Abstract: The disclosed concepts relate to streaming video games. One example method involves providing access to a plurality of versions of a particular video game application over a network. The example method also involves receiving a request to launch the particular video game application from a particular client device, obtaining context information relating to the request to launch the particular video game application, and accessing game version information for the plurality of versions of the particular video game application. The example method also involves, based at least on the context information and the game version information, choosing a selected version of the particular video game application to launch in response to the received request. The example method also involves initiating a current streaming session of the selected version of the particular video game application, the current streaming session involving remote execution of the selected version of the particular video game application.

Abstract: System and methods for network communication mute management are provided. In one embodiment, a method for operating system level mute services comprises: registering activation of a first network communication call by a first communication application with an operating system; subscribing the first communication application to operating system level mute services; with the operating system level mute services, monitoring a mute state of the first communication application based on one or more messages from the first communication application, and displaying a mute state indication via a mute user interface; and with the operating system level mute services, monitoring for a mute state change request based on user interaction with the mute user interface, and selectively forwarding the mute state change request to the first communication application.

Abstract: Obligatorily-acquired digital content items are stored under service control in one or more local storage machines of a computer based on service commands provided by a centralized management service; and voluntarily-acquired digital content items are stored under user control in the one or more local storage machines of the computer based on user commands. The obligatorily-acquired digital content items are protected from user-commanded deletion. The obligatorily-acquired digital content items are deleted from the one or more local storage machines based on service commands provided by the centralized management service. However, the voluntarily-acquired digital content items are deleted from the one or more local storage machines based on user commands.

Abstract: Obligatorily-acquired digital content items are stored under service control in one or more local storage machines of a computer based on service commands provided by a centralized management service; and voluntarily-acquired digital content items are stored under user control in the one or more local storage machines of the computer based on user commands. The obligatorily-acquired digital content items are protected from user-commanded deletion. The obligatorily-acquired digital content items are deleted from the one or more local storage machines based on service commands provided by the centralized management service. However, the voluntarily-acquired digital content items are deleted from the one or more local storage machines based on user commands.

Abstract: Obligatorily-acquired digital content items are stored under service control in one or more local storage machines of a computer based on service commands provided by a centralized management service; and voluntarily-acquired digital content items are stored under user control in the one or more local storage machines of the computer based on user commands. The obligatorily-acquired digital content items are protected from user-commanded deletion. The obligatorily-acquired digital content items are deleted from the one or more local storage machines based on service commands provided by the centralized management service. However, the voluntarily-acquired digital content items are deleted from the one or more local storage machines based on user commands.

Abstract: Obligatorily-acquired digital content items are stored under service control in one or more local storage machines of a computer based on service commands provided by a centralized management service; and voluntarily-acquired digital content items are stored under user control in the one or more local storage machines of the computer based on user commands. The obligatorily-acquired digital content items are protected from user-commanded deletion. The obligatorily-acquired digital content items are deleted from the one or more local storage machines based on service commands provided by the centralized management service. However, the voluntarily-acquired digital content items are deleted from the one or more local storage machines based on user commands.

Abstract: A plurality of sources storing portions of a digital content item that includes a plurality of pieces is identified. The plurality of sources includes one or more peer computers of a peer-to-peer network. For each piece of the plurality of pieces of the digital content item, that piece is acquired from a source.

Abstract: A plurality of sources storing portions of a digital content item that includes a plurality of pieces is identified. The plurality of sources includes one or more peer computers of a peer-to-peer network. For each piece of the plurality of pieces of the digital content item, that piece is acquired from a source.

Abstract: A plurality of sources storing portions of a digital content item that includes a plurality of pieces is identified. The plurality of sources includes one or more local storage machines of a computer and one or more peer computers of a peer-to-peer network. For each piece of the plurality of pieces of the digital content item, that piece is downloaded from a source. The source is selected from the plurality of sources according to one or more download metrics. The plurality of pieces is organized for installation on the computer as the digital content item.

Abstract: In various embodiments, methods and systems for prefetching recommended-media content based on a prefetch setting of a media platform are provided. A recommended-media record of recommended-media content is received. The recommended-media record is generated based on recommendation metrics of a recommendation profile. The recommended-media record is associated with a media platform. The media platform determines based on a prefetch setting for the media platform how to automatically download the recommended-media content associated with the recommended-media record to the media platform, where a default prefetch setting results in automatically downloading the recommended-media content to the media platform and a customized prefetch setting results in automatically downloading the recommended-media content based on the customized prefetch setting. Upon determining how to download the recommended-media content, the recommended-media content is downloaded based on the prefetch setting of the media platform.

Abstract: In various embodiments, methods and systems for prefetching recommended-media content based on a prefetch setting of a media platform are provided. A recommended-media record of recommended-media content is received. The recommended-media record is generated based on recommendation metrics of a recommendation profile. The recommended-media record is associated with a media platform. The media platform determines based on a prefetch setting for the media platform how to automatically download the recommended-media content associated with the recommended-media record to the media platform, where a default prefetch setting results in automatically downloading the recommended-media content to the media platform and a customized prefetch setting results in automatically downloading the recommended-media content based on the customized prefetch setting. Upon determining how to download the recommended-media content, the recommended-media content is downloaded based on the prefetch setting of the media platform.

Abstract: A plurality of sources storing portions of a digital content item that includes a plurality of pieces is identified. The plurality of sources includes one or more local storage machines of a computer and one or more peer computers of a peer-to-peer network. For each piece of the plurality of pieces of the digital content item, that piece is downloaded from a source. The source is selected from the plurality of sources according to one or more download metrics. The plurality of pieces is organized for installation on the computer as the digital content item.