Abstract: A method and apparatus for the distribution of arbitrary media are provided. In one embodiment, during the preparation of an electronic mail item, the invention searches a electronic mail inbasket for items received from the address to which the electronic mail item is to be sent. A list of any such inbasket items is presented to the user before the item being prepared may be sent. The user is offered the option of viewing any such received items, editing the item being prepared, sending the item being prepared without further editing, or aborting the item being prepared. In another embodiment, upon the dialing of a telephone call, the invention searches a voice mail inbasket for recorded audio messages received from the telephone whose number has been dialed, and offers the user similar options if any such inbasket items are found.

Abstract: A method and system for recalling a previous desktop state of a data processing system, where a desktop state specifies a dependence hierarchy and visual arrangement of a number of graphical objects representative of operating system functions and data processing applications that are displayed within a display device of the data processing system. The system detects each occurrence of a desktop event which creates a new desktop state. In response to detecting an occurrence of a desktop event, the system records the new desktop state. In response to a particular user input, the system automatically returns the desktop to a selected state previous to the current desktop state by referencing the recorded desktop states, wherein all operating system functions and data processing applications available at the selected state are enabled.