The present disclosure generally relates to playing and managing audio items. In some examples, an electronic device provides intuitive user interfaces for playing and managing audio items on the device. In some examples, an electronic device provides seamless transitioning from navigating a stack of items corresponding to groups of audio items to navigating a list of menus. In some examples, an electronic device provides for quick and easy access between different applications that are active on the device. In some examples, an electronic device enables automatic transmission of data associated with audio items to be stored locally on a linked external device.

Embodiments of the present application provide a display apparatus. The display apparatus includes a display and a controller. The controller is configured to: while the display apparatus is working under a first signal source, present first content from the first signal source; in response to a selection of the video recording application, start a video recording process associated with the first content and monitor recording duration of the video recording process; generate a recording state control with foreground display permission while the display apparatus is connected with any signal source; in response to a source switch request, switch from the first signal source to a second signal source according to the source switch request, present second content from the second signal source, and control the video recording process to run in the background; and present the recording state control on a display interface with the second content.

Methods and apparatus for generating personalized menus and a media content interface are provided. In one example, different device specific media asset lists are generated at different user devices for the same user based on the media consumption history at each device. In another example, media asset listings are displayed for multicast and on-demand media assets determined to be of interest to the user. An on-demand media asset is listed at a time when no other multicast media assets are listed. In another example, media asset listings for successive episodes of a media series are displayed in sequential order in response to an input to view successive episodes of a media series. In another example, a text search for media content is performed in which the search priority of media provider results is decreased relative to the search priority of media asset results as additional characters are added to a search string.

Systems and methods are disclosed herein for generating for display depictions of tournament-style competitions restricting user's access to any content that may spoil the results of the tournament. A user may request to view a display that contains a tournament and participating competitors. Requests may be received from users to view recordings of tournament competitions or a results display with the tournament bracket displayed. The media guidance application may access recorded versions of competitions from internal and external directories. Furthermore, the media guidance application may compare user viewing progress data and competitor progress data to ensure the user does not prematurely view results of any competitions of interest to the user. If the media guidance application determines a user's progress is less than the progress of the user's favorite team, visual representations of the competitions that may spoil the outcome of the user's favorite team's competition may be blacked out.

Network content delivery apparatus and methods based on content compiled from various sources and particularly selected for a given user. In one embodiment, the network comprises a cable television network, and the content sources include DVR, broadcast, nPVR, and VOD. The user-targeted content is assembled into a playlist, and displayed as a continuous stream on a virtual channel particular to that user. User interfaces accessible through the virtual channel present various functional options, including the selection or exploration of content having similarity or prescribed relationships to other content, and the ability to order purchasable content. An improved electronic program guide is also disclosed which allows a user to start over, record, view, receive information on, “catch up”, and rate content. Apparatus for remote access and configuration of the playlist and virtual channel functions, as well as a business rules “engine” implementing operational or business goals, are also disclosed.

Systems and methods for identifying, assembling, and publishing content are described. A video content item, having a first time length, is identified by a system to be included in a program scheduled for a first time period. The video may be hosted on a third party system. A first time span within the first program is allocated for the video, wherein the first time span is longer than the first time length. The system determines, prior to or at the first time period, a time difference between a current length of the video and the first time span. At least partly in response to determining that the video has a time length shorter than the first time span, the system selects supplemental content based at least in part of the determined time difference to be streamed to user terminals over a data network within the first time period.

Systems and methods for replacing original media bookmarks of at least a portion of a digital media file with replacement bookmarks is described. A media fingerprint engine detects the location of the original fingerprints associated with the portion of the digital media file and a region analysis algorithm characterizes regions of media file spanning the location of the original bookmarks by data class types. The replacement bookmarks are associated with the data class types and are overwritten or otherwise are substituted for the original bookmarks. The replacement bookmarks then are subjected to a fingerprint matching algorithm that incorporates media timeline and media related metadata.

The user can respond to a media segment wherein the media segment may be associated with a schedulable event. Software on the device can then schedule the event into an electronic calendar system, and/or may use data associated with the media segment. At the appropriate time, the electronic calendar system may notify the user of the scheduled broadcast and/or event.

A method and computer readable medium for exploring similar users and items of a media service includes generating a user interface. The user interface displays a user selectable indicia representing a similar member function for allowing a user to search a media service for at least one other user. The one other user has a degree of similarity with respect to the searching user. Another method includes facilitating the search of such a similar user within a media service.

A community-based recommendation engine is provided. In one example embodiment, a system to provide community-based recommendation engine comprises a recommendation detector and a decision module. The recommendation detector is configured to receive, at a viewer's system, a recommendation for a content item from a contact of a viewer. The decision module may be configured to determine an action to be performed at the viewer's system, based on the recommendation and on one or more rules, accept the recommendation as an instruction to perform the action, and initiate the action at the viewer's system.