Abstract: In a computer-implemented method for using an application platform to design an application, an interface for developing an application is displayed at a computer system, the interface including a plurality of components for use in visually designing the application. A selection of a component is received at the interface. A placement of the component in the application is received within the interface. The application is compiled such that the application executes natively on a target processor, and where the application is bound directly to a native graphics library associated with the target processor. A parameter selection for the component of the application is received, the parameter selection modifying an appearance of the component. The application including the parameter selection is executed within the interface during design time such that the component is rendered according to the parameter selection without re-compiling the application.

Abstract: In a method for passively relating data to metadata, associations that relate data in a first database to metadata in a second database are received, wherein an association links the data to the metadata, wherein the data is for use in a software application, and wherein the associations are created automatically without user interaction. A visual clue is displayed in a graphical interface of the software application, wherein the visual clue corresponds to a visual representation of the data, and wherein the visual clue is created based on the metadata and the associations. The metadata corresponding to the visual clue is searched for in response to detecting a user interaction with the visual clue. A first portion of the metadata related to the data is displayed.

Abstract: In a method for determining a location of an electronic device, a plurality of beacon signals are received from a plurality of beacon devices at the electronic device, wherein each beacon signal of the plurality of beacon signals includes an identity of a beacon device transmitting a respective beacon signal, and each beacon device of the plurality of beacon devices has a known location. A received signal strength for each beacon signal of the plurality of beacon signals is measured. A distance of the electronic device from each beacon device for which the plurality of beacon signals is received is determined, wherein the distance of the electronic device from a beacon device is based at least in part on the received signal strength of the beacon signal transmitted by the beacon device. A location of the electronic device is determined based at least on part on the distance of the electronic device from each beacon device for which the plurality of beacon signals is received.

Abstract: In a method for passively relating data to metadata, associations that relate data in a first database to metadata in a second database are received, wherein an association links the data to the metadata, wherein the data is for use in a software application, and wherein the associations are created automatically without user interaction. A visual clue is displayed in a graphical interface of the software application, wherein the visual clue corresponds to a visual representation of the data, and wherein the visual clue is created based on the metadata and the associations. The metadata corresponding to the visual clue is searched for in response to detecting a user interaction with the visual clue. A first portion of the metadata related to the data is displayed.

Abstract: In a method for displaying a three dimensional interface on an electronic device, a three dimensional user interface control with three dimensional effects is displayed on a display of the electronic device, the three dimensional effects based at least in part on a position of a user relative to the display. The position of the user relative to the display is tracked. Responsive to detecting a change in the position of the user relative to the display, the three dimensional effects of the three dimensional user interface control are dynamically changed based at least in part on the change in the position of the user relative to the display.

Abstract: In a computer-implemented method for using an application platform to design an application, an interface for developing an application is displayed at a computer system, the interface including a plurality of components for use in visually designing the application. A selection of a component is received at the interface. A placement of the component in the application is received within the interface. The application is compiled such that the application executes natively on a target processor, and where the application is bound directly to a native graphics library associated with the target processor. A style selection for the component of the application is received, the style selection modifying an appearance of the component. The application including the style selection is executed within the interface during design time such that the component is rendered according to the style selection without re-compiling the application.

Abstract: In a method for displaying a three dimensional interface on a device, a scene is displayed on a display of the device and a three dimensional user interface control with three dimensional effects is displayed on the display of the device, the three dimensional effects based on a virtual light source, a virtual camera, and a virtual depth of a three dimensional object relative to the scene. A change in the position of the device relative to the virtual light source and the virtual camera is detected. The three dimensional effects are dynamically changed based on the change in position of the device relative to the virtual light source and the virtual camera. Orientation of the virtual camera is dynamically changed to change the display of the scene and the display of the three dimensional user interface control to a new perspective based on the change in position of the device relative to the virtual light source and the virtual camera.

Abstract: Methods and systems for developing an object for connecting multiple platforms to a universal framework are disclosed. A selection of a developer tool for a universal framework from a plurality of developer tools is received at an interface for developing an object at a computer system, wherein the developer tool makes use of data by the object. The object is compiled with the developer tool such that the object will execute at a target device and make use of the data from a plurality of devices using the plurality of different protocols in the universal framework.

Abstract: In a method for determining a location of an electronic device, a plurality of beacon signals are received from a plurality of beacon devices at the electronic device, wherein each beacon signal of the plurality of beacon signals includes an identity of a beacon device transmitting a respective beacon signal, and each beacon device of the plurality of beacon devices has a known location. A received signal strength for each beacon signal of the plurality of beacon signals is measured. A distance of the electronic device from each beacon device for which the plurality of beacon signals is received is determined, wherein the distance of the electronic device from a beacon device is based at least in part on the received signal strength of the beacon signal transmitted by the beacon device. A location of the electronic device is determined based at least on part on the distance of the electronic device from each beacon device for which the plurality of beacon signals is received.

Abstract: In a method for passively relating data to metadata, associations that relate data in a first database to metadata in a second database are received, wherein an association links the data to the metadata, wherein the data is for use in a software application, and wherein the associations are created automatically without user interaction. A visual clue is displayed in a graphical interface of the software application, wherein the visual clue corresponds to a visual representation of the data, and wherein the visual clue is created based on the metadata and the associations. The metadata corresponding to the visual clue is searched for in response to detecting a user interaction with the visual clue. A first portion of the metadata related to the data is displayed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for connecting multiple platforms to a universal framework are disclosed. Data is received from a network device at an engine via a first protocol, wherein the data includes metadata. The metadata is converted from the first protocol to a plurality of protocols at the engine. The universal framework is provided at the engine to make the metadata available to external devices via the plurality of protocols.

Abstract: In a method for passively relating data to metadata, associations that relate data in a first database to metadata in a second database are received, wherein an association links the data to the metadata, wherein the data is for use in a software application, and wherein the associations are created automatically without user interaction. A visual clue is displayed in a graphical interface of the software application, wherein the visual clue corresponds to a visual representation of the data, and wherein the visual clue is created based on the metadata and the associations. The metadata corresponding to the visual clue is searched for in response to detecting a user interaction with the visual clue. A first portion of the metadata related to the data is displayed.

Abstract: In a method for displaying a three dimensional interface on an electronic device, a three dimensional user interface control with three dimensional effects is displayed on a display of the electronic device, the three dimensional effects based at least in part on a position of a user relative to the display. The position of the user relative to the display is tracked. Responsive to detecting a change in the position of the user relative to the display, the three dimensional effects of the three dimensional user interface control are dynamically changed based at least in part on the change in the position of the user relative to the display.

Abstract: In a method for displaying a three dimensional interface on an electronic device, a three dimensional user interface control with three dimensional effects is displayed on a display of the electronic device, the three dimensional effects based at least in part on a position of a user relative to the display. The position of the user relative to the display is tracked. Responsive to detecting a change in the position of the user relative to the display, the three dimensional effects of the three dimensional user interface control are dynamically changed based at least in part on the change in the position of the user relative to the display.

Abstract: Methods and systems for developing an object for connecting multiple platforms to a universal framework are disclosed. An interface for developing an object at a computer system is provided. A plurality of developer tools for a universal framework at the interface for use in designing the object is provided, where the tools automatically make use of data by the object, and where the data is generated by a plurality of devices using a plurality of different protocols. A selection of a developer tool from the plurality of developer tools is received at the interface. The object is compiled with the developer tool such that the object will execute at a target device and make use of the data from said plurality of devices using the plurality of different protocols in the universal framework.

Abstract: In a method for displaying a three dimensional interface on an electronic device, a three dimensional user interface control with three dimensional effects is displayed on a display of the electronic device, the three dimensional effects based at least in part on a position of a user relative to the display. The position of the user relative to the display is tracked. Responsive to detecting a change in the position of the user relative to the display, the three dimensional effects of the three dimensional user interface control are dynamically changed based at least in part on the change in the position of the user relative to the display.

Abstract: In a method for displaying a three dimensional interface on an electronic device, a three dimensional user interface control with three dimensional effects is displayed on a display of the electronic device, the three dimensional effects based at least in part on a position of a user relative to the display. The position of the user relative to the display is tracked. Responsive to detecting a change in the position of the user relative to the display, the three dimensional effects of the three dimensional user interface control are dynamically changed based at least in part on the change in the position of the user relative to the display.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a universal framework for connectivity of devices and developer tools are disclosed. A network device is detected at an engine. Data is received from the network device at the engine via a first protocol wherein the data comprises metadata. The metadata is converted from the first protocol to a plurality of protocols at the engine. A universal framework is provided at the engine to make the metadata available via the plurality of protocols. The metadata is sent from the universal framework to an external device via a specified protocol requested by the external device. In one embodiment, developer tools are provided for developing objects using said universal framework.

Abstract: A method for creating a product which is a single file executable by a product browser is provided. The method includes: initiating installation operations for application software on a computer system; recording the installation operations of the application software via a product browser, wherein the product browser is configured to create the product and execute the product; and creating the product based on the recording, wherein the creating structures the product with critical dynamic-link library (dll) files that will be pre-fetched by the second instance of the product browser, and wherein the product is structured with a virtualized private registry to be integrated with an operating system registry upon execution such that certain registry keys are virtualized in the virtualized private registry and other registry keys will be deferred to the operating system registry.

Abstract: In a method for passively relating data to metadata, associations that relate data in a first database to metadata in a second database are received, wherein an association links the data to the metadata, wherein the data is for use in a software application, and wherein the associations are created automatically without user interaction. A visual clue is displayed in a graphical interface of the software application, wherein the visual clue corresponds to a visual representation of the data, and wherein the visual clue is created based on the metadata and the associations. The metadata corresponding to the visual clue is searched for in response to detecting a user interaction with the visual clue. A first portion of the metadata related to the data is displayed.