Systems and methods are described herein for generating a watch schedule and compressed series for a user for a series that is expected to become unavailable. Availability data indicating when a content series will become unavailable is received and compared to user progression habits. If the content series will become unavailable before the user will complete it, a watch schedule may be offered to the user. If the user subsequently falls behind on this watch schedule, a compressed version of the content series may be offered to the user.

This disclosure relates to adaptive content control and display for internet media. A playback component provides for playback of media content. An input component detects user inputs during playback of the content. In response to the user inputs being detected, a menu component displays a level of a pivot menu during playback of the content. The pivot menu is displayed on top, or in front, of a portion of the content during playback, and the pivot menu can be at least partially transparent to enable consumption of the content to continue without complete obstruction.

A method and an apparatus for controlling video stream playback, and a storage medium are provided. In playing a video stream in a playback region of a mobile display screen, the method includes: obtaining a playback mode switching instruction based on a detected trigger event of a playback mode configuration control; setting a playback mode of the video stream to a target playback mode instructed by the playback mode switching instruction; and in a case that the playback mode of the video stream is set to the automatic playback mode, playing a video content next to a current video content if it is detected that the current video content has been played.

A method and apparatus for performing an integrated search is provided. An interface is provided that allows users to search and select any data related to a searchable term. Searchable terms may comprise titles of content, actors, and tags. Upon receiving results from the initial search, the user progresses through the initial search by selecting a result from the initial search and conducting a further search of that selection. The search may progress through many layers of searching in order to find information useful to the user and the user may perform actions based upon results of the search. The search implements a display with two columns, the first column displaying selectable data, and the second column displaying results to the selected data. The search is further customizable based upon a privacy level selected by the user.

A system for device-to-device media capturing is described herein. An example system includes a media delivery system of a media service and at least a first and second device associated with respective first and second user accounts of the media service. The first device is also associated with an active media content item provided by the media delivery system that is automatically captured by the second device. For example, as the second device is moved proximate to the first device, one or more wireless communications are transmitted between the devices that trigger device-to-device media capturing. Resultantly, an identifier for the active media content item is stored to a library of the second user account of the media service. The identifier is stored in response to detecting the proximity of the devices and determining that the second device is moving towards the first device.

Embodiments provide for methods, computer program products, and systems to improve media playback comprising receiving a variant stream, identifying respective maximum segment durations for a plurality of different types of client devices that will play media content contained in the variant stream, generating, using the variant stream, a respective playlist for each of the plurality of different types of client devices, wherein the respective playlists each contain different maximum segment durations, and delivering the respective playlists to at least one of the plurality of different types of client devices via a distribution network.

In one aspect, a playback device is provided that is configured to identify a trigger event indicating a request to associate the playback device with another playback device. Based on identifying the trigger event, the playback device is configured to create a first sound code based on a first sound specimen detected by the playback device. After identifying the trigger event, the playback device is configured to receive from the other playback device a sound object and based on receiving the sound object, identify a second sound code. The playback device is also configured to, based on the first sound code and the second sound code, determine that it and the other playback device have a spatial relationship. Based on that determination, the playback device is configured to cause it and the other playback device to be associated in accordance with the indicated request.

A system for distributing media includes a wide area network (WAN), a media player coupled to the WAN at a first home, and a media server coupled to the WAN at a second home for providing media. A service is coupled to the WAN for receiving a request for media from the media player and for establishing a connection between the first and second homes over the WAN. Media is streamed across the WAN from the second home to the first home. The system may include a storage device coupled to the media player where media is transferred across the WAN for storage at the storage device. A media device may be coupled to the media player for playing the streamed/transferred media where the media player and the media device may comprise a television, stereo, or computer and the media item may comprise video, photographs, or audio.

Video content is uploaded via the Internet to a video-on-demand (VOD) server identified by a title and a hierarchical address of categories and subcategories for categorizing the title. The VOD server converts and stores the video content at a storage address in a video content database linked to the title. The title is listed in a location of an electronic program guide (EPG) using the same categories and subcategories as in its hierarchical address. Any TV subscriber can access the EPG and navigate through its categories and subcategories to find a title for viewing on the TV. This can enable many new blogging or podcasting-like programs by popular “Hosts” to be self-published on the Internet and readily navigated for display on TV. The EPG can also store TV program addresses as bookmarks and allow them to be shared with other subscribers or with friends and contacts online by sending to their email addresses.

In some embodiments, an electronic device plays a content item in a manner synchronized with playback of the content item at one or more other electronic devices of other users. For example, the electronic device and one or more other electronic devices are participating in a communication session that includes synchronized playback of content items, including synchronized modifications to the playback of content items based on an input to modify playback of the content item received at one of the electronic devices.