Abstract: A method of selecting content items based on user interactions with provided content is performed at a server system. A subset of content items selected from a plurality of available content items is provided to a first user of the service. An amount of time that the subset of content items is provided to the first user is determined. Content item selection criteria for a second user of the service is adjusted based on the amount of time that the subset of content items is provided to the first user. In response to receiving a request for a content item from the second user, a content item is selected items for the second user from the plurality of available content according to the adjusted content item selection criteria. The selected content item is provided to the second user.

Abstract: An electronic device with one or more processors and memory starts to download first content from a content delivery server. The first content corresponds to a first channel in a predetermined sequence of channels. While downloading the first content and before presenting second content that corresponds to a second channel that is adjacent to the first channel in the predetermined sequence of channels, the device presents the first content and periodically preloads, using a connection over the Internet to a content delivery server for the second content, portions of the second content from the content delivery server for the second content. The device periodically stores the preloaded portions of the second content in the memory. While presenting the first content, the electronic device receives a request for the second content. In response to receiving the request, the device transitions between presenting the first content to presenting the second content.

Abstract: An electronic device with one or more processors, memory and a display receives a first request to display a first video stream that corresponds to a first channel. In response to receiving the first request, the device starts to download the first video stream from a content source for the first video stream. After starting to download the first video stream, the device displays the first video stream and starts to preload one or more video streams including a second video stream that corresponds to a second channel that is adjacent to the first channel. While displaying the first video stream, the device receives a second request to display the second video stream. In response to receiving the second request, the device displays at least a portion of the second video stream using a preloaded portion of the second video stream.

Abstract: A method of classifying content items utilizes user-generated playlists. A content item is included in playlists from a plurality of distinct users. A server system receives, from respective users of the plurality of distinct users, respective playlist titles for the playlists. In accordance with a determination that the respective playlist titles from a threshold number of the plurality of distinct users specify a first attribute, the server system assigns the first attribute to the content item. The server system receives a request, from a first user via an application that is executing on a client device that is distinct from the server system, for content having the first attribute. In response to receiving the request, the server system selects the content item according to the first attribute and delivers the selected content item for playback to the first user.

Abstract: An electronic device with one or more processors, memory and a display displays a first video stream on the display. While displaying the first video stream, the electronic device downloads and stores a first portion of a second video stream and receives a request to display the second video stream on the display. In response to receiving the request, the electronic device starts to play the second video stream using the first portion of the second video stream, if the first portion of the second video stream meets recency criteria with respect to a current stream time of the second video stream. But if the first portion of the second video stream does not meet the recency criteria, the electronic device requests a second portion of the second video stream that is outside of the first portion of the second video stream.

Abstract: An electronic device with one or more processors, memory, and a touchscreen plays a first media item in a full-screen mode on the touchscreen. In response to detecting a contact on the touchscreen, the first media item shrinks into a region of the touchscreen and continues to play in the region, while a new media item is displayed outside of the region. In response to detecting movement of the contact, the shrunken first media item moves away from the region and the new media item moves into the region.

Abstract: An electronic device with one or more processors, memory and a display displays a first video stream on the display. While displaying the first video stream, the electronic device downloads and stores a first portion of a second video stream and receives a request to display the second video stream on the display. In response to receiving the request, the electronic device starts to play the second video stream using the first portion of the second video stream, if the first portion of the second video stream meets recency criteria with respect to a current stream time of the second video stream. But if the first portion of the second video stream does not meet the recency criteria, the electronic device requests a second portion of the second video stream that is outside of the first portion of the second video stream.

Abstract: A method of classifying content items utilizes user-generated playlists. A content item is included in playlists from a plurality of distinct users. A server system receives, from respective users of the plurality of distinct users, respective playlist titles for the playlists. In accordance with a determination that the respective playlist titles from a threshold number of the plurality of distinct users specify a first attribute, the server system assigns the first attribute to the content item. The server system receives a request, from a first user via an application that is executing on a client device that is distinct from the server system, for content having the first attribute. In response to receiving the request, the server system selects the content item according to the first attribute and delivers the selected content item for playback to the first user.

Abstract: An electronic device with one or more processors, memory, and a display displays a first video stream on the display. The electronic device downloads and stores a portion of a second video stream and, once the portion of the second video stream has been downloaded, ceases to download the second video stream. The electronic device receives a request to display the second video stream on the display and, in response, determines whether the stored portion of the second video stream satisfies recency criteria with respect to a current stream time of the second video stream. In accordance with a determination that the stored portion of the second video stream satisfies the recency criteria, the electronic device displays at least a portion of the first video stream on the display concurrently with at least the stored portion of the second video stream.

Abstract: An electronic device displays a first video stream on a display. While displaying the first video stream on the display, the device allocates, in accordance with a historical pattern of video stream switching of a particular user, available bandwidth for receiving data at the device at least between receiving the first video stream and preloading a second, non-displayed video stream. The device receives the first video stream and preloads the second, non-displayed video stream in accordance with the allocated available bandwidth. The device receives a request to display the second video stream on the display. In response to receiving the request to display the second video stream on the display, the device displays the preloaded second video stream on the display.

