Abstract: Techniques are described to implement a user interface for a display of a mobile device. In an implementation, the user interface may include a chromeless menu configured to be displayed when menu-based user input to the mobile device is available; a system tray configured to be displayed on the display when a notice containing status information affecting operability of the mobile device is available; and a task switcher module operable to cause a chromeless overlay be displayed over an active application being executed by the mobile device to allow selection of one or more applications of the mobile device.

Abstract: A system for automatically tracking movement of a user participating in a video chat application executing in a computing device is disclosed. A capture device connected to the computing device captures a user in a field of view of the capture device and identifies a sub-frame of pixels identifying a position of the head, neck and shoulders of the user in a capture frame of a capture area. The sub-frame of pixels is displayed to a remote user at a remote computing system who is participating in the video chat application with the user. The capture device automatically tracks the position of the head, neck and shoulders of the user as the user moves to a next location within the capture area. A next sub-frame of pixels identifying a position of the head, neck and shoulders of the user in the next location is identified and displayed to the remote user at the remote computing device.

Abstract: Streaming content customization techniques are described. In an implementation, metadata, that is associated with an element, is synchronized with a stream of content that includes the element. The element is configured to accept an input to access related content that provides context for a scene that includes the element. After the related content is output, playback of the stream of content is resumed from the point at which the input was accepted to access the related content.

Abstract: This document describes tools capable of differentiating a superset of entities from which a user may receive current updates effective to provide current updates for only some of the entities of the superset. In one embodiment, for example, the tools enable a user of a mobile device to select a set of entities from which the user will automatically receive updates that are current, easily accessible, and visible at-a-glance. The tools may forgo providing current updates for entities that are not selected by the user, though the tools may provide these updates when explicitly requested by the user or at particular times or events.

Abstract: This document describes tools capable of differentiating a superset of entities from which a user may receive current updates effective to provide current updates for only some of the entities of the superset. In one embodiment, for example, the tools enable a user of a mobile device to select a set of entities from which the user will automatically receive updates that are current, easily accessible, and visible at-a-glance. The tools may forgo providing current updates for entities that are not selected by the user, though the tools may provide these updates when explicitly requested by the user or at particular times or events.

Abstract: Techniques are described to implement a user interface for a display of a mobile device. In an implementation, the user interface may include a chromeless menu configured to be displayed when menu-based user input to the mobile device is available; a system tray configured to be displayed on the display when a notice containing status information affecting operability of the mobile device is available; and a task switcher module operable to cause a chromeless overlay be displayed over an active application being executed by the mobile device to allow selection of one or more applications of the mobile device.

Abstract: A mobile communications device user interface is described. In an implementation, a method is implemented by a mobile communications device that includes outputting a user interface having a portion that is configured to accept content. When an option is selected in relation to the portion to initiate a communication and the content includes one or more contacts, the communication is formed that includes the content and is automatically addressed to the one or more contacts.

Abstract: Contextual search by a mobile communications device is described. In an implementation, a search query is a received and a context is detected of a user interface currently being displayed on a display device of a mobile communications device. One or more search results are displayed on a display device of a search performed in the detected context using the search query.

Abstract: A mobile communications device home screen is described. In one or more implementations, a method is performed by a mobile communications device that includes receiving status updates of contacts from a social network service. A home screen of the mobile communications device is configured to include the status updates.

Abstract: This document describes tools capable of differentiating a superset of entities from which a user may receive current updates effective to provide current updates for only some of the entities of the superset. In one embodiment, for example, the tools enable a user of a mobile device to select a set of entities from which the user will automatically receive updates that are current, easily accessible, and visible at-a-glance. The tools may forgo providing current updates for entities that are not selected by the user, though the tools may provide these updates when explicitly requested by the user or at particular times or events.

