Abstract: A computer-implemented method of operating a user device to access data relating to at least one of a plurality of topics, the method comprising: transmitting from the user device a request for topic data; receiving at the user device, in response to the request for topic data, core topic data defining at least one property of the selected topic; storing the core topic data in a topic database associated with the user device; receiving at the user device supplementary topic data associated with at least the selected topic; and in response to a request to access the selected topic, outputting the core topic data and the supplementary topic data (for example to a user via a display). A corresponding method of operating a server is also disclosed, as well as a user device, a server and a system employing the above-mentioned methods.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention enables a computer user (e.g., software developer, software consumer, etc.) to remotely determine whether a software application (e.g., a video game) is compatible with a version of an operating system of an electronic device (e.g., a portable computer system). Specifically, the computer user transmits the program code of the software application to a simulator via the Internet (or any other type of communication medium). The simulator simulates the operation of the received software application code on an operating system in order to rate the performance of the code and/or detect any errors (e.g., incompatibilities) contained within the code. The simulator may also test the software application code against different versions and/or types of operating systems. Once the simulation is complete, the simulation software automatically generates a report corresponding to the performance of the software application with each tested version and/or type of operating system.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention enables a computer user (e.g., software developer, software consumer, etc.) to remotely determine whether a software application (e.g., a video game) is compatible with a version of an operating system of an electronic device (e.g., a portable computer system). Specifically, the computer user transmits the program code of the software application to a simulator via the Internet (or any other type of communication medium). The simulator simulates the operation of the received software application code on an operating system in order to rate the performance of the code and/or detect any errors (e.g., incompatibilities) contained within the code. It is appreciated that the simulator may also test the software application code against different versions and/or types of operating systems.