Abstract: An application store tastemaker recommendation service determines experts within a user's social network(s), receives recommendations from the experts, filters and/or ranks mobile application query results based at least in part on the recommendations. Additionally, the service may further determine the experts based on data compiled about previous actions, reviews, comments, etc., of the experts. Further, the service may provide recommendations to the user to aid in selecting mobile applications for purchase, and may provide an avenue for completing such purchases.

Abstract: Viral application distribution facilitates distribution of an application among users and increases likelihood of downloading the application by the users. A first device may receive information of an application from a second device through a short-range communication channel. The information may comprise identification information of the application without any personally identifiable information of the second device to protect privacy of a user of the second device. A version of the application that is compatible with the first device is determined by searching a catalog using the identification information of the application. The compatible version of the application may then be downloaded or obtained by the first device. Location-based viral distribution may also be performed between devices that visit a location, even at different times.

Abstract: An achievement system tracks users' offline activities and awards achievements to users for participation in particular offline activities. The achievements that are awarded for particular activities and/or to particular users may be sponsored by merchants, who may compensate an achievement system provider for the opportunity to sponsor the achievements. To award users achievements, the users' offline activities are tracked. When a user participates in an offline activity for which achievements are available, the user is awarded an achievement. The achievement may be stored in an achievement profile for the user. In some embodiments, achievements earned by users may be converted into other benefits and alternative awards.

Abstract: An application sequence may be composed in response to a user query. The application sequence may be based upon user data accessed by the application concierge service. Each application within the personalized chain of applications may request and receive data from the application concierge service about the other applications within the chain.

Abstract: An application store tastemaker recommendation service determines experts within a user's social network(s), receives recommendations from the experts, filters and/or ranks mobile application query results based at least in part on the recommendations. Additionally, the service may further determine the experts based on data compiled about previous actions, reviews, comments, etc., of the experts. Further, the service may provide recommendations to the user to aid in selecting mobile applications for purchase, and may provide an avenue for completing such purchases.

Abstract: An application store tastemaker recommendation service is usable to determine experts within a user's social network(s), receive recommendations from the experts, and filter and/or rank mobile application query results based at least in part on the recommendations. Additionally, the service may be usable to determine experts based on data compiled about previous actions, reviews, comments, etc., of the experts. Further, the service may be usable to provide recommendations to the user to aid in selecting mobile applications for purchase, and may provide an avenue for completing such purchases.

Abstract: An inventory marketing system operates to identify and market inventory items that are likely to spoil. Initially, inventory items that have a particular likelihood of spoilage may be identified. Customers to target with offers for the inventory items may be identified based on the customers' current location or expected location near a spoilage time for the inventory items. Offers for the inventory items may be provided to the targeted customers, and purchases of the inventory items by customers may be facilitated.

Abstract: A gaming environment is provided by an MVP gaming system provider in which “most valuable player” (MVP) gamers may compete. MVP gamers may be identified using achievements, gamer scores, game play during sanctioned gaming events, or other indicia of game skills. The MVP gamers may be sponsored by advertisers, and the MVP gamers' avatars may be branded based on sponsorship during gaming events. The sponsorships may be brokered by the MVP gaming system provider. Some gaming events may be sanctioned gaming events that are coordinated by the MVP gaming system provider and “televised” to allow viewers to watch the gaming events. Tutorials from MVP gamers may also be provided to gamers for viewing to assist in their game play. Further, gamers may be able to rent the avatars of MVP gamers for use during their game play.

Abstract: An achievement system tracks users' offline activities and awards achievements to users for participation in particular offline activities. The achievements that are awarded for particular activities and/or to particular users may be sponsored by merchants, who may compensate an achievement system provider for the opportunity to sponsor the achievements. To award users achievements, the users' offline activities are tracked. When a user participates in an offline activity for which achievements are available, the user is awarded an achievement. The achievement may be stored in an achievement profile for the user. In some embodiments, achievements earned by users may be converted into other benefits and alternative awards.

