Abstract: An engine is provided for displaying an application for hosting a second application. The hosting application can be a sidebar on a display. The engine can contain a part or program which can include a manifest file, a definition file and/or a script file. The manifest file may contain a pointer to at least one of the definition file and the script file. The engine may also contain a loader that can locate the definition file and/or script file (e.g., via pointers in the manifest file) and load the definition file and/or script files of the part for processing. The engine may also execute script associated with the part and convert an object model into a user interface which can be displayed at a predetermined location on a display or docked onto a sidebar. The user interface can further be manipulated or relocated within the sidebar or removed (i.e., undocked) from the sidebar.

Abstract: An engine is provided for displaying an application for hosting a second application. The hosting application can be a sidebar on a display. The engine can contain a part or program which can include a manifest file, a definition file and/or a script file. The manifest file may contain a pointer to at least one of the definition file and the script file. The engine may also contain a loader that can locate the definition file and/or script file (e.g., via pointers in the manifest file) and load the definition file and/or script files of the part for processing. The engine may also execute script associated with the part and convert an object model into a user interface which can be displayed at a predetermined location on a display or docked onto a sidebar. The user interface can further be manipulated or relocated within the sidebar or removed (i.e., undocked) from the sidebar.

Abstract: An engine is provided for displaying an application for hosting a second application. The hosting application can be a sidebar on a display. The engine can contain a part or program which can include a manifest file, a definition file and/or a script file. The manifest file may contain a pointer to at least one of the definition file and the script file. The engine may also contain a loader that can locate the definition file and/or script file (e.g., via pointers in the manifest file) and load the definition file and/or script files of the part for processing. The engine may also execute script associated with the part and convert an object model into a user interface which can be displayed at a predetermined location on a display or docked onto a sidebar. The user interface can further be manipulated or relocated within the sidebar or removed (i.e., undocked) from the sidebar.

Abstract: A programming interface provides functions for generating applications, documents, media presentations and other content. These functions allow developers to obtain services from an operating system, object model service, or other system or service.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for displaying information, such as a gadget or a part and for dragging and dropping the part from a web page onto a separate location on a display such that the part is instantiated at the separate location and configured based on setting information contained within a representation of the part. Data associated with the part can be downloaded from a remote site.

Abstract: A system and method for presenting images to a user. A set of available animations to be performed when presenting digital images to a user is defined. A digital image and an available animation are selected. The selection of the available animation may include consideration of a previously performed animation and/or consideration of attributes of the selected digital image. The selected digital image is then presented to the user, and the selected animation is performed with respect to the image. The invention further includes methods for providing a slide show of digital images to a user.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for displaying a display element on a display in which a display element may be displayed responsive to a command, the display element being associated with another display element. Also, in another example, the association between the display elements is also displayed. In one example, the association between the display elements is depicted via an animation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for controlling application software while switching between session in a multi-session computing environment. An apparatus includes memory coupled to switching logic and application program managing logic. The switching logic is configured to selectively switch console control of a computing device between at least two user kernel sessions that are maintained in the memory. The application program managing logic is configured to selectively control at least one application program that is operatively configured within at least one of the user kernel sessions. For example, the application program managing logic can be configured to stop the operation, restart certain application programs, notify application programs about switching events, and/or adjust the playback of audio and/or video signals associated certain application programs.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for displaying dynamic information in a dynamic information element in a designated area on a display and resizing the dynamic information element in the designated area based on resizing of the designated area. A command to resize the designated area on the display may be received. Based on the size of the resized designated area, the dynamic information element displayed within the resized designated area on the display is resized.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for controlling application software while switching between sessions in a multi-session computing environment. An apparatus includes memory coupled to switching logic and application program managing logic. The switching logic is configured to selectively switch console control of a computing device between at least two user kernel sessions that are maintained in the memory. The application program managing logic is configured to selectively control at least one application program that is operatively configured within at least one of the user kernel sessions. For example, the application program managing logic can be configured to stop the operation, re-start certain application programs, notify application programs about switching events, and/or adjust the playback of audio and/or video signals associated certain application programs.

Abstract: An engine is provided for displaying an application for hosting a second application. The hosting application can be a sidebar on a display. The engine can contain a part or program which can include a manifest file, a definition file and/or a script file. The manifest file may contain a pointer to at least one of the definition file and the script file. The engine may also contain a loader that can locate the definition file and/or script file (e.g., via pointers in the manifest file) and load the definition file and/or script files of the part for processing. The engine may also execute script associated with the part and convert an object model into a user interface which can be displayed at a predetermined location on a display or docked onto a sidebar. The user interface can further be manipulated or relocated within the sidebar or removed (i.e., undocked) from the sidebar.

