Abstract: Shadows, reflections, and other image effects for use with high-resolution display screens may be quickly and efficiently generated to maximize resources available for other applications and programs. These effects may be quickly and efficiently created by identifying a region surrounding an image, distorting the image in the region, applying a uniform blur and/or other effect to the distorted image, and then undoing the distortion. By selectively applying effects to distorted images, it is possible to create the appearance of a non-uniformly applied blur and other effects without using the computing resources required to actually calculate and apply a non-uniform blur on a pixel-by-pixel basis. Systems, methods, and media are provided.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide tools that allow a user to share content on one device with multiple other users using different devices. To facilitate the sharing operations, the content sharing tools allow the user to (1) create a shared stream that represents a set of shared content and (2) invite one or more recipients to subscribe to the shared stream. When a recipient subscribes to the shared stream, the set of content is streamed across one or more of his or her devices. In some embodiments, the content sharing tools can be used manage the shared stream by additional subscribers, removing existing subscribers, and deleting the shared stream.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide tools that allow a user to share content on one device with multiple other users using different devices. To facilitate the sharing operations, the content sharing tools allow the user to (1) create a shared stream that represents a set of shared content and (2) invite one or more recipients to subscribe to the shared stream. When a recipient subscribes to the shared stream, the set of content is streamed across one or more of his or her devices. In some embodiments, the content sharing tools allow the set of contents of the shared stream to be published as a webpage to a public website.

Abstract: Information about a product advertised on a web page is presented separately, but concurrently, with the content of the web page, to avoid having to navigate away from the web page. The information may be automatically presented in a banner that is displayed adjacent the content of the web page. Controls on the banner initiate the display of further information, and/or enable purchase of the product, while maintaining the web page content in view on the browser. Alternatively, the display of the product information may be triggered by user selection of a link associated with that product. The information about the product may appear in an overlay sheet displayed in front of the original web page. The user can interact with controls on the sheet to initiate purchase or download of the product, or can dismiss the overlay sheet to continue viewing the content of the web page.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for delivery/read receipts for electronic messaging are disclosed. During one-on-one electronic messaging sessions in a conversation view format, only a single read receipt is shown only for the most recent message transmitted in the conversation. In some implementations, a delivery receipt is shown which then can be replaced or morphed into a read receipt. In a group conversation, a read receipt can be displayed for the recipient who most recently caught up in the ongoing conversation.

Abstract: A image manipulation technique allows a user to correct an image using samples obtained from other images. These samples may be obtained from one or more other images in a library of images. Matching techniques may identify an image that best matches the image to be corrected, or may aggregate or average multiple images that are identified as containing an area corresponding to the area to be corrected. Identification of the image or images to use as the source of the samples may be automatic or manual. The images may be from a library of images under the control of the user or from a library of images maintained by another person or service provider. Application of the samples to correct the image may be manually or automatically directed.

Abstract: A touch-sensitive input device provides improved visual feedback at (or near) the point and time of contact. As the user touches a touch-sensitive screen or pad, a portion of the screen or pad changes in visual appearance to indicate that the input has been received. In one embodiment, the change in visual appearance is localized to an area proximate to the point of contact. In one embodiment, the change in visual appearance is accomplished by illuminating an area proximate to and centered around the point of contact. In another embodiment, the change in visual appearance is accomplished by illuminating one or more illuminable elements, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on the touch-sensitive pad.

Abstract: A system and method for preventing unintentional activation and/or input in an electronic device are provided. A movable on-screen user interface object is provided as an unlocking mechanism in a device having a touch-sensitive surface. The user moves the object in any desired direction from a starting point (or origin); if the object is moved a sufficient distance away from the starting point, the device is unlocked. The required amount of movement may be defined by a threshold which may or may not be made visible to the user. In various embodiments, the threshold may be defined by an arc, a circle, or by a straight line, or in some other arbitrary manner. In various embodiments, user authentication can be required before unlocking takes effect. In various embodiments, certain alerts can be displayed while the device is locked.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for a search manager included in a mobile computing device. The search manager receives search text and a selection of one or more data sources and determines whether the selected data source include data matching, or similar to, the received search text. The search manager may dynamically modify a search database identifying data sources to be searched as data is received from a data source. Additionally, the search manager may communicate received search text to one or more applications stored by the mobile computing device, allowing an application to initiate an action using the search text. The search manager may also receive data from external sources identifying alternate search terms based on received search text.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating the capturing of panoramic images with a portable device. Such panoramic images are typically formed of multiple image portions taking as the camera is scanned through a range of motion, and the image portions are digitally “stitched” together to form a panoramic image. A user interface is provided to guide a user in positioning and/or moving of the portable device in a manner that will enable capture of a plurality of images suited for forming the intended panoramic image. In many examples, parameters of the panoramic image capturing operation, such as movement and/or positioning of the camera during the operation will be monitored in real time, and the monitored parameters will be used to provide feedback to the user as to any adjustments that may improve the image capture process.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a user interface is presented for initiating activities in an electronic device. The user interface includes an element referred to as a “launch wave”, which can be activated at substantially any time, even if the user is engaged with an activity, without requiring the user to first return to a home screen. In various embodiments, the user can activate the launch wave by performing a gesture, or by pressing a physical button, or by tapping at a particular location on a touchscreen, or by activating a keyboard command. In one embodiment, activation of the launch wave and selection of an item from the launch wave can be performed in one continuous operation on a touch-sensitive screen, so as to improve the expediency and convenience of launching applications and other items.

Abstract: While an electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface is in a locked, passcode-protected state, the device displays a lock screen user interface on the display. The lock screen user interface includes a plurality of restricted application launch icons, each restricted application launch icon corresponding to an application. The device also detects user input to activate a respective restricted application launch icon; and, in response to detecting the user input to activate the respective restricted application launch icon, starts a restricted session for a respective application that corresponds to the respective restricted application launch icon, wherein the respective application is configured to generate one or more content items while in the restricted session, and maintains the device in the locked, passcode-protected state for applications in the device other than the respective application.

Abstract: A first device and a second device communicate with each other using a first communications protocol over a first communications media. The first device detects a need to modify a communications bandwidth with the second device based on an operating condition of the first device at a point in time. The first device negotiates with the second device to identify a second communications protocol that is suitable for the operating condition based on a set of one or more rules associated with the first device. Both the first and second devices switch, without user intervention, from the first communications protocol to the second communications protocol to communicate with the second device using the second communications protocol over a second communications media.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a user interface is presented for initiating activities in an electronic device. The user interface includes an element referred to as a “launch wave”, which can be activated at substantially any time, even if the user is engaged with an activity, without requiring the user to first return to a home screen. In various embodiments, the user can activate the launch wave by performing a gesture, or by pressing a physical button, or by tapping at a particular location on a touchscreen, or by activating a keyboard command. In one embodiment, activation of the launch wave and selection of an item from the launch wave can be performed in one continuous operation on a touch-sensitive screen, so as to improve the expediency and convenience of launching applications and other items.

Abstract: This disclosure pertains to systems, methods, and computer readable medium for mapping particular user interactions, e.g., gestures, to the input parameters of various image processing routines, e.g., image filters, in a way that provides a seamless, dynamic, and intuitive experience for both the user and the software developer. Such techniques may handle the processing of both “relative” gestures, i.e., those gestures having values dependent on how much an input to the device has changed relative to a previous value of the input, and “absolute” gestures, i.e., those gestures having values dependent only on the instant value of the input to the device. Additionally, inputs to the device beyond user-input gestures may be utilized as input parameters to one or more image processing routines. For example, the device's orientation, acceleration, and/or position in three-dimensional space may be used as inputs to particular image processing routines.

Abstract: A system and method for preventing unintentional activation and/or input in an electronic device are provided. A movable on-screen user interface object is provided as an unlocking mechanism in a device having a touch-sensitive surface. The user moves the object in any desired direction from a starting point (or origin); if the object is moved a sufficient distance away from the starting point, the device is unlocked. The required amount of movement may be defined by a threshold which may or may not be made visible to the user. In various embodiments, the threshold may be defined by an arc, a circle, or by a straight line, or in some other arbitrary manner. In various embodiments, user authentication can be required before unlocking takes effect. In various embodiments, certain alerts can be displayed while the device is locked.

Abstract: A touch-sensitive input device provides improved visual feedback at (or near) the point and time of contact. As the user touches a touch-sensitive screen or pad, a portion of the screen or pad changes in visual appearance to indicate that the input has been received. In one embodiment, the change in visual appearance is localized to an area proximate to the point of contact. In one embodiment, the change in visual appearance is accomplished by illuminating an area proximate to and centered around the point of contact. In another embodiment, the change in visual appearance is accomplished by illuminating one or more illuminable elements, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on the touch-sensitive pad.

Abstract: In a computing device, event notifications take the form of alerts that can be presented in different ways. The particular form of each event notification depends on the nature of the event, the user task being performed at the time the event occurs, the user's preferences, or any combination thereof. In one aspect, the present invention presents event notifications in the form of banner alerts. Obtrusiveness is minimized by presenting the notification at a location near the edge of the screen (such as a bottom edge), and slightly shrinking the active display area to make room for the event notification. In this manner, event notifications can be presented without obscuring any part of the active display area. In addition, the user can obtain more information about the event by activating the notification (for example by tapping on it). In another aspect, the present invention provides a summary of pending event notifications.

Abstract: An apparatus may include a user interface and a profile management module. The user interface receives a user-selected operational mode. This operational mode may be selected from a personal mode and a work mode. The profile management module causes information to be presented to the user through the user interface in accordance with the user-selected operational mode.