Abstract: The technology relates to synchronizing user metadata across devices. The system maintains a collection of incremental metadata changes for a collection of media items, for each media item represented in the collection, storing a media item identifier and a value, wherein the value is an incremental user metadata change for a respective media item. Next, the system receives, from a client device, a request for a metadata sync, the request comprising a last metadata version update number indicative of a last metadata sync received by the client device. The system then sends, to the client device, a metadata update associated with a version update number subsequent to the last metadata version update number indicative of the last metadata sync received by the client device.

Abstract: The technology relates to synchronizing purchase information and metadata across devices. The system maintains a server listing of items purchased from an online store and associated with a user account, each item in the server listing of items being associated with a respective first hash value. Then, the system receives, from a client device, a client listing of items purchased from the online store representing a last known listing of items purchased from the online store and associated with the user account, each item in the client listing of items being associated with a respective second hash value. Next, the system determines a difference between the respective first hash value and the respective second hash value. Based on the difference, the system sends, to the client device, metadata identifying items present in the server listing of items that are not in the client listing of items.

Abstract: Described is a technology for managing audio playback queues maintained in separate memory spaces, e.g., in a game console, such that that audio playback continues upon transitioning between states (including reboots) that change a memory space's contents. For example, before transitioning from a dashboard mode to a game playing mode, the playback queue in memory space used for the dashboard (and the game) is copied to a second queue in a second (e.g., operating system) memory space. The dashboard queue's contents (often large) are truncated as necessary to fit in the relatively smaller queue space. When transitioning from a game to the dashboard mode, copying the queue back takes place after the dashboard is operational. A third type of queue corresponding to a container of an audio source is also managed, including copying its contents when appropriate to the memory that has the queue currently being used for playback.

Abstract: A user of a game system can replace background music from a game with the user's selected background music, while still hearing any other audio streams (e.g. sound effects related to gameplay). A music engine and system audio mixer allow the playback of the user's requested replacement music. The game tags background music streams with an identifier indicating that they are background music, and such streams are muted at the music engine and system audio mixer (if the game is using the provided music engine in order to play the game's audio streams) or by the game if the game is using a game music engine and has received information indicating that a mute request has been issued.

Abstract: Described is a technology for managing audio playback queues maintained in separate memory spaces, e.g., in a game console, such that that audio playback continues upon transitioning between states (including reboots) that change a memory space's contents. For example, before transitioning from a dashboard mode to a game playing mode, the playback queue in memory space used for the dashboard (and the game) is copied to a second queue in a second (e.g., operating system) memory space. The dashboard queue's contents (often large) are truncated as necessary to fit in the relatively smaller queue space. When transitioning from a game to the dashboard mode, copying the queue back takes place after the dashboard is operational. A third type of queue corresponding to a container of an audio source is also managed, including copying its contents when appropriate to the memory that has the queue currently being used for playback.