Abstract: A method of interacting with a digital content device is described. The method includes associating a specific control device with specified functionality of the digital content device. A control signal is received from the control device. A state of the digital content device is altered to allow the control device to interact with the digital content device according to the specified functionality.

Abstract: A method of interacting with a digital content device is described. The method includes defining a collection of digital content available via the digital content device. A specific control device is associated with the collection of digital content. A control signal is received from the control device. The digital content device allows the control device to access digital content included in the collection.

Abstract: A home theater system includes construction, presentation, and commerce in, songs. Presentation includes at least one of: metadata about songs or sounds, a function capable of transitioning from one song to a next song, and user preferences; and can determine in what manner to transition from one song to a next song. Construction of songs includes either factors above, or at least one of: a function or a user extension capable of selecting a next song, and an element capable of determining whether the song is perceptually random. A user interface is capable of searching playlists and selecting them for presentation, representing each playlist with a substantially unique pictorial representation, distinguishing in presentation between those playlists licensed to the user and those that are not, and capable of substantially immediate purchase of playlist licenses either individually or in bulk and either automatically or with minimal intervention.

Abstract: A home theater system includes construction, presentation, and commerce in, songs. Presentation includes at least one of: metadata about songs or sounds, a function capable of transitioning from one song to a next song, and user preferences; and can determine in what manner to transition from one song to a next song. Construction of songs includes either factors above, or at least one of: a function or a user extension capable of selecting a next song, and an element capable of determining whether the song is perceptually random. A user interface is capable of searching playlists and selecting them for presentation, representing each playlist with a substantially unique pictorial representation, distinguishing in presentation between those playlists licensed to the user and those that are not, and capable of substantially immediate purchase of playlist licenses either individually or in bulk and either automatically or with minimal intervention.

Abstract: A home theater system includes construction, presentation, and commerce in, songs. Presentation includes at least one of: metadata about songs or sounds, a function capable of transitioning from one song to a next song, and user preferences; and can determine in what manner to transition from one song to a next song. Construction of songs includes either factors above, or at least one of: a function or a user extension capable of selecting a next song, and an element capable of determining whether the song is perceptually random. A user interface is capable of searching playlists and selecting them for presentation, representing each playlist with a substantially unique pictorial representation, distinguishing in presentation between those playlists licensed to the user and those that are not, and capable of substantially immediate purchase of playlist licenses either individually or in bulk and either automatically or with minimal intervention.

Abstract: A user interface, both providing relatively high quality graphic output and receiving input signals from a pointing device with substantially direct physical contact, or other movement by a user, such as typing in a projected 3D field looking like a keyboard. A touch panel allows the user to sort and filter titles by their metadata, and to visually picture the relative closeness of multiple titles. The touch panel includes a presentation of individually selected titles by their cover art, along with associated metadata for those titles. The user can view textual metadata for titles concurrently with viewing cover art for those titles. A progress bar presents a location within a title, such as a media stream or a database, currently being, or having been, presented to the user.