Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for creating and using customized avatar instances to reflect current user states are disclosed. In various implementations, the user states can be defined using trigger events based on user-entered textual data, emoticons, or states of the device being used. For each user state, a customized avatar instance having a facial expression, body language, accessories, clothing items, and/or a presentation scheme reflective of the user state can be generated. When one or more trigger events indicating occurrence of a particular user state are detected on the device, the avatar presented on the device is updated with the customized avatar instance associated with the particular user state.

Abstract: Methods and systems for displaying increments of time in a calendar view are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method receives a selection of commonly-used increments of time for the calendar and allots equal amounts of display space in the calendar view for each commonly-used increment. The method allots less display space for other increments of time that are not commonly-used as compared to space allotted for the commonly-used increments. In another embodiment, a system presents a calendar view having a plurality of increments of time and events in a display. The system includes an input device for receiving a selection of commonly-used increments of time and a processor configured to alter the calendar view by displaying the commonly-used increments of time linearly with equal amounts of display size for commonly-used increments of time and decreasing the size of other increments of time in proportion to their proximity to commonly-used increments.

Abstract: An application-centric model is employed for the storage, searching and retrieval of documents. By entering a command directed to a particular application program, such as clicking on an icon for that program, a user interface panel displays documents stored on the computing device that are associated with that application. From the panel, the user can perform various actions with respect to the displayed documents.

Abstract: A contact GUI is presented on a display of a device. The GUI displays visual representations of a set of contacts. The contacts can be ranked according to a ranking system and the visual representations of the contacts can be displayed in the GUI according to rank. The ranking can be based on previous interactions with the contact or an upcoming event associated with the contact. A user can transfer a file to a contact by dragging and dropping a file icon onto a visual representation for a recipient contact. The communication mode for the transfer can be determined manually by the user or automatically based on the contact's current online status. Selection of a visual representation of a contact exposes a window with a timeline display providing descriptors for communications with the contact.

Abstract: A three-dimensional animation for providing access to applications is described. In some implementations, a three-dimensional multi-level dock is displayed. The multi-level dock can be animated to appear to slide into view on a graphical user interface in response to user input. The levels of the multi-level dock can be configured to display selectable graphical objects representing applications available on a computing device. A user can select a graphical object to invoke a corresponding application. The three-dimensional multi-level dock can be animated to slide out of view on the graphical user interface in response to the selection of an application object or in response to other user input.

Abstract: Information items in a file system are arranged into groups that are created according to a grouping component. A non-hierarchical view displays visual representations (e.g., icons, thumbnail images) of the information items arranged in visually delineated groups according to an arrange type that can be specified for each group. Various view formats are available including icon, list and column view formats. In each view format, a condensed mode can be selected for one or more groups, resulting in multiple visual representations of items being displayed in a fixed amount of screen space in the non-hierarchical view. In icon view, each condensed group includes a single row of visual representations that can be navigated separately from other groups in the non-hierarchical view.

Abstract: Information items in a file system are arranged into groups that are created according to a grouping component. A non-hierarchical view displays visual representations (e.g., icons, thumbnail images) of the information items arranged in visually delineated groups according to an arrange type that can be specified for each group. Various view formats are available including icon, list and column view formats. In each view format, a condensed mode can be selected for one or more groups, resulting in multiple visual representations of items being displayed in a fixed amount of screen space in the non-hierarchical view. In icon view, each condensed group includes a single row of visual representations that can be navigated separately from other groups in the non-hierarchical view.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for presenting and browsing items in a tilted 3D space are disclosed. In tilted viewing mode, groups of items from several consecutive levels of a hierarchy can be presented in respective browsable parades shown at different depths into a viewable region of the tilted 3D space. The user can browse laterally across each browsable parade, and browse up and down the hierarchy within the tilted 3D space. With the combination of browsing laterally across the parades presented in the viewable region of the tilted 3D space and browsing up and down the hierarchy along the depth dimension of the 3D space, the user can navigate the entirety of the hierarchy in the tilted 3D space.

Abstract: Methods, systems and machine readable tangible storage media that provide a user interface to an application store. In one embodiment, an icon representing an application being transferred to a user device appears to fly across the display area during the download and installation of the application before landing on a dock or other program control area from which the application can subsequently be launched. The user device synchronizes the flight of the icon with the progress of the download and installation by tracking the progress in communication with the server from which the application was transferred. The appearance of flight can be both vertical and horizontal and the icon bounces after the download and installation is complete conveying to the user that the application is ready to launch. The appearances of the locations from which the icon begins and ends its journey are changed to enhance the simulation of flight. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: This is directed to dynamically adjusting the display of a curve provided on a display while the curve is being drawn. In particular, this is directed to identifying segments between sampled points of a line, and applying a transform to the segments to smooth the line between the sampled points. As additional points are identified, previously drawn segments can be transformed, displayed, and stored in cache. In some embodiments, the electronic device can monitor angles along the path to determine whether a user provided an instruction to draw a line having an intentionally sharp angle. In such cases, the electronic device can adjust the smoothing transform to maintain the sharp angle.

Abstract: A user interface on a device allows a user to set their remote user status for viewing by other individuals on their devices. The user or an application can select from a number of predefined remote user status indicators representing remote user status, and the user can optionally include a text message to be displayed with the remote user status indicator. The selected remote user status indicator and optional text message can be stored on a network and made available to other devices that have a contact database that includes the user as a contact. In some implementations, the remote user status indicator can be displayed proximate the user's name in a user interface, such as a favorites list, e-mail interface, text messaging interface, chat room, or any other user interface associated with an application.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for creating and using customized avatar instances to reflect current user states are disclosed. In various implementations, the user states can be defined using trigger events based on user-entered textual data, emoticons, or states of the device being used. For each user state, a customized avatar instance having a facial expression, body language, accessories, clothing items, and/or a presentation scheme reflective of the user state can be generated. When one or more trigger events indicating occurrence of a particular user state are detected on the device, the avatar presented on the device is updated with the customized avatar instance associated with the particular user state.

Abstract: An avatar editing environment is disclosed that allows users to create custom avatars for use in online games and other applications. Starting with a blank face the user can add, rescale and position different elements (e.g., eyes, nose, mouth) on the blank face. The user can also change the shape of the avatar's face, the avatar's skin color and the color of all the elements. In some implementations, touch input and gestures can be used to manually edit the avatar. Various controls can be used to create the avatar, such as controls for resizing, rotating, positioning, etc. The user can choose between manual and automatic avatar creation. The avatar editing environment can be part of a framework that is available to applications. One or more elements of the avatar can be animated.