Embodiments are provided for replacing media items in a queue of a playback device. An example implementation involves receiving, at the playback device, first data indicating an addition of a first media item to a queue. The playback device determines that the first media item is no longer accessible to the playback device at a later second time. The playback device initiates a query for a media item similar to the first media item and receives second data indicating that a second media item has replaced the first media item in the queue, the second media item being similar to the first media item. In response, the playback device initiates playback of the second media item on the playback device.

Systems and techniques are provided to transmit data over a digital interface between a sender and a receiver. The digital interface is configured for transmitting a primary type of data as opposed to a secondary type of data. Nevertheless, systems and techniques are provided where the secondary type of data can be transmitted in the digital interface. As such, the primary and/or secondary types of data are transmitted from the sender to the receiver via the digital interface. The primary and secondary types of data may be different and/or unrelated and could be any type of data including, but not limited to, audio data, general data, and bulk data. Yet, the received primary and secondary types of data are still useful after the transmission.

A system that provides for the accessing and playing of media files having differing associated rights such as non-DRM media files, purchased and downloaded media files, subscription download files such as tethered downloads, and subscription streamed DRM files. The system also provides a method and user interface for sharing a media collection among computing devices in communication via a network. The system allows access and playback, from each computing device on a network, of all media files in a media collection, regardless of their associated rights.

Systems and techniques for sharing media may utilize or implement a server receiving a media share request from a first device associated with a first user, the media share request including metadata pertaining to a media, retrieving a set of candidate media and fine tuning the set of candidate media to determine a selected candidate media, and transmitting metadata associated with the selