Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that record data in a videogame, such as a user's character and performance in the videogame, and generate a book, e-book, or comic book based on the recorded data. A narrative data structure generated from the recorded data may include pregenerated text and images, and may provide for insertion of the recorded data into the narrative data structure. The recorded data may be converted into natural-language text for insertion into the narrative data structure. In some embodiments, the system may record screenshots of the videogame and insert the screenshots into the narrative data structure as illustrations. The narrative data structure may be provided to a location for printing as a book or other publication or may be electronically formatted and provided as an e-book.

Abstract: User interface signals representing volume change requests are converted to volume control signals using a mapping. The mapping is overridden (modified) within a given time interval after starting (which includes resuming) playback. During this interval, the mapping for volume decreases is modified so that the resulting volume decreases are accelerated relative to those that would be generated by the default mapping. This allows the user to quickly reduce the volume of the device when begins playing very loud music. The mapping for volume increases can be modified during this interval.

Abstract: Navigating or scrolling through a list of items is enhanced by assigning a given item a non-null value for a friction property, and slowing the scrolling when the given item nears or enters the viewport, or pausing the scrolling when the given item enters the viewport. Scrolling at speed can be configured to be resumed when the user takes a particular action, or can be configured to resume after a designated elapsed time without user action. At least to the extent that scrolling through the list is accompanied by sequential items being at a cursor position within the viewport, the scrolling can slow down or pause when the given item is within a predetermined number of list items from the cursor position.

Abstract: A system and method for providing photographic slideshows with theme elements is provided. Each photograph and each theme element may be associated with different contextual information. The contextual information may include, for example, locations, time and date, calendar events, user preference or history information, or any other suitable information. In response to receiving a selection of contextual information, the electronic device may identify photographs and theme elements associated with contextual information to generate a photographic slideshow. Alternatively, in response to receiving a selection of at least one photograph or theme element, the electronic device may identify contextual information associated with the selected photograph or theme element to identify other photographs and theme elements associated with the identified contextual information for generating a photographic slideshow.

Abstract: Techniques for automatically adjusting device preferences (e.g., playback settings of a PMD) based the on the device's environment. The environment may be characterized, for example, by one or more of the location of the device, the accessories connected to the device, and/or the state of wireless signals detected by the device. The device stores different states associated with different environments, and loads the appropriate state variables based on the detected environment. For example, when connecting to a given speaker system resumption of audio playback can be from the last track or playlist being played on that speaker system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for adjusting playback and graphical representations of media files are provided. The systems and methods can monitor playback and access of media files to create usage metadata. The usage metadata can then be used to adjust the playback of the media file. For example, the usage metadata may indicate that a user skips, on average, the first 22 seconds of a particular song so the next time that song is played, the first 22 seconds will automatically be skipped. The usage metadata can additionally or alternatively be used to adjust a graphical representation of the media file. For example, the usage metadata may indicate that a user rarely accesses a particular song so the graphical representation of that song will be small and faded. This change in graphical representation can help a user find more commonly used media files.

Abstract: Systems and methods for adjusting playback and graphical representations of media files are provided. The systems and methods can monitor playback and access of media files to create usage metadata. The usage metadata can then be used to adjust the playback of the media file. For example, the usage metadata may indicate that a user skips, on average, the first 22 seconds of a particular song so the next time that song is played, the first 22 seconds will automatically be skipped. The usage metadata can additionally or alternatively be used to adjust a graphical representation of the media file. For example, the usage metadata may indicate that a user rarely accesses a particular song so the graphical representation of that song will be small and faded. This change in graphical representation can help a user find more commonly used media files.

Abstract: A media player may occasionally be unable to play or continue to play a particular item of media. When that occurs, the media player outputs an error indication that is related to the type of media that the problem media item is representative of. For example, if the problem item is a movie, then the media player may display an error indication having the appearance of broken movie film. If the problem media item is music, then the media player may display an error indication having the appearance of a broken compact disc (“CD”). Thus whatever the type of media that is not playing, the media player outputs an error indication that is appropriate for that type of media. The error indications output by the player are therefore context-based or media-appropriate.

