Abstract: A system, method, and graphical user interface for playing games and/or executing applications on a tablet-based client. One embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) for playing a video game on a tablet-based client device comprises: a virtual controller rendered on a display of the tablet computer, the virtual controller substantially mimicking the control provided by a thumb stick of a physical game controller and providing omnidirectional, free-form movement in a synchronous direction in which a user moves a finger on the display of the tablet-based client.

Abstract: A system, method, and graphical user interface for playing games and/or executing applications on a tablet-based client. One embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) for playing a video game on a tablet-based client device comprises: a virtual controller rendered on a display of the tablet computer, the virtual controller substantially mimicking the control provided by a thumb stick of a physical game controller and providing omnidirectional, free-form movement in a synchronous direction in which a user moves a finger on the display of the tablet-based client.

Abstract: A system, method, and graphical user interface for playing games and/or executing applications on a tablet-based client. One embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) for playing a video game on a tablet-based client device comprises: a virtual controller rendered on a display of the tablet computer, the virtual controller substantially mimicking the control provided by a thumb stick of a physical game controller and providing omnidirectional, free-form movement in a synchronous direction in which a user moves a finger on the display of the tablet-based client.

Abstract: A system, method, and graphical user interface for playing games and/or executing applications on a tablet-based client. One embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) for playing a video game on a tablet-based client device comprises: a virtual controller rendered on a display of the tablet computer, the virtual controller substantially mimicking the control provided by a thumb stick of a physical game controller and providing omnidirectional, free-form movement in a synchronous direction in which a user moves a finger on the display of the tablet-based client.

Abstract: A content management system streams variable length segments of content items to client devices. The content management system stores a content item and makes the item available for access by one or more client devices. When a client device requests the content item from the content management system, the content management system sends the content item to the device by streaming the content item in segments. Specifically, the content management system partitions the content item into a sequence of variable length segments. An initial portion of the sequence includes rapid start segments that are configured as being the smallest segments in length from the sequence. A subsequent portion of the sequence includes the remaining segments having longer length(s). The content management system streams the segments to the client device in sequential order and in a streaming format.

Abstract: A system, method, and graphical user interface for playing games and/or executing applications on a tablet-based client. One embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) for playing a video game on a tablet-based client device comprises: a virtual controller rendered on a display of the tablet computer, the virtual controller substantially mimicking the control provided by a thumb stick of a physical game controller and providing omnidirectional, free-form movement in a synchronous direction in which a user moves a finger on the display of the tablet-based client.

Abstract: A system, method, and graphical user interface for playing games and/or executing applications on a tablet-based client. One embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) for playing a video game on a tablet-based client device comprises: a virtual controller rendered on a display of the tablet computer, the virtual controller substantially mimicking the control provided by a thumb stick of a physical game controller and providing omnidirectional, free-form movement in a synchronous direction in which a user moves a finger on the display of the tablet-based client.

Abstract: A content management system streams variable length segments of content items to client devices. The content management system stores a content item and makes the item available for access by one or more client devices. When a client device requests the content item from the content management system, the content management system sends the content item to the device by streaming the content item in segments. Specifically, the content management system partitions the content item into a sequence of variable length segments. An initial portion of the sequence includes rapid start segments that are configured as being the smallest segments in length from the sequence. A subsequent portion of the sequence includes the remaining segments having longer length(s). The content management system streams the segments to the client device in sequential order and in a streaming format.

Abstract: A system, method, and graphical user interface for playing games and/or executing applications on a tablet-based client. One embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) for playing a video game on a tablet-based client device comprises: a virtual controller rendered on a display of the tablet computer, the virtual controller substantially mimicking the control provided by a thumb stick of a physical game controller and providing omnidirectional, free-form movement in a synchronous direction in which a user moves a finger on the display of the tablet-based client.

Abstract: A content management system streams variable length segments of content items to client devices. The content management system stores a content item and makes the item available for access by one or more client devices. When a client device requests the content item from the content management system, the content management system sends the content item to the device by streaming the content item in segments. Specifically, the content management system partitions the content item into a sequence of variable length segments. An initial portion of the sequence includes rapid start segments that are configured as being the smallest segments in length from the sequence. A subsequent portion of the sequence includes the remaining segments having longer length(s). The content management system streams the segments to the client device in sequential order and in a streaming format.

Abstract: A system, method, and graphical user interface for playing games and/or executing applications on a tablet-based client. One embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) for playing a video game on a tablet-based client device comprises: a virtual controller rendered on a display of the tablet computer, the virtual controller substantially mimicking the control provided by a thumb stick of a physical game controller and providing omnidirectional, free-form movement in a synchronous direction in which a user moves a finger on the display of the tablet-based client.

Abstract: A system, method, and graphical user interface for playing games and/or executing applications on a tablet-based client. One embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) for playing a video game on a tablet-based client device comprises: a virtual controller rendered on a display of the tablet computer, the virtual controller substantially mimicking the control provided by a thumb stick of a physical game controller and providing omnidirectional, free-form movement in a synchronous direction in which a user moves a finger on the display of the tablet-based client.

Abstract: A system, method, and graphical user interface for playing games and/or executing applications on a tablet-based client. One embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) for playing a video game on a tablet-based client device comprises: a virtual controller rendered on a display of the tablet computer, the virtual controller substantially mimicking the control provided by a thumb stick of a physical game controller and providing omnidirectional, free-form movement in a synchronous direction in which a user moves a finger on the display of the tablet-based client.

Abstract: A content management system pre-transcodes portions of content items provided for storage. When a content item is uploaded to the content management system for storage, the content management system stores the content item in an original format. The content management system transcodes a portion of the content item from the original format to a streaming format. The content management system stores the transcoded portion and makes the content item available for access. When a client device requests the content item from the content management system, the content management system first sends by streaming to the client device the stored transcoded portion in the streaming format. During the sending of the transcoded portion, the content management system transcodes a remainder of the content item that has not been transcoded to the streaming format. The content management system sends the transcoded remainder of the content item to the client device.

Abstract: A content management system pre-transcodes portions of content items provided for storage. When a content item is uploaded to the content management system for storage, the content management system stores the content item in an original format. The content management system transcodes a portion of the content item from the original format to a streaming format. The content management system stores the transcoded portion and makes the content item available for access. When a client device requests the content item from the content management system, the content management system first sends by streaming to the client device the stored transcoded portion in the streaming format. During the sending of the transcoded portion, the content management system transcodes a remainder of the content item that has not been transcoded to the streaming format. The content management system sends the transcoded remainder of the content item to the client device.

Abstract: A content management system pre-transcodes portions of content items provided for storage. When a content item is uploaded to the content management system for storage, the content management system stores the content item in an original format. The content management system transcodes a portion of the content item from the original format to a streaming format. The content management system stores the transcoded portion and makes the content item available for access. When a client device requests the content item from the content management system, the content management system first sends by streaming to the client device the stored transcoded portion in the streaming format. During the sending of the transcoded portion, the content management system transcodes a remainder of the content item that has not been transcoded to the streaming format. The content management system sends the transcoded remainder of the content item to the client device.

Abstract: Event notifications can be provided to a user across multiple client devices or platforms. If a user takes action on one device, notifications on all devices can be updated to reflect the action. For example, notifications can be indexed by topic and time sequence (or other sequence), and multiple notifications related to the same topic can be consolidated at a server or the client so that current information can be presented to the user.

Abstract: A content management system streams variable length segments of content items to client devices. The content management system stores a content item and makes the item available for access by one or more client devices. When a client device requests the content item from the content management system, the content management system sends the content item to the device by streaming the content item in segments. Specifically, the content management system partitions the content item into a sequence of variable length segments. An initial portion of the sequence includes rapid start segments that are configured as being the smallest segments in length from the sequence. A subsequent portion of the sequence includes the remaining segments having longer length(s). The content management system streams the segments to the client device in sequential order and in a streaming format.

Abstract: A content management system pre-transcodes portions of content items provided for storage. When a content item is uploaded to the content management system for storage, the content management system stores the content item in an original format. The content management system transcodes a portion of the content item from the original format to a streaming format. The content management system stores the transcoded portion and makes the content item available for access. When a client device requests the content item from the content management system, the content management system first sends by streaming to the client device the stored transcoded portion in the streaming format. During the sending of the transcoded portion, the content management system transcodes a remainder of the content item that has not been transcoded to the streaming format. The content management system sends the transcoded remainder of the content item to the client device.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a file-communication system that enables a user to stream high-quality media (for example, from their Dropbox™) During operation, the system streams the media at an initial quality level to a client via a channel. For example, the quality level may be one of a set of quality levels associated with different transcoding operations. Then, the system determines or obtains an indicator of performance for the channel. Based on the indicator, the system spawns an additional transcoding operation at a different quality level than is available in the set of quality levels. The resulting media at the different quality level is then streamed from the system to the client via the channel.