Abstract: A search service accesses application content accessible via one or more enumerated applications. The search service ranks the accessed application content in combination with non-application content to produce a combined ranking. Responsive to a search query, the search service provides one or more search results based on the combined ranking.

Abstract: A method for processing an image such as a computer wallpaper identifies a characteristic color representative of the image. Image pixels with similar colors are separated into groups, and the average value of the R,G,B color components in each group is determined, after filtering out pixels with R,G,B values representing white, black, or grey. The group with the maximum difference between the highest average color component value and the lowest average color component value is identified as the characteristic color. Groups representing a number of pixels less than a certain percentage of all of the pixels are not considered. The characteristic color can be used in other displayed images at an intensity ? determined by setting maximum and minimum values of ?, with ? being the lesser of ?max and ?min plus the average color span of all pixels in the image.

Abstract: A connected account provider system allows a user of multiple electronic devices to set up a user account on one device with the device's settings saved in the cloud for application across different devices. A user can obtain secure access to the saved settings using a second (or subsequent) device and can select settings from the initial device to be synchronized to the second device. The system employs client account provider (CAP) software that can be obtained from an independent software provider and is installed on different devices of a user. The CAP client software creates an architecture on a user's device with a CAP client software layer conceptually separate from the device's operating system software. The CAP client software provides extension points for facilitating connection between connected user devices' operating systems and a cloud services layer typically provided by the CAP client software vendor.

Abstract: A method for processing an image such as a computer wallpaper identifies a characteristic color representative of the image. Image pixels with similar colors are separated into groups, and the average value of the R,G,B color components in each group is determined, after filtering out pixels with R,G,B values representing white, black, or grey. The group with the maximum difference between the highest average color component value and the lowest average color component value is identified as the characteristic color. Groups representing a number of pixels less than a certain percentage of all of the pixels are not considered. The characteristic color can be used in other displayed images at an intensity ? determined by setting maximum and minimum values of ?, with ? being the lesser of ?max and ?min plus the average color span of all pixels in the image.