Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing user-targeted advertisements to content recipients. Such advertisements may, for example, be selected using a user profile that is maintained locally at the recipient's computing or other content consuming device. A user profile can include information about the user's past viewing behavior. One exemplary embodiment uses a local content player software application to maintain a user profile based on contextual, behavioral, demographic, and other data linked to the content, the user's viewing habits, and/or location, among other things. Such a content player can select advertisements by matching user content information with user profile information. User profile information can be limited to local use to protect user privacy concerns.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for updating software in a client environment. Update information is received in the client environment. The update information identifies one or more available software products. Update instructions are executed in the client environment to identify one or more of the available software products as suitable for the client environment. An input selecting one or more of the identified suitable software products is received in the client environment. The selected software products are retrieved and installed in the client environment. The software products can include one or more software updates.