Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for transmitting ephemeral content messages. A sending client may establish an end-to-end encrypted session with possible recipients of the message, using a first decryption key during initial session setup. The client may send an ephemeral content message, including encrypted content and a second key, to the recipients through a server. The server may be unable to retrieve the encrypted content due to a lack of the second key. The server may filter a list of intended recipients, and may forward the ephemeral content message to the recipients on the filtered list. The recipients may retrieve the second key from the message, and use the first and second keys to decrypt the encrypted content. The sending client may change the second key each time the recipient list changes from the perspective of the sending client, as determined at the time the ephemeral content message is transmitted.

Abstract: Techniques for media album display and management are described. An apparatus may comprise a messaging component operative to receive a plurality of messaging packages from a messaging server and determine a plurality of visual media items referenced by the plurality of messaging packages; a media layout component operative to determine a visual media item layout; and a display component operative to display the plurality of visual media items based on the visual media item layout Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A system and methods are provided for aggregating communication connections. Multiple users connect to a system (e.g., a web-based system) that hosts an application or service for exchanging communications. Users who exchange communications among themselves may be considered “associates.” When one user who is on-line with the application sends a communication through the system for an associate, the system determines whether the associate is on-line or off-line. If the associate is off-line, the system crafts and sends toward the associate a notification regarding the communication, including an address of the communication server to which the one user is connected. When the associate's device receives the notification, the application may attempt to connect to the specified address. In this way associated users' connections will aggregate or gravitate toward the same communication server, thereby eliminating the latency and cost of exchanging users' communications between multiple communication servers.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for transmitting ephemeral content messages. A sending client may establish an end-to-end encrypted session with possible recipients of the message, using a first decryption key during initial session setup. The client may send an ephemeral content message, including encrypted content and a second key, to the recipients through a server. The server may be unable to retrieve the encrypted content due to a lack of the second key. The server may filter a list of intended recipients, and may forward the ephemeral content message to the recipients on the filtered list. The recipients may retrieve the second key from the message, and use the first and second keys to decrypt the encrypted content. The sending client may change the second key each time the recipient list changes from the perspective of the sending client, as determined at the time the ephemeral content message is transmitted.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for sending ephemeral content messages via a communications service. An interface may be presented to allow a user to initially access ephemeral content functionality and select content for inclusion in the ephemeral content message. The interface may present a streamlined set of use cases without regard to the manner in which the content was initially captured. Different types of content may be used as ephemeral content, including images, videos, weather reports, news stories, text, audio recordings, location tags, etc. The ephemeral content may be sent through the communications service as an end-to-end encrypted message. When a user replies to an ephemeral content message, the reply may trigger a one-to-one conversation between the originating user and the replying user. Alternatively, an ephemeral content message may be initially sent to a selected group, and replies may be sent back to the entire group.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, graphical user interface and methods are provided for conducting electronic voice communications with status notifications. A user of a first portable device executing a communication application selects a multi-function control that automatically initiates an audio recording, which is automatically sent toward another participant of an active communication session when the control is released. The same multi-function control may be used to transmit a textual message. A representation of the recording is displayed on the user's device, with an indicator that changes appearance when the other participant plays the recording. In addition, when one user initiates an audio recording that will be automatically sent to another user, the other user's device is advised of the initiation of recording and displays that status for the other user.

Abstract: Techniques for media album display and management are described. An apparatus may comprise a messaging component operative to receive a plurality of messaging packages from a messaging server and determine a plurality of visual media items referenced by the plurality of messaging packages; a media layout component operative to determine a visual media item layout; and a display component operative to display the plurality of visual media items based on the visual media item layout Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for sending ephemeral content messages via a communications service. An interface may be presented to allow a user to initially access ephemeral content functionality and select content for inclusion in the ephemeral content message. The interface may present a streamlined set of use cases without regard to the manner in which the content was initially captured. Different types of content may be used as ephemeral content, including images, videos, weather reports, news stories, text, audio recordings, location tags, etc. The ephemeral content may be sent through the communications service as an end-to-end encrypted message. When a user replies to an ephemeral content message, the reply may trigger a one-to-one conversation between the originating user and the replying user. Alternatively, an ephemeral content message may be initially sent to a selected group, and replies may be sent back to the entire group.

Abstract: Techniques to dynamically engage a reduced-color mode for streaming video encoding are generally described. For example, in one embodiments, an apparatus may include an encoding configuration component operative to receive network performance information for a video stream at a sending device, the video stream using a first number of variable bits for color encoding; and assign a reduced-color mode to a media component based on the network performance information, the media component operative to generate the video stream in the reduced-color mode, wherein the reduced-color mode uses a second number of variable bits for color encoding, the second number less than the first number, and a network component operative to send the video stream from the sending device to a receiving device using the reduced-color mode. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques to dynamically engage a reduced-color mode for streaming video encoding are generally described. For example, in one embodiments, an apparatus may include an encoding configuration component operative to receive network performance information for a video stream at a sending device, the video stream using a first number of variable bits for color encoding; and assign a reduced-color mode to a media component based on the network performance information, the media component operative to generate the video stream in the reduced-color mode, wherein the reduced-color mode uses a second number of variable bits for color encoding, the second number less than the first number, and a network component operative to send the video stream from the sending device to a receiving device using the reduced-color mode. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques for managing a remote web client from an application on a mobile device are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a messaging application operative on the processor circuit to receive a request from a remote web browser, the request for the remote web browser to receive messaging updates from the messaging application; establish an encrypted connection between the messaging application and the remote web browser, receive a messaging update at the messaging application; and transmit the messaging update from the messaging application to the remote web browser. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for sending ephemeral content messages via a communications service. An interface may be presented to allow a user to initially access ephemeral content functionality and select content for inclusion in the ephemeral content message. The interface may present a streamlined set of use cases without regard to the manner in which the content was initially captured. Different types of content may be used as ephemeral content, including images, videos, weather reports, news stories, text, audio recordings, location tags, etc. The ephemeral content may be sent through the communications service as an end-to-end encrypted message. When a user replies to an ephemeral content message, the reply may trigger a one-to-one conversation between the originating user and the replying user. Alternatively, an ephemeral content message may be initially sent to a selected group, and replies may be sent back to the entire group.