Abstract: An electronic device with one or more processors, memory and a display receives a first request to display a first video stream and, in response, displays the first video stream. After receiving the first request, the device preloads a second video stream that corresponds to live content, including caching a cached portion of the second video stream. While displaying the first video stream, the device receives a second request to display the second video stream. In response to receiving the second request, the device determines whether the second request meets recency criteria. When the second request meets recency criteria, the device starts to play the second video stream using the cached portion. When the second request does not meet the recency criteria, the device requests, from a content source for the second video stream, data corresponding to a portion of the second video stream other than the cached portion.

Abstract: A client device with one or more processors, memory, and a display displays a first video stream that corresponds to a first channel in a sequence. While displaying the first video stream and before receiving a request to display a second video stream corresponding to a second channel in the sequence, the client device preloads, from a remote content source, video content of one or more intervening channels. In response to receiving the request, the client device transitions from displaying the first video stream to displaying the second video stream: a portion of the first video stream is concurrently displayed with at least a portion of the preloaded video content of one or more intervening channels, and at least a portion of the preloaded video content of one or more intervening channels is displayed concurrently with at least a portion of the second video stream.

Abstract: An electronic device with one or more processors, memory, and a display displays a first video stream on the display and plays first audio content that corresponds to the first video stream. While displaying the first video stream and playing the first audio content, the electronic device receives a request to display a second video stream on the display. In response, the electronic device displays a visual transition from display of the first video stream to display of the second video stream; plays second audio content that corresponds to the second video stream; and increases an amplitude of the second audio content while decreasing an amplitude of the first audio content, in accordance with progress of the visual transition.

Abstract: A method of classifying content items utilizes user-generated playlists. A content item is included in respective playlists from a plurality of respective distinct users. The method receives respective user-generated information corresponding to the content item from each of the respective distinct users. For some users, the respective user-generated information is the respective playlist title. For other users, the user-generated information is the text of social network posting that identifies a respective playlist. In each case, the respective user-generated information specifies a first content item attribute that characterizes the content item. Accordingly, the method assigns the first content item attribute to the content item. Subsequently, a request is received from a first user for a content item having the first content item attribute. In response, the method selects the content item according to the first content item attribute and delivers the first content item to the first user.

Abstract: A method of selecting content items is performed by an electronic device having one or more processors and memory. The memory stores one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors. The method includes providing a first content item to a first user. The first content item is selected from a plurality of available content items, such as audio tracks or videos. The first user provides feedback relating to the first content item, and the feedback is used to adjust content item selection criteria for a second user distinct from the first user. The method includes receiving a request for a content item from the second user and selecting a content item from the plurality of available content items for the second user according to the adjusted content item selection criteria. The selected content item is then provided to the second user.

Abstract: An electronic device displays a first video stream on a display. While displaying the first video stream on the display, the device allocates, in accordance with a historical pattern of video stream switching of a particular user, available bandwidth for receiving data at the device at least between receiving the first video stream and preloading a second, non-displayed video stream. The device receives the first video stream and preloads the second, non-displayed video stream in accordance with the allocated available bandwidth. The device receives a request to display the second video stream on the display. In response to receiving the request to display the second video stream on the display, the device displays the preloaded second video stream on the display.

Abstract: An electronic device with one or more processors, memory, and a touchscreen plays a first media item in a full-screen mode on the touchscreen. In response to detecting a contact on the touchscreen, the first media item shrinks into a region of the touchscreen and continues to play in the region, while a new media item is displayed outside of the region. In response to detecting movement of the contact, the shrunken first media item moves away from the region and the new media item moves into the region.

Abstract: An electronic device with one or more processors, memory, and a display displays a first video stream on the display and plays first audio content that corresponds to the first video stream. While displaying the first video stream and playing the first audio content, the electronic device receives a request to display a second video stream on the display. In response, the electronic device displays a visual transition from display of the first video stream to display of the second video stream; plays second audio content that corresponds to the second video stream; and increases an amplitude of the second audio content while decreasing an amplitude of the first audio content, in accordance with progress of the visual transition.

Abstract: A client device with one or more processors, memory, and a display displays a first video stream that corresponds to a first channel in a sequence. While displaying the first video stream and before receiving a request to display a second video stream corresponding to a second channel in the sequence, the client device preloads, from a remote content source, video content of one or more intervening channels. In response to receiving the request, the client device transitions from displaying the first video stream to displaying the second video stream: a portion of the first video stream is concurrently displayed with at least a portion of the preloaded video content of one or more intervening channels, and at least a portion of the preloaded video content of one or more intervening channels is displayed concurrently with at least a portion of the second video stream.

Abstract: An electronic device with one or more processors, memory, and a display displays a first video stream on the display. The electronic device downloads and stores a portion of a second video stream and, once the portion of the second video stream has been downloaded, ceases to download the second video stream. The electronic device receives a request to display the second video stream on the display and, in response, determines whether the stored portion of the second video stream satisfies recency criteria with respect to a current stream time of the second video stream. In accordance with a determination that the stored portion of the second video stream satisfies the recency criteria, the electronic device displays at least a portion of the first video stream on the display concurrently with at least the stored portion of the second video stream.