Abstract: The subject disclosure is directed towards a technology in which a mobile device such as a phone automatically changes its lock wallpaper content (e.g., an image or video) that appears when the device is in its lock state. An API or the like allows information to be received from an application or service according to which the content is changed, including obtaining the content as needed. The lock wallpaper content may change in response to an automatic change event, and may correspond to a current device context. For example, lock wallpaper content may be displayed based upon a currently playing podcast, audio track, or currently running application program or service. The lock wallpaper may change among content obtained from a social networking site, or from a favorites store. The device may allow gesturing to change the content.

Abstract: The subject disclosure is directed towards a technology in which a mobile device service plays background audio as instructed by a third party audio player application. The service continues to play background audio after the audio player application is deactivated from the foreground, e.g., as another application becomes the foreground application. Also described is launching agents to obtain additional information and/or to handle custom audio formats, and handling of user requests from a universal (system) volume control or the audio player application (when in the foreground).

Abstract: A system and method are provided for a user to check-in to one or more commercial venues according to various check-in options including private, public, anonymous, and non-anonymous check-ins, and for merchants to provide one or more targeted offers to the user based on contextual data associated with the user. In one embodiment, one or more queries may be generated for the user to select at least one of a pubic check-in option, a private check-in option, an anonymous check-in option, a non-anonymous check-in option, or a combination thereof. The system may be configured to determine one or more offers configured for a merchant to be provided to the user based on the contextual data associated with the user.