Abstract: Described is a technology by which machines such as gaming (including media) systems are configured to synchronize streaming video between peers over a network, including participants communicating via voice or video chat. The video synchronization may include “full” synchronization that operates to synchronize streaming video that is currently unsynchronized video, by causing participants to stop and buffer, and resume playing from a specified position in the stream. Video synchronization also may include “fast” synchronization that operates to re-synchronize video that has begun to drift out of synchronization, such as by briefly pausing any stream that has gotten ahead of others. Also described is replicating the activation of a video transport control (e.g., pause, fast forward, rewind, skip, and the like) that occurs on one machine to other machines, such that video players behave as if there is a common remote control among the peer systems.

Abstract: Described is a technology by which machines such as gaming (including media) systems are configured to synchronize streaming video between peers over a network, including participants communicating via voice or video chat. The video synchronization may include “full” synchronization that operates to synchronize streaming video that is currently unsynchronized video, by causing participants to stop and buffer, and resume playing from a specified position in the stream. Video synchronization also may include “fast” synchronization that operates to re-synchronize video that has begun to drift out of synchronization, such as by briefly pausing any stream that has gotten ahead of others. Also described is replicating the activation of a video transport control (e.g., pause, fast forward, rewind, skip, and the like) that occurs on one machine to other machines, such that video players behave as if there is a common remote control among the peer systems.

Abstract: Key-limited use applications are maintained at a central service where the central service can receive requests from a remote computing device for access to the key-limited use applications. The key-limited use applications include publicly available portions and a locked portions accessible with a key. The central service can provide a key to the remote computing device associated with a key-limited use application for complete access. The key can be stored in a memory device associated with the remote computing device. A digital signature can be assigned to the key to prevent operation of the key in a second computing device. Unauthorized or unlicensed computing devices are prevented from using the applications.