Abstract: A method of communicating between a graphical component library and an appearance manager is provided that includes issuing a request, that includes component defining parameters, for rendering services by a graphical component library. The appearance manager receives the request for rendering services and assigns appearance characteristics to the graphical component based upon the provided parameters. A method of rendering graphical components on the display of a computer system is also provided that includes rendering the requested graphical component according to the appearance characteristics assigned by the appearance manager. A method is also provided for communicating between a graphical component library and an appearance manager that includes issuing a request that includes component defining parameters, for information about the defined component.

Abstract: A new way of providing pertinent information about an item (e.g., a text file, a picture file, a music file, video file, or any other similar file) is provided. The invention provides graphical information about the item along with user-selectable properties that are specific to that item. The invention further provides a way of sorting the items by the user-selectable properties and communicating the sort order to the user. The invention thereby provides the user with a way of quickly finding pertinent information about the item.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for displaying information, such as a gadget or a part and for dragging and dropping the part from a web page onto a separate location on a display such that the part is instantiated at the separate location and configured based on setting information contained within a representation of the part. Data associated with the part can be downloaded from a remote site.

Abstract: An engine is provided for displaying an application for hosting a second application. The hosting application can be a sidebar on a display. The engine can contain a part or program which can include a manifest file, a definition file and/or a script file. The manifest file may contain a pointer to at least one of the definition file and the script file. The engine may also contain a loader that can locate the definition file and/or script file (e.g., via pointers in the manifest file) and load the definition file and/or script files of the part for processing. The engine may also execute script associated with the part and convert an object model into a user interface which can be displayed at a predetermined location on a display or docked onto a sidebar. The user interface can further be manipulated or relocated within the sidebar or removed (i.e., undocked) from the sidebar.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for displaying information or a part within a second application, such as a sidebar application. The part can be docked in the sidebar application or undocked from the sidebar application and can send corresponding docking messages in a docking protocol to the sidebar application based on the docking status of the part or the location of the part in relation to the sidebar application. Graphically depicted animations indicate to a user the docking and/or undocking processes.

Abstract: An engine is provided for displaying an application for hosting a second application. The hosting application can be a sidebar on a display. The engine can contain a part or program which can include a manifest file, a definition file and/or a script file. The manifest file may contain a pointer to at least one of the definition file and the script file. The engine may also contain a loader that can locate the definition file and/or script file (e.g., via pointers in the manifest file) and load the definition file and/or script files of the part for processing. The engine may also execute script associated with the part and convert an object model into a user interface which can be displayed at a predetermined location on a display or docked onto a sidebar. The user interface can further be manipulated or relocated within the sidebar or removed (i.e., undocked) from the sidebar.

Abstract: Several systems and associated methodologies are provided for rendering a themed image while mitigating pixelation and/or the disproportionate appearance thereof when the image is sized and/or scaled. The systems include at least one sizing module adapted to size components of a themed UI element. The systems also include at least one alignment module adapted to align at least one second component of a UI element within a first component of a UI element. The sizing modules are adapted to size the components with nine grid methodologies or based upon the ratio of the DPI of the context that the UI element is being rendered to the DPI that at least one of the components was designed under.

Abstract: Focus state themeing is accomplished by separating the processing of the focus state from the processing of an operative state of a control element. The operative states of the control element are entered or exited based upon the detection of input from a user or the detection of control availability by the operating system or by an application running on the operating system. Once an operative state is determined for a control element, the focus state of the control element is detected and merged with the operative state to generate a theme state for the control element. The theme state is a combination of the operative state and the focus state. There is one combined theme state for each operative-focus combination. Various display configurations may be used to represent a control element with a combined operative-focus state. The control element is then rendered on a display based on the operative state theme and the focus state theme.

Abstract: A system and method are described that use theming functions of a theme manager to render graphical components in a themed fashion. The theme manager uses a theme file that has theme properties for graphical components of all types. When an application is started a system is provided that determines whether the application supports theming. If the application supports theming a dynamic link controls library that supports theming is linked to the application. If the application does not support theming, the non-theming controls library is linked. If an application supports themes, application user controls and shell common controls are rendered with themes by using the functions of the theming controls library that interact with functions of the theme manager. Non-client window components are rendered using themes by intercepting render messages to windows and sending the messages to the theme manager.