Abstract: A graphical user interface made up of icons representing individual files and collectively forming the shape of a “v” is described along with methods of using and creating the graphical user interface. The v-shaped interface is useful to display detailed information about many of the items in a list and facilitates manipulation of list order and selection of the active file in the list. The interface further permits the use of a representative icon associated with the list as a whole. Manipulation of the representative icon can cause modification or replacement of the entire playlist represented by the icon.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for accessing e-learning courses from an online resource are disclosed. Graphical user interfaces (GUIs) allow students to enroll in online courses or collections of other media (e.g., video files, presentations). The courses can include in-session and self-paced courses. The courses can be delivered over a network to any number and types of student operated devices. An e-learning application running on the student-operated device provides various user interface elements that allow the student to browse, select, enroll and interact with online courses. In some implementations, the GUIs provide a display object (e.g., a virtual spiral-bound notebook) that includes tabs that can be selected by the student to navigate pages of an online course to access information, materials, posts and notes.

Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, methods, and computer program products for authoring content for e-learning courses, such as network-enabled (e.g., Web-based) education courses. Graphical user interfaces (GUIs) provide an instructor with user interface elements to manage online course content. Using the GUIs, the instructor can create in-session and self-paced courses that can be delivered over a network to any number of student operated client devices. The instructor is provided a suite of editing tools that can be used to create and edit pages of content for a course, including adding links and multimedia, information pages, posts and course materials. The GUI can include a side bar that can display descriptors that can be used by the instructor to navigate pages of the course.

Abstract: Playlists having media items from more than one source are described. Media items in a first library are mapped to media items from an online media item store. Media items within the playlist that can be found in the first library will be played from the first library, while media items not within the first library will be played from the online media store. By identifying media items present in both libraries and playing them only from the first library, the described method can reduce the royalties needing to be paid by the online media store. Further methods are disclosed for setting limits on the number of media items that can be shared by a second library.

Abstract: Playlists having media items from more than one source are described. Media items in a first library are mapped to media items from an online media item store. Media items within the playlist that can be found in the first library will be played from the first library, while media items not within the first library will be played from the online media store. By identifying media items present in both libraries and playing them only from the first library, the described method can reduce the royalties needing to be paid by the online media store. Further methods are disclosed for setting limits on the number of media items that can be shared by a second library.

Abstract: Information is presented to a user by accessing a library of electronic publications that includes a first publication, generating a representation of the first publication in an electronic bookshelf, determining a state for the first publication and modifying the representation of the first publication to reflect the state of the first publication.

Abstract: A graphical user interface made up of icons representing individual files and collectively forming the shape of a spiral is described along with methods of using and creating the graphical user interface. The spiral interface is useful to display detailed information about many of the items in a list and facilitates manipulation of list order and selection of the active file in the list. The interface further permits the use of a representative icon associated with the list as a whole.

Abstract: Among other things, methods, systems and computer program products are disclosed for manipulating media. In one aspect, a first set of media item images is displayed in a first region of a display screen. The media item images are moved about a predetermined path within the first region in response to a received input. A second set of media item images is displayed in a second region of the display screen where the second set of media item images are associated with an indicated media item image displayed in the first region. At least one of the media item images in the second set of media item images displayed in the second region is different from the indicated media item image.

Abstract: Technologies for generating a menu of favorite media items for presentation to a user are described. In one aspect, input from a user designating a show as a favorite show is received. In response to receiving the input, show information relating to the favorite show is displayed in a first graphical user interface. The show information includes a plurality of shortcuts, each shortcut pointing to a corresponding episode of the favorite show, and indicia displayed concurrently with the shortcuts to mark unwatched episodes. In response to receiving the input, a pointer associated with the favorite show is displayed in a second graphical user interface. The pointer points to the show information displayed in the first graphical user interface, such that the pointer associated with the favorite show is being displayed in the second graphical user interface concurrently with shortcuts associated with one or more other favorite shows.

Abstract: Methods, systems and/or computer program products that help facilitate visual presentation composition may include, in one aspect, executing one or more processes executing on a computer system to present a user of a computer system with movie templates, each movie template having a corresponding theme and a sequence of shot placeholders, each shot placeholder including graphical indicia representing one or more desirable characteristics specific to that shot placeholder; receiving information from the user including a movie template selection and a selection of one or more video clips corresponding to desirable characteristics indicated by the shot placeholders; and generating a playable media file representing a movie based on the information received from the user.

