadata associated with a media piece (e.g., music or video) are provided. An electronic device can monitor a user's workout performance while playing a particular media piece. Workout performance may include the user's rate of motion and/or one or more physiological metrics of the user. Based on the user's workout performance, the electronic device can create new or modify existing performance metadata associated with the media piece. In some embodiments, the performance metadata based on a particular user's workout performance in response to a media piece may be combined with collective performance metadata based on the workout performances of multiple users in response to the media piece. The combined performance metadata may then be stored as new collective metadata. Accordingly, the collective performance metadata can represent the average response to a media piece over multiple users.

Abstract: This is directed to obfuscating a display to secure the display of information provided to a user. An electronic device can modulate the display of information using different approaches, including for example by adding artifacts or changing the color, frequency or polarity of displayed information, thus obfuscating the display. To view the displayed information, a user can place a filter between the user and the display (e.g., as part of glasses) such that the filter can remove or undo the obfuscation. In some embodiments, the device can display different confidential information for several users simultaneously, where different obfuscation approaches are used for each user. This can allow several users to interact with the device simultaneously while ensuring that each user's information remains confidential.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an audio menu provided in an electronic device having no display. The electronic device can further include an input interface having only a single sensing element (e.g., a single button) for controlling audio playback of the device and for accessing and controlling the device audio menu. In response to a particular input detected by the single sensing element, the electronic device can enable an audio menu mode and play back audio clips associated with different menu options. The user can provide selection instructions using the single sensing element during the playback of an audio clip to select the menu option associated with the played back audio clip. In some embodiments, the audio menu can be multi-dimensional (e.g., the device plays back audio clips for sub-options in response to a selection of a menu option). Suitable menu options can include, for example, groupings of audio (e.g., playlists), options to toggle (e.g.

Abstract: This is directed to recommending media items of a user's media library. In particular, this is directed to transferring a portion of the user's media library to an electronic device so that the user may discover the portion of the media library. The library can recommend particular media items to the user using any suitable approach, including for example based on one or more preference profiles. The user can accept or reject recommended media items as they are played back to further adjust the user's preference profile, and to revise the selection of recommended media items stored on the device.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to drag and drop application launches within a user interface (UI). In example embodiments, a command is received by which a UI object currently displayed in a window of a first application is dragged from the window and dropped onto a home screen of an operating system. A second application suitable for displaying an object type of the UI object is then identified. Finally, the second application is launched in a new window in response to the drop of the UI object on the home screen, such that the new window displays the UI object.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to drag and drop object searches within a user interface (UI) of a computing device. In example embodiments, a command is received in which a user drags a UI object from an application and drops it onto an area within the UI that is assigned to a search function. In response, a search is performed using the search function based on at least one metadata field associated with the UI object, where the metadata fields used for the search are selected based on an object type of the UI object. Finally, the results of the search are displayed within the UI.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to cross-application transfers of user interface (UI) objects. In example embodiments, a user command to provide a UI object from a first application to a second application is received. In response, a data object is created that includes metadata describing the UI object and a reference to code that executes functionality of the UI object. The UI object is then displayed within the second application and the code referenced in the data object is executed to enable the functionality of the UI object within the second application.

Abstract: Algorithms for synthesizing speech used to identify media assets are provided. Speech may be selectively synthesized form text strings associated with media assets. A text string may be normalized and its native language determined for obtaining a target phoneme for providing human-sounding speech in a language (e.g., dialect or accent) that is familiar to a user. The algorithms may be implemented on a system including several dedicated render engines. The system may be part of a back end coupled to a front end including storage for media assets and associated synthesized speech, and a request processor for receiving and processing requests that result in providing the synthesized speech. The front end may communicate media assets and associated synthesized speech content over a network to host devices coupled to portable electronic devices on which the media assets and synthesized speech are played back.

Abstract: Algorithms for synthesizing speech used to identify media assets are provided. Speech may be selectively synthesized form text strings associated with media assets. A text string may be normalized and its native language determined for obtaining a target phoneme for providing human-sounding speech in a language (e.g., dialect or accent) that is familiar to a user. The algorithms may be implemented on a system including several dedicated render engines. The system may be part of a back end coupled to a front end including storage for media assets and associated synthesized speech, and a request processor for receiving and processing requests that result in providing the synthesized speech. The front end may communicate media assets and associated synthesized speech content over a network to host devices coupled to portable electronic devices on which the media assets and synthesized speech are played back.

Abstract: This is directed to dynamically adjusting a display based on the progress of an event monitored by an electronic device. In particular, this is directed to dynamically adjusting workout information displayed as a user nears the end of a workout. In some cases, an electronic device can display information corresponding to an event. The user may wish to see specific event information to monitor the user's performance in the event. As the event nears its completion, however, the user may wish to view different information related to the user's performance. The electronic device can dynamically adjust the display to replace the initially displayed information with the different information without requiring a user input. This may be particularly valuable when a user is running and has a limited ability to interact with the device during the run.

Abstract: This is directed to obfuscating a display to secure the display of information provided to a user. An electronic device can modulate the display of information using different approaches, including for example by adding artifacts or changing the color, frequency or polarity of displayed information, thus obfuscating the display. To view the displayed information, a user can place a filter between the user and the display (e.g., as part of glasses) such that the filter can remove or undo the obfuscation. In some embodiments, the device can display different confidential information for several users simultaneously, where different obfuscation approaches are used for each user. This can allow several users to interact with the device simultaneously while ensuring that each user's information remains confidential.

Abstract: This invention is directed to playing back streamed media items using an electronic device. In particular, this is directed to locally storing one or more clips corresponding to a media item such that the clips can be immediately played back in response to a user request to play back the media item. While the clips are played back, the electronic device can retrieve the remaining segments of the media item from the user's media library as a media stream over a communications network. Once the playback of the clip is complete, the electronic device can seamlessly switch playback to the media stream received from the user's library. The electronic device can authenticate with the remote library using any suitable approach, including for example one or more passwords and tokens.