Abstract: This disclosure describes data conversion and techniques for sending and receiving data at a mobile device. In one implementation, a proxy server may receive data from a mobile device. The proxy server may convert the data and send the converted data to a network service. In another implementation, a mobile device may convert data and send that data to a network service. The network service may generate data in response and send that data to the mobile device directly.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a system and method of increasing discoverability of software applications in a marketplace catalog via behavioral data. Specifically, a client monitors behavioral usage of applications with a local usage tracking framework, optionally utilizing a data template. The data is aggregated either on the client or on a server or both, and synchronized with a server storage to be made available via application behavioral services. The client may also host an advertising placement framework to place selected advertising in the view of the client's user. Application behavioral services may apply one or more behavioral algorithms to the aggregated behavioral usage, to generate recommendations to maximize marketplace catalog ranking, visibility and projected revenue.

Abstract: A transform engine and/or transformation process may reduce computational resources used by a client, such as during the consumption of a media stream. According to some implementations, a media stream is received over a network. A mapping template may be associated with the media stream. A traversal of the mapping template may be performed without the accumulation of an intermediate state. Following the traversal of the mapping template, a transformed media stream may be communicated to a client for presentation.

Abstract: Some implementations provide techniques for managing features provided by a computer service. A service side framework may receive usage data relating to an application executed on a client device. One or more behavioral algorithms may be implemented to perform behavioral analysis on the received usage data to identify at least one behavioral trend associated with the application. At least one feature of the computer service may be modified based on at least some of the behavioral analysis performed on the usage data. In some implementations, location data may also be taken into consideration.

Abstract: A mobile application migration service is usable to receive recommendations for replacement and/or alternative mobile applications for potential mobile device upgrades. Additionally, the service may be usable to compare legacy mobile applications to potential target mobile applications and simulate operation of selected target applications on a new target device. Further, a service may be usable to provide one-click purchase of one or more target applications, one-click installation of the selected target applications, and/or one-click migration of associated user and/or application data from a legacy device to a new device. Such recommendations, comparisons, simulations, and one-click migrations may be used to facilitate migration from one mobile device to another, even when legacy devices are customized with highly useful and/or often used applications.

Abstract: An application store tastemaker recommendation service is usable to determine experts within a user's social network(s), receive recommendations from the experts, and filter and/or rank mobile application query results based at least in part on the recommendations. Additionally, the service may be usable to determine experts based on data compiled about previous actions, reviews, comments, etc., of the experts. Further, the service may be usable to provide recommendations to the user to aid in selecting mobile applications for purchase, and may provide an avenue for completing such purchases.

Abstract: An application sequence may be composed in response to a user query. The application sequence may be based upon user data accessed by the application concierge service. Each application within the personalized chain of applications may request and receive data from the application concierge service about the other applications within the chain.

Abstract: Viral application distribution facilitates distribution of an application among users and increases likelihood of downloading the application by the users. A first device may receive information of an application from a second device through a short-range communication channel. The information may comprise identification information of the application without any personally identifiable information of the second device to protect privacy of a user of the second device. A version of the application that is compatible with the first device is determined by searching a catalog using the identification information of the application. The compatible version of the application may then be downloaded or obtained by the first device. Location-based viral distribution may also be performed between devices that visit a location, even at different times.

Abstract: A curated application store is a virtual storefront that includes applications provisioned from one or more application databases. For example, a curator may browse through an application database to find notable applications based on his or her expertise in a certain area and then provision the notable applications from the application database for inclusion in an application store curated by the curator. Accordingly, users browsing for applications pertaining to the area of expertise of the curator may shop for the applications from within a virtual application mall which includes a collection of curated application stores such as the application store curated by the curator. In return, the curator of the store may receive a revenue share from the purchases made within his or her application store.

Abstract: A transformation engine and transformation processes may reduce computational resources used by a client or a server, such as during the consumption of a document. According to some implementations, a data stream is received in a first format over a network. A mapping template may be associated with the data stream. A forward-traversal of the mapping template may be performed without the accumulation of an intermediate state. Following the traversal of the mapping template, an output stream is emitted in a second format.

Abstract: This disclosure describes data conversion and techniques for sending and receiving data at a mobile device. In one implementation, a proxy server may receive data from a mobile device. The proxy server may convert the data and send the converted data to a network service. In another implementation, a mobile device may convert data and send that data to a network service.