Abstract: An annotator for monitoring a list of tasks to be performed by a person is provided. Using the annotator, a user may define a task to be performed. The task may be described by selecting values for several fields, including for example a person field, an action field, and a details field. The annotator may combined the selected values to form a sentence defining the task. When the task is complete, the annotator may automatically convert the task to a life event by changing the tense of a verb to the past tense, indicating that the task has been completed and has become an achievement. The annotator may display a listing of life events in a life events display, or may publish one or more life events to a blog, web page, or other application.

Abstract: Handheld electronic devices are provided that have remote control functionality and gesture recognition features. The handheld electronic device may have remote control functionality in addition to cellular telephone, music player, or handheld computer functionality. The handheld electronic devices may have a touch sensitive display screen. The handheld electronic devices may recognize gestures performed by a user on the touch sensitive display screen. The handheld electronic devices may generate remote control signals from gestures that the handheld electronic device may recognize. A media system may receive the remote control signals and may take appropriate action. The touch sensitive display screen may be used to present the user with information about the media system such as the current volume.

Abstract: Handheld electronic devices are provided that have bimodal remote control functionality and gesture recognition features. The handheld electronic device may have gestural interface functionality in a first mode and graphical interface functionality in a second mode. The handheld electronic device may have remote control functionality in addition to cellular telephone, music player, or handheld computer functionality. The handheld electronic devices may have a touch sensitive display screen. The handheld electronic devices may recognize gestures performed by a user on the touch sensitive display screen. The handheld electronic devices may generate remote control signals from gestures that the handheld electronic device may recognize. A media system may receive the remote control signals and may take appropriate action.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for on-the-fly playlist shuffling. There can be multiple ways to perform the shuffling. In one instance, the electronic device can organize a new playlist by sorting the media files based on a parameter. In another instance, the electronic device can organize a new playlist by shuffling the media files. In yet another instance, the electronic device can first sort the media files into groups of media files based on a parameter. The electronic device can then shuffle the media files within each group. In this manner, the media files can be randomized but only within each group. In all instances, the current media file can continue to play without any interruption. Finally, the electronic device can sort the media files based on the context of the media file that is currently playing.

Abstract: Data files are selected for downloading from a host device to an electronic device via a sync process. Once the sync process starts, the electronic device provides the user with dynamic sync status information so that the user, for example, knows how much data has been downloaded, how much time is remaining in the download, what data files are being downloaded, etc. In addition, the user is also provided with the capability to obtain general summary information about the data files downloaded after the sync process is complete, as well as detailed summary information that may, for example, provide the user the names of each song downloaded and the size of each file.

Abstract: The present invention can permit an electronic device to output contextual information about an event when an alarm stored within the electronic device goes off. In one embodiment, an electronic device can permit a user to select an alarm template from a plurality of alarm templates and associate the selected alarm template with an alarm. When the alarm goes off at a later date, the electronic device can output the contextual information of the user-selected alarm template, thereby providing the user with contextual information relevant to the event for which the alarm was created. In another embodiment of the present invention, a receiving electronic device can automatically match alarm templates with alarms transferred from a transmitting electronic device. The present invention also can permit a user to create an alarm template, and customize alarm templates pre-populated by the manufacturer of an electronic device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving the scrolling of user interfaces of electronic devices are provided.

Abstract: The individual parts of a media presentation are associated with one another, and in addition to maintaining pointers in individual parts which indicate the last point at which playback was stopped, a pointer is maintained for the “container” created by the association. This pointer indicates the last part in the “container” that was played. When the presentation is played back, the user can select a particular part or can select “resume.” If “resume” is selected, the pointer is retrieved and used to select the part to be played. Within the part, a further pointer may indicate where in the part to begin playback, based on where playback was last stopped.