Abstract: A system for generating a user interface described herein can include a processor to detect a type of the system based on hardware components residing within the system or coupled to the system and determine a user interface manager to execute based on the type of the system. The processor can also execute the user interface manager to generate a user interface for the system, wherein the type of the user interface manager comprises a plurality of rules to indicate a layout of the user interface.

Abstract: A system for generating a user interface described herein can include a processor to detect a type of the system based on hardware components residing within the system or coupled to the system and determine a user interface manager to execute based on the type of the system. The processor can also execute the user interface manager to generate a user interface for the system, wherein the type of the user interface manager comprises a plurality of rules to indicate a layout of the user interface.

Abstract: A wide-area network (“WAN”)-based service enables remote data access transactions between participating endpoints within a group of participating endpoints that includes at least one server and at least one portable electronic device. Each participating endpoint is configured for communication via one or more communication networks and stores the same or different data items on behalf of a user. The WAN-based service maintains information about each participating endpoint in the group and its network accessibility, and also maintains one or more catalogs of available data items. The WAN-based service identifies a communication network available to both participating endpoints, and a direct or proxied communication session is established between the portable electronic device and the other participating endpoint via the communication network. Selected data items are downloaded, uploaded, accessed or synchronized via the communication session.

Abstract: Embodiments include processes, systems, and devices for initiating proximity actions upon the activation of a proximity connection. A proximity service receives an indication from a proximity provider that a proximity connection is established, and then determines a joint proximity context of the proximity connection. The proximity service then initiates a proximity action to facilitate a proximity function indicated by the joint proximity context. Joint proximity contexts include indications that an application has queued content to be shared with a proximity device, that an application has registered to publish messages on a namespace, that an application has subscribed to messages on a namespace, that an application has registered to find a peer application on a proximity device to enable multi-user collaboration, and that a device seeks to pair with another device.

Abstract: A wide-area network (“WAN”)-based service enables remote data access transactions between participating endpoints within a group of participating endpoints that includes at least one server and at least one portable electronic device. Each participating endpoint is configured for communication via one or more communication networks and stores the same or different data items on behalf of a user. The WAN-based service maintains information about each participating endpoint in the group and its network accessibility, and also maintains one or more catalogs of available data items. The WAN-based service identifies a communication network available to both participating endpoints, and a direct or proxied communication session is established between the portable electronic device and the other participating endpoint via the communication network. Selected data items are downloaded, uploaded, accessed or synchronized via the communication session.

Abstract: Managing automatic connections to a wireless dock is described. A connection manager is configured to initiate a first user experience by causing display of a first user interface on a display device coupled to a wireless dock in response determining that the mobile computing device is within a close proximity to the wireless dock based at least in part on the first wireless radio detecting the beacon signal associated with the wireless dock. Then, in response to detecting a user action to interact with a peripheral device coupled to the wireless dock, the connection manager initiates a second user experience by causing display of a second user interface on the display device coupled to the wireless dock. The first or second user experience may also include forming a wireless connection with the wireless dock using a second wireless radio.

Abstract: Embodiments include processes, systems, and devices for initiating proximity actions upon the activation of a proximity connection. A proximity service receives an indication from a proximity provider that a proximity connection is established, and then determines a joint proximity context of the proximity connection. The proximity service then initiates a proximity action to facilitate a proximity function indicated by the joint proximity context. Joint proximity contexts include indications that an application has queued content to be shared with a proximity device, that an application has registered to publish messages on a namespace, that an application has subscribed to messages on a namespace, that an application has registered to find a peer application on a proximity device to enable multi-user collaboration, and that a device seeks to pair with another device.

Abstract: A computing device is provided with a discovery framework that may include a discovery user interface (UI) and a discovery engine configured to use various standard discovery protocols in a protocol stack of the computing device. The discovery engine may respond to an invocation of the discovery framework by determining discovery criteria and based thereon selecting one of the discovery protocols, requesting discovery through the selected discovery protocol, receiving corresponding first discovery results, and maintaining a discovery list comprised of indicia of devices discovered through at least the selected discovery protocol. The discovery UI allows interactive adjustment of the discovery criteria, displays the discovery list, and responds to selection of a discovered device in the discovery list by enabling a connection with the discovered device based on a network address of the discovered device obtained through one of the discovery protocols.

Abstract: A wide-area network (“WAN”)-based service enables remote data access transactions between participating endpoints within a group of participating endpoints that includes at least one server and at least one portable electronic device. Each participating endpoint is configured for communication via one or more communication networks and stores the same or different data items on behalf of a user. The WAN-based service maintains information about each participating endpoint in the group and its network accessibility, and also maintains one or more catalogs of available data items. The WAN-based service identifies a communication network available to both participating endpoints, and a direct or proxied communication session is established between the portable electronic device and the other participating endpoint via the communication network. Selected data items are downloaded, uploaded, accessed or synchronized via the communication session.

Abstract: Embodiments include processes, systems, and devices for initiating proximity actions upon the activation of a proximity connection. A proximity service receives an indication from a proximity provider that a proximity connection is established, and then determines a joint proximity context of the proximity connection. The proximity service then initiates a proximity action to facilitate a proximity function indicated by the joint proximity context. Joint proximity contexts include indications that an application has queued content to be shared with a proximity device, that an application has registered to publish messages on a namespace, that an application has subscribed to messages on a namespace, that an application has registered to find a peer application on a proximity device to enable multi-user collaboration, and that a device seeks to pair with another device.

