Abstract: In accordance with the automatic peripheral device sharing, a peripheral device that has been newly installed on a device is detected and is shared with one or more additional devices coupled to the device. A notification of the peripheral device is automatically published to the one or more additional devices. This notification includes an indication of how the one or more additional devices can access the peripheral device. Each of the one or more additional devices can receive this notification and determine whether the peripheral device can be automatically installed on that device without user input. For each of the one or more additional devices, the peripheral device is installed on that device only if the peripheral device can be automatically installed on that device without user input.

Abstract: In accordance with the automatic peripheral device sharing, a peripheral device that has been newly installed on a device is detected and is shared with one or more additional devices coupled to the device. A notification of the peripheral device is automatically published to the one or more additional devices. This notification includes an indication of how the one or more additional devices can access the peripheral device. Each of the one or more additional devices can receive this notification and determine whether the peripheral device can be automatically installed on that device without user input. For each of the one or more additional devices, the peripheral device is installed on that device only if the peripheral device can be automatically installed on that device without user input.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for use in a computing environment for selecting and arranging media items as output. The media items may include photographs, videos, musical selections, or other types of media items. Selection components select multiple media items for output. A source selection component selects media items from at least one source. A query component searches media items from the selected source based on tagged metadata in accordance with a user selection. Weighting tools may be applied to cause a first set of selected media items to be selected with a first frequency and a second set of selected media items to be selected with a second frequency. A sorting component may organize the output in a user-selected order.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for defining a default handler software application in response to an event at a computer. An event, for example, a user opening a file with a specific extension or accessing a uniform resource locator (URL) with a specific protocol, may trigger the operating system to instantiate a user-level default handler program associated with the event type and the specific user. Users may define user-level default handlers through a centralized user interface maintained by the operating system. During the application installation process, an application may register lists of supported events that the application is capable of handling.

Abstract: System(s), method(s), and/or technique(s) (“tools”) are described that perform a prohibited task without requiring that the user request the prohibited task more than once; perform a prohibited task without requiring that a user logoff or back on; and/or perform a permitted task requested as part of a set of tasks where some of the tasks are prohibited, even if the permitted task is queued for execution after a prohibited task, and without requiring that the user elevate his or her rights.

Abstract: System(s), techniques, and/or method(s) (“tools”) are described that enable a user to elevate his or her rights. The tools may do so by switching a user to an account having higher rights or a different, higher-rights context of a same account. The tools may elevate a user's rights after a user enters a secure access sequence, such as Control+Alt+Delete, clicks on a button, or enters credentials. The tools may also enable a user to identify tasks that need higher rights to be performed by visually correlating graphic indicia with these tasks.

Abstract: System(s), techniques, and/or method(s) (“tools”) are described that enable a user to elevate his or her rights. The tools may do so by switching a user to an account having higher rights or a different, higher-rights context of a same account. The tools may elevate a user's rights after a user enters a secure access sequence, such as Control+Alt+Delete, clicks on a button, or enters credentials. The tools may also enable a user to identify tasks that need higher rights to be performed by visually correlating graphic indicia with these tasks.

Abstract: Methods and systems to provide a user tile to a user of a computer device relating to a logon process are provided. In one aspect, the user tile is configured to supply feedback to the user regarding the status of the logon process through a graphical representation. In at least one embodiment, the user tile may be individualized to a user or a class of users. Further aspects of the invention relate to methods and systems to select and display a user tile comprising graphical representations to provide feedback to a user on the method of logging on the computer device. In one embodiment, a plurality of user tiles are used to provide feedback to the user. In one such embodiment, one tile may be used to provide feedback on how to log on to the computer, while one or more additional tiles may be used to provide feedback on the status of the logon procedures for different applications.

Abstract: A system and related techniques prepare and condition the installation of new networked service or application components, such as Internet services, based on an individual subscriber's subscribed-to services, features and other components. A subscriber to an Internet service may choose to add, for example, a componentized subscription to a music or video download service to their access plan. When the user inserts a CDROM or accesses a Web site for installation, the user may be prompted for a username or passport-type object to authenticate their account. The user may then be presented with a set of available service selections, extensions or enhancements to choose to add to their plan. Those available selections may be prefiltered or prequalified, for example, based on geographic location, account spending or access limits, language or other criteria.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for use in a computing environment for selecting and arranging media items as output. The media items may include photographs, videos, musical selections, or other types of media items. Selection components select multiple media items for output. A source selection component selects media items from at least one source. A query component searches media items from the selected source based on tagged metadata in accordance with a user selection. Weighting tools may be applied to cause a first set of selected media items to be selected with a first frequency and a second set of selected media items to be selected with a second frequency. A sorting component may organize the output in a user-selected order.