Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for arranging tiles. These techniques and apparatuses enable users to quickly and easily arrange tiles within an interface, such as an application-launching interface. In some cases, users may arrange tiles in an interface with as little as one continuous gesture.

Abstract: Techniques for visual selection and grouping are described. In at least some embodiments, multiple visuals can be selected and grouped such that visuals can be manipulated as a group and various actions can be applied to visuals as a group. For example, in response to a user placing a group of visuals in a display region, the visuals can be arranged in the display region based on a specific arrangement order. According to one or more embodiments, visuals can be rearranged to reduce gaps between visuals, such as to present a consolidated view of visuals and to conserve display space. Visuals can be grouped together (e.g., based on user selection), and selectable options presented that are selectable to apply various actions to the grouped visuals.

Abstract: This document describes techniques for application reporting in an application-selectable user interface. These techniques permit a user to view reports for applications in a user interface through which these applications may be selected. By so doing, a user may quickly and easily determine which applications to select based on their respective reports and then select them or their content through the user interface.

Abstract: Cross slide gestures for touch displays are described. In at least some embodiments, cross slide gestures can be used on content that pans or scrolls in one direction, to enable additional actions, such as content selection, drag and drop operations, and the like. In one or more embodiments, a cross slide gesture can be performed by dragging an item or object in a direction that is different from a scrolling direction. The different-direction drag can be mapped to additional actions or functionality. In one or more embodiments, one or more thresholds can be utilized, such as a distance threshold, in combination with the different-direction drag, to map to additional actions or functionality.

Abstract: This document describes techniques for application reporting in an application-selectable user interface. These techniques permit a user to view reports for applications in a user interface through which these applications may be selected. By so doing, a user may quickly and easily determine which applications to select based on their respective reports and then select them or their content through the user interface.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for presenting an application change through a tile. These techniques enable a user to see content associated with content changes to an application or other information about the application, such as a new article, new email, or a software update having become available since a user last visited the application. By so doing, the techniques enable a user to forgo visiting the application or permit the user to quickly and easily decide whether or not to visit the application.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for presenting an application change through a tile. These techniques enable a user to see content associated with content changes to an application or other information about the application, such as a new article, new email, or a software update having become available since a user last visited the application. By so doing, the techniques enable a user to forgo visiting the application or permit the user to quickly and easily decide whether or not to visit the application.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for presenting an application change through a tile. These techniques enable a user to see content associated with content changes to an application or other information about the application, such as a new article, new email, or a software update having become available since a user last visited the application. By so doing, the techniques enable a user to forgo visiting the application or permit the user to quickly and easily decide whether or not to visit the application.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide self-revealing gestures that are designed to provide an indication of how to perform one or more different gestures. In at least one embodiment, an initiation gesture is received, relative to an object. The initiation gesture is configured to cause presentation of a visualization designed to provide an indication of how to perform a different gesture. Responsive to receiving the initiation gesture, the visualization is presented without causing performance of an operation associated with the different gesture.

Abstract: Multi-input rearrange techniques are described in which multiple inputs are used to rearrange items within navigable content of a computing device. Objects can be selected by first input, which causes the objects to remain visually available within a viewing pane as content is navigated through the viewing pane. In other words, objects are “picked-up” and held within the visible region of a user interface as long as the first input continues. Additional input to navigate content can be used to rearrange selected objects, such as by moving the object to a different file folder, attaching the objects to a message, and so forth. In one approach, one hand can be used for a first gesture to pick-up an object and another hand can be used for gestures/input to navigate content while the picked-up object is being “held” by continued application of the first gesture.

Abstract: This document describes techniques for grouping selectable tiles. These techniques enable a user to create and manage flexibly-sized groups rather than constrain the user to groups of a particular size. Further, these techniques enable users to view selectable tiles in multiple groups simultaneously, which can help user quickly and easily find and select a desired tile.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for arranging tiles. These techniques and apparatuses enable users to quickly and easily arrange tiles within an interface, such as an application-launching interface. In some cases, users may arrange tiles in an interface with as little as one continuous gesture.

Abstract: Cross slide gestures for touch displays are described. In at least some embodiments, cross slide gestures can be used on content that pans or scrolls in one direction, to enable additional actions, such as content selection, drag and drop operations, and the like. In one or more embodiments, a cross slide gesture can be performed by dragging an item or object in a direction that is different from a scrolling direction. The different-direction drag can be mapped to additional actions or functionality. In one or more embodiments, one or more thresholds can be utilized, such as a distance threshold, in combination with the different-direction drag, to map to additional actions or functionality.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for presenting an application change through a tile. These techniques enable a user to see content associated with content changes to an application or other information about the application, such as a new article, new email, or a software update having become available since a user last visited the application. By so doing, the techniques enable a user to forgo visiting the application or permit the user to quickly and easily decide whether or not to visit the application.

Abstract: This document describes techniques for application reporting in an application-selectable user interface. These techniques permit a user to view reports for applications in a user interface through which these applications may be selected. By so doing, a user may quickly and easily determine which applications to select based on their respective reports and then select them or their content through the user interface.

Abstract: A user alert system is described that provides multiple dimensions of information to a user through a status icon. Initially the status icon displays a neutral state that informs the user that the user alert system is running, but there are currently no relevant alerts for the user to view. When the user alert system receives a lower priority alert, the system determines if the number of lower priority alerts received exceeds a threshold. If the number of lower priority alerts exceeds the threshold, then the user alert system modifies the status icon to display a low alert state. When the user alert system receives a higher priority alert, the system modifies the status icon to display a high alert state. Thus, the user alert system displays both the existence of alerts and the priority of the alerts to the user at the same time.