Abstract: Touch-input support for an external touch-capable display device is described. A computing device (e.g., a smartphone) is configured to form a connection with an external touch-capable display device that is separate from the computing device. The computing device controls the display of information on the touch-capable display device. A user of the computing device can interact with the external touch-capable display device, such as by touching the screen of the touch-capable display device to select items, perform gestures, or type on the on-screen keyboard. When the user provides touch-input to the external touch-capable display device, the computing device receives an indication of the touch-input via the wired or wireless connection. The computing device then modifies the display of information on the touch-capable display device based on the touch-input.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a printer user interface (UI) component configured to handle presentation of information to a user during printing operations. The printer UI component may de-couple the rendering and configuration functionality provided by a printer driver from the presentation of information to end users, thereby reducing the risk that applications may crash or hang due to printer driver malfunction. In some embodiments, a registry of events upon which information should be presented to the user is established, and the printer UI component may be registered for some or all of these events, so that when the specified events occur the printer UI component may be invoked to cause information to be presented to the user.

Abstract: One or more management components mediate a bi-directional interaction between applications. The components mediate interaction between a first application such as a word processing, video conference, or multimedia application, and a second application that is a virtualization of a physical device such as a printer, camera, or multimedia device. Further, embodiments also support a second application that provides an interface to a service provider, online business, and the like. The management component(s) may function as part of an operating system (OS), allowing the OS to mediate the interaction, and enable greater flexibility and a richer user experience, including presenting a common user experience for the interaction and/or acting as a broker to present a experience generated from the second application. Embodiments also include a unified application programming interface (API) to allow applications to interact with each other via the management component(s) of the OS.

Abstract: Techniques for distributing digital media content to personal electronic devices are discussed. Digital media content is collected from a variety of disparate digital media content sources. Specific digital media content is identified and transcoded into a selected format prior to receipt by a particular personal electronic device. The selected format may be based on preferences or characteristics of the personal electronic device or the user thereof, the network, or both. Virtually unlimited subset selection criteria may be used to arranged transcoded digital media content into subsets, which may be temporarily or permanently stored in a single computer or using distributed computing techniques. DRM and identity management techniques can be used in combination with the transcoding and distribution techniques discussed herein to accommodate many business models.

Abstract: A wide-area network (“WAN”)-based service enables remote data access transactions between participating endpoints within a group of participating endpoints that includes at least one server and at least one portable electronic device. Each participating endpoint is configured for communication via one or more communication networks and stores the same or different data items on behalf of a user. The WAN-based service maintains information about each participating endpoint in the group and its network accessibility, and also maintains one or more catalogs of available data items. The WAN-based service identifies a communication network available to both participating endpoints, and a direct or proxied communication session is established between the portable electronic device and the other participating endpoint via the communication network. Selected data items are downloaded, uploaded, accessed or synchronized via the communication session.

Abstract: A wide-area network (“WAN”)-based service enables remote data access transactions between participating endpoints within a group of participating endpoints that includes at least one server and at least one portable electronic device. Each participating endpoint is configured for communication via one or more communication networks and stores the same or different data items on behalf of a user. The WAN-based service maintains information about each participating endpoint in the group and its network accessibility, and also maintains one or more catalogs of available data items. The WAN-based service identifies a communication network available to both participating endpoints, and a direct or proxied communication session is established between the portable electronic device and the other participating endpoint via the communication network. Selected data items are downloaded, uploaded, accessed or synchronized via the communication session.

Abstract: Embodiments include processes, systems, and devices for brokering application access to capabilities, such as device capabilities. An access broker receives requests from applications to access capabilities. The access broker determines whether to grant access based at least in part on whether the application manifest declares the capability. The access broker also may cause a user interface element to be displayed requesting user consent to the access request. Also, an in-application user interface element is provided that displays capability access settings for a particular application. The in-application user interface element includes selectable options for changing those settings. Changes in those settings via the user interface update the settings in the access broker.

Abstract: One or more management components mediate a bi-directional interaction between applications. The components mediate interaction between a first application such as a word processing, video conference, or multimedia application, and a second application that is a virtualization of a physical device such as a printer, camera, or multimedia device. Further, embodiments also support a second application that provides an interface to a service provider, online business, and the like. The management component(s) may function as part of an operating system (OS), allowing the OS to mediate the interaction, and enable greater flexibility and a richer user experience, including presenting a common user experience for the interaction and/or acting as a broker to present a experience generated from the second application. Embodiments also include a unified application programming interface (API) to allow applications to interact with each other via the management component(s) of the OS.

Abstract: Embodiments include processes, systems, and devices for initiating proximity actions upon the activation of a proximity connection. A proximity service receives an indication from a proximity provider that a proximity connection is established, and then determines a joint proximity context of the proximity connection. The proximity service then initiates a proximity action to facilitate a proximity function indicated by the joint proximity context. Joint proximity contexts include indications that an application has queued content to be shared with a proximity device, that an application has registered to publish messages on a namespace, that an application has subscribed to messages on a namespace, that an application has registered to find a peer application on a proximity device to enable multi-user collaboration, and that a device seeks to pair with another device.

Abstract: Installation data associated with a hardware device is obtained (e.g., at the time the device is installed on a computing device). Identifiers of applications that are allowed to access a capability of the hardware device are identified from the installation data and stored in a device permissions record as being allowed to access the capability of the hardware device. Subsequently, a request to access the capability of the hardware device is received from an application. A check is made as to whether the application is identified in a device permissions record as being allowed to access the capability of the hardware device. The application is allowed to access the capability of the hardware device if the device permissions record indicates the application is allowed to access the capability of the hardware device, and otherwise the request from the application is denied.