Abstract: Among other things, methods, systems and computer program products are disclosed for manipulating media. In one aspect, a representation of a bookshelf having a plurality of shelves is displayed. A collection of pre-generated digital photo collections is accessed. A plurality of digital photo collections is displayed, wherein the digital photo collections are positioned on the bookshelf, wherein the digital photo collections represent types of printed media, and wherein the displayed digital photo collections include at least one digital photo collection that was created based on user input and at least one pre-generated digital photo collection. User input indicating a selection of a pre-generated digital photo collection is received. User input indicating an image to be included in the selected pre-generated digital photo collection is received. A digital photo collection is generated based on the selected pre-generated digital photo collection that includes the user indicated image.

Abstract: Playlists having media items from more than one source are described. Media items in a first library are mapped to media items from an online media item store. Media items within the playlist that can be found in the first library will be played from the first library, while media items not within the first library will be played from the online media store. By identifying media items present in both libraries and playing them only from the first library, the described method can reduce the royalties needing to be paid by the online media store. Further methods are disclosed for setting limits on the number of media items that can be shared by a second library.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for generating digital media presentation layouts dynamically based on image features. Multiple digital images are received. Features are identified for one or more of the digital images based on metadata associated with and content included in the digital images. Significance measures are associated with the one or more digital images based on the features. A digital presentation of the one or more digital images is generated and the digital images are displayed according to the significance measures associated with the respective digital images.

Abstract: Playlists having media items from more than one source are described. Media items in a first library are mapped to media items from an online media item store. Media items within the playlist that can be found in the first library will be played from the first library, while media items not within the first library will be played from the online media store. By identifying media items present in both libraries and playing them only from the first library, the described method can reduce the royalties needing to be paid by the online media store. Further methods are disclosed for setting limits on the number of media items that can be shared by a second library.

Abstract: Displaying and navigating items in an ordered list within a graphical user interface for viewing and utilizing the data are disclosed. An ordered list of data items can be used to generate an icon that represents the contents of the list. The icon can comprise images that best represent the items in the ordered list by choosing images associated with the highest ranked items in the ordered list. When the ordered list is selected by selecting the icon with a pointing device or keyboard the icon transforms to display an image of a currently selected data item with navigational controls. The navigational controls can receive inputs from a pointing device or keyboard to allow a user to navigate or browse through the items in the list without having to open a new view.

Abstract: Methods, systems, articles of manufacture, and apparatus for causing a computer system such as a media device to perform operations may include receiving input from the user selecting a media type category, identifying media content items within the selected media category that the user has previously selected for presentation, prioritizing the identified media content items based on a predetermined set of rules, and presenting to the user a menu of at least some of the identified media content items in an order based on a result of the prioritization.

Abstract: Devices are identified by their owners and authorization to network two or more devices is based on device ownership. Data structures such as address books can store information about an owner of a device and maintain an entry indicating that a particular entry identifies the owner of the device. Other entries in the address book are contacts of the owner. A host device can authorize a client for communication with the host based on a relationship between the owner of the client and the owner of the host as indicated by the presence of the contact information of the client's owner in the host's address book. Devices and can enable communication and sharing of services and levels of access permissions based on the relationship of the owners' of the respective devices.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, computer-implemented methods, and tangible computer-readable media for generating cluster-based media playlists. The system includes an input module configured receive a user selection of a seed media object, a selection module selects media objects based on similarity data between the media objects and the seed media object, a ranking module generates a ranking of the media objects, and an output module positions and displays the media objects in a cluster around the seed media object. The method includes receiving a user selection of a seed media object, selecting media objects based on similarity data between the media objects and the seed media object, generating a ranking of the media objects, and displaying the media objects in a cluster around the seed media object.

Abstract: A graphical user interface made up of icons representing individual files and collectively forming the shape of a spiral is described along with methods of using and creating the graphical user interface. The spiral interface is useful to display detailed information about many of the items in a list and facilitates manipulation of list order and selection of the active file in the list. The interface further permits the use of a representative icon associated with the list as a whole.