Abstract: This document describes tools capable of enabling users of mobile communication devices to create communication groups quickly and easily. With such a communication group a user may call, text, or instant message all persons in the group at once by selecting the communication group rather than each person in the group. In one embodiment, the tools enable a user to build a communication group by dragging and dropping indicators for persons he or she knows from one area of a screen into another area. In another embodiment, the tools automatically collect persons from those that the user knows based on one or more criteria. The user may then easily create a communication group of those collected persons, such as by tapping on an area of a mobile device's display.

Abstract: A programming object can comprise an executable method for loading a state of the object and an executable method for saving the object's state. The programming object can be an instance of a programmer-defined class. The executable method of the object for loading the state of the object can load the object's state as markup language text, and the executable method of the object for saving the object's state can save the object's state as markup language text.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sharing personalizable cards via a computerized card service are provided. One disclosed method includes, at a card client program executable on a computing device, creating a personalizable card having extensible data, and sending a first instance of the personalizable card to a card service program. The method may further include, at the card service program, propagating the first instance of the personalizable card to a peer of the user, and at the card client program, updating the extensible data of the personalizable card. Upon updating the extensible data, the method may further include sending a second instance of the personalizable card to the card service program, and propagating the second instance of the personalizable card to the peer of the user. The personalizable card may be propagated according to propagation permissions set by the user.

Abstract: A strategy is described for forwarding content accessed using a first device to a second device. For instance, the first device can comprise a personal computer and the second device can comprise a mobile telephone. The strategy employs general purpose content-forwarding (CF) functionality. Different providers of content can rely on the same general purpose CF functionality to forward content to the second device, without requiring time-intensive and cumbersome manual modification of the CF functionality for each application.

Abstract: A mobile device user interface is described. Data tiles are arranged as a stack of wheels, where each wheel has one or more data tiles. One data tile from each wheel is simultaneously displayed. Up/down navigation is used to move from one wheel to another, while left/right navigation is used to spin a wheel to view the data tiles on the current wheel.

Abstract: A strategy is described for forwarding content accessed using a first device to a second device. For instance, the first device can comprise a personal computer and the second device can comprise a mobile telephone. The strategy employs general purpose content-forwarding (CF) functionality. Different providers of content can rely on the same general purpose CF functionality to forward content to the second device, without requiring time-intensive and cumbersome manual modification of the CF functionality for each application.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for maintaining current contact and metadata information for one or more contacts. A mobile phone stores contact information for multiple forms of mobile phone communication with the contacts. Each contact is identified as either an automatic live contact to be synchronized as new information becomes available or as another contact that will not be synchronized as new information becomes available. The mobile phone communicates the contacts to a data service provider for backup storage and update processing. From automatic contact and metadata information updates initiated by and received from the data service provider the mobile phone periodically updates automatic live contacts. Based on the synchronized contact and metadata information, the mobile phone initiates communication with one of the contacts.

Abstract: A programming object can comprise an executable method for loading a state of the object and an executable method for saving the object's state. The programming object can be an instance of a programmer-defined class. The executable method of the object for loading the state of the object can load the object's state as markup language text, and the executable method of the object for saving the object's state can save the object's state as markup language text.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for maintaining current contact and metadata information for one or more contacts. A mobile phone stores contact information for multiple forms of mobile phone communication with the contacts. Each contact is identified as either an automatic live contact to be synchronized as new information becomes available or as another contact that will not be synchronized as new information becomes available. The mobile phone communicates the contacts to a data service provider for backup storage and update processing. From automatic contact and metadata information updates initiated by and received from the data service provider the mobile phone periodically updates automatic live contacts. Based on the synchronized contact and metadata information, the mobile phone initiates communication with one of the contacts.

Abstract: A method for creating and inserting an electronic mail signature fragment into an electronic mail message during the creation of the electronic mail message is disclosed. A computer-readable medium on which is stored a program module for creating and inserting an electronic mail signature fragment into an electronic mail message during the creation of the electronic mail message is also disclosed.