Abstract: Method and systems are provided for initiating communication with a social networking server maintaining user information corresponding to a user, the user information for the user comprising media preferences for the user, one or more connections associated with the user, and media preferences for each of the one or more connections, retrieving at least a portion of the user information for the user from the social networking server and generating a viewing recommendation for the user at least in part based on at least one of the media preferences of the user, and the media preferences of the one or more connections, the viewing recommendation comprising one or more multi-media content.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided in establishing interchanges between consumer electronic (CE) devices and networking services. Some of these embodiments establish an intermediate application programming interface (API) between a plurality of remote CE devices and one or more social networking APIs each corresponding to a social networking service; translate, through an interchange service, communications between the intermediate API and the one or more social networking APIs; identify modifications to a first social networking API; implement a first update to the interchange service such that translations provided by the updated interchange service between the intermediate API and the first social networking API are consistent with the modifications to the first social networking API; and avoid updating at each of the plurality of CE devices relative to the modifications to the first social networking API.

Abstract: An apparatus includes at least one processor, at least one display controlled by the processor, and at least one wireless transceiver communicating with the processor. The processor is configured to send, to at least one recipient, a message including data representing at least one non-alphanumeric who icon representing a person. The message also includes data representing at least one non-alphanumeric what icon representing an event and/or activity, as well as at least one non-alphanumeric when icon representing a time associated with the event and/or activity.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting a user operating a first client device at an intermediary server communicatively coupled to one or more client devices including the first client device and further communicatively coupled to one or more other intermediary servers each communicatively coupled with one or more other client devices, establishing communication with at least one social networking server maintaining information corresponding to the user comprising one or more of user preferences, a plurality of user connections, and user connection preferences corresponding to each of the plurality of user connections, querying the at least one social networking server for the information, receiving the information and generating a local viewing social network for the user comprising generating a user profile according to the information, detecting one or more local connections and establishing direct communication between the user and at least one of the one or more local connections.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided in establishing interchanges between consumer electronic (CE) devices and networking services. Some of these embodiments establish an intermediate application programming interface (API) between a plurality of remote CE devices and one or more social networking APIs each corresponding to a social networking service; translate, through an interchange service, communications between the intermediate API and the one or more social networking APIs; identify modifications to a first social networking API; implement a first update to the interchange service such that translations provided by the updated interchange service between the intermediate API and the first social networking API are consistent with the modifications to the first social networking API; and avoid updating at each of the plurality of CE devices relative to the modifications to the first social networking API.

Abstract: Method and systems are provided for initiating communication with a social networking server maintaining user information corresponding to a user, the user information for the user comprising media preferences for the user, one or more connections associated with the user, and media preferences for each of the one or more connections, retrieving at least a portion of the user information for the user from the social networking server and generating a viewing recommendation for the user at least in part based on at least one of the media preferences of the user, and the media preferences of the one or more connections, the viewing recommendation comprising one or more multi-media content.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting a user operating a first client device at an intermediary server communicatively coupled to one or more client devices including the first client device and further communicatively coupled to one or more other intermediary servers each communicatively coupled with one or more other client devices, establishing communication with at least one social networking server maintaining information corresponding to the user comprising one or more of user preferences, a plurality of user connections, and user connection preferences corresponding to each of the plurality of user connections, querying the at least one social networking server for the information, receiving the information and generating a local viewing social network for the user comprising generating a user profile according to the information, detecting one or more local connections and establishing direct communication between the user and at least one of the one or more local connections.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for displaying image data with memory reduction. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a first image by the device, displaying the first image on a display of the device and scaling image data of the first image. The device may scale image data to generate scaled image data having reduced pixel data with respect to the first image. The method may also include receiving a second image by the device, generating composite image data based on the scaled image data of the first image and image data of the second image, and displaying the composite image data on the display of the device. The second image may then be displayed an the display of the device.

Abstract: Enhanced seek functionality is provided during media content playback when a user desires to move forward or backward to a different playback position within a digital media presentation. In response to a user seek command, the current seek position may be moved forward or backward at a seek speed that is a predefined multiple of the standard playback speed. After a predetermined number of subsequent seek commands has been provided, any seek command provided thereafter may cause the current seek position to move by a predetermined percentage of the total duration of the digital media presentation. In one embodiment, additional seek commands thereafter may similarly result in the current seek position again being moved forward or backward by the predetermined percentage of the total duration of the digital media presentation.