Abstract: A mapping service can expose a set of APIs or other interfaces that can enable information from third parties to be incorporated into a mapping application executing on various computing devices, as well as to enable the mapping data to be embedded in applications associated with the third parties. This information can relate to points of interest (POI) that can be provided on a map displayed through the mapping application. In some embodiments the POI can be selected based upon information known about the user, in order to personalize the POI displayed and enable the selection of POI to likely be more of interest to the user. In some embodiments, the user can also select to receive types of POI from the third party providers, which can be incorporated with the mapping data and, in at least some embodiments can still be selected based on information known about the user.

Abstract: A user can access a mapping application from multiple devices, and updates made through one application can automatically be synchronized across the other devices. In some embodiments, a number of different activities of a user, such as entering an address or selecting a route, can cause information for that activity to be provided to a logically centralized system or service. The system or service then can notify the other devices of updated map state information for the user, which those devices can then request or download. The map information can include point of interest (POI) information from a number of sources, such as from a media information source that is able to provide POI information for locations associated with books, movies, music, and other types of media.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide a graphical element displayed through a mapping application that visually represents at least one point of interest (POI) data point on a map for a location. In one example, a single multi-dimensional graphical element can identify a location and identity of multiple POIs associated with the same geocode or physical location on a map, such as a multi-tenant building. In this example, each surface of the graphical element may represent a different POI. In another example, a multi-dimensional graphical element can identify a location and information for a single POI. In this example, each surface can represent different information, such as a surface for customer reviews, a surface for store hours, address, or contact information, a surface for a restaurant's menu, a surface for promotions, and the like.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention discloses a method for adapting educational content. The method comprises generating data for each of a plurality of students, the data pertaining to an aspect of the student's interaction with an educational system, combining the generated data to form a combined data set; analyzing the combined data set to identify clusters, each representing similar students according to a mathematical model; and adapting the educational system to provide a customized learning experience for a particular student based on an identified cluster.