Abstract: A transparent graphical user interface that overlays the user interfaces of other applications. The transparent user interface receives handwriting input and displays handwriting objects represented by handwriting input received in the area of the transparent handwriting interface. The transparent user interface of the invention can be expanded to include most of the display area of a computer, thereby allowing the user to write anywhere within the display area. This also allows the user to write multiple lines of text. Additionally, because the user interface is transparent, it allows the user to see the underlying graphical user interfaces for other applications, including applications that receive text recognized from the handwriting input written into the transparent handwriting interface. Further the transparent interface allows the user to interact with underlying graphical user interfaces.

Abstract: A user is provided with guidelines that are temporarily displayed with content, in order to assist the user in accurately writing electronic ink. The guidelines may appear when the user moves a writing tool close to a display and writing surface. Alternately, the guidelines may appear after the user has begun to write electronic ink, so that the guidelines can correspond to the angle at which the user is writing, the size of the user's handwriting, or both. As the user writes the electronic ink onto the writing surface, the handwritten electronic ink is added to the content being rendered on the display. After the user has finished writing electronic ink and moves the writing tool away from the writing surface, the guidelines may be deleted. Accordingly, the user can employ the temporary guidelines without the guidelines themselves becoming a permanent part of the content.

Abstract: A correction tool that displays a correction widget when a user acts to correct text is provided. More particularly, if the user places an insertion point in or to the immediate left of the text, or selects the text, the tool displays the correction widget immediately to the left of the selected text. The user can then quickly access a correction interface for correcting the text simply by moving the pointer the short distance from the insertion point to the correction widget. When the user activates the correction widget, the tool displays the correction interface immediately proximal to the correction widget. Thus, the user need only move the pointer a small distance further to then correct the text using the correction interface.

Abstract: A correction tool that displays a correction widget when a user acts to correct text is provided. More particularly, if the user places an insertion point in or to the immediate left of the text, or selects the text, the tool displays the correction widget immediately to the left of the selected text. The user can then quickly access a correction interface for correcting the text simply by moving the pointer the short distance from the insertion point to the correction widget. When the user activates the correction widget, the tool displays the correction interface immediately proximal to the correction widget. Thus, the user need only move the pointer a small distance further to then correct the text using the correction interface.

Abstract: A user is provided with guidelines that are temporarily displayed with content, in order to assist the user in neatly and accurately writing electronic ink. The guidelines may appear when the user moves a writing tool, such as a stylus or pen, close to a display and writing surface. Alternately, the guidelines may appear after the user has begun to write electronic ink, so that the guidelines can correspond to the angle at which the user is writing, the size of the user's handwriting, or both. As the user writes the electronic ink onto the writing surface, the handwritten electronic ink is added to the content being rendered on the display. After the user has finished writing electronic ink and moves the writing tool away from the writing surface, the guidelines are deleted, and are not added to the displayed content. In this way, the user can employ the temporary guidelines to accurately and legibly write electronic ink into content, without the guidelines themselves becoming a permanent part of the content.

Abstract: A transparent graphical user interface that overlays the user interfaces of other applications. The transparent user interface receives handwriting input and displays handwriting objects represented by handwriting input received in the area of the transparent handwriting interface. The transparent user interface of the invention can be expanded to include most of the display area of a computer, thereby allowing the user to write anywhere within the display area. This also allows the user to write multiple lines of text. Additionally, because the user interface is transparent, it allows the user to see the underlying graphical user interfaces for other applications, including applications that receive text recognized from the handwriting input written into the transparent handwriting interface. Further the transparent interface allows the user to interact with underlying graphical user interfaces.

Abstract: A correction tool that displays a correction widget when a user acts to correct text is provided. More particularly, if the user places an insertion point in or to the immediate left of the text, or selects the text, the tool displays the correction widget immediately to the left of the selected text. The user can then quickly access a correction interface for correcting the text simply by moving the pointer the short distance from the insertion point to the correction widget. When the user activates the correction widget, the tool displays the correction interface immediately proximal to the correction widget. Thus, the user need only move the pointer a small distance further to then correct the text using the correction interface.

Abstract: A transparent graphical user interface that overlays the user interfaces of other applications. The transparent user interface receives handwriting input and displays handwriting objects represented by handwriting input received in the area of the transparent handwriting interface. The transparent user interface of the invention can be expanded to include most of the display area of a computer, thereby allowing the user to write anywhere within the display area. This also allows the user to write multiple lines of text. Additionally, because the user interface is transparent, it allows the user to see the underlying graphical user interfaces for other applications, including applications that receive text recognized from the handwriting input written into the transparent handwriting interface. Further the transparent interface allows the user to interact with underlying graphical user interfaces.

Abstract: A user is provided with guidelines that are temporarily displayed with content, in order to assist the user in neatly and accurately writing electronic ink. The guidelines may appear when the user moves a writing tool, such as a stylus or pen, close to a display and writing surface. Alternately, the guidelines may appear after the user has begun to write electronic ink, so that the guidelines can correspond to the angle at which the user is writing, the size of the user's handwriting, or both. As the user writes the electronic ink onto the writing surface, the handwritten electronic ink is added to the content being rendered on the display. After the user has finished writing electronic ink and moves the writing tool away from the writing surface, the guidelines are deleted, and are not added to the displayed content. In this way, the user can employ the temporary guidelines to accurately and legibly write electronic ink into content, without the guidelines themselves becoming a permanent part of the content.

Abstract: A correction tool that displays a correction widget when a user acts to correct text. More particularly, if the user places an insertion point in or to the immediate left of the text, or selects the text, the tool displays the correction widget immediately to the left of the selected text. The user can then quickly access a correction interface for correcting the text simply by moving the pointer the short distance from the insertion point to the correction widget. When the user activates the correction widget, the tool displays the correction interface immediately proximal to the correction widget. Thus, the user need only move the pointer a small distance further to then correct the text using the correction interface.

Abstract: An application manager and application programming interface (API) for managing an install operation, a downsize operation, a reinstall operation, and an uninstall operation are disclosed. A method of communicating between the application manager and an application to perform these operations comprises the following steps: receiving from the application a call to set a property related to performing an application installation operation; receiving from the application a call to initialize an application installation operation; and receiving from the application a call to finalize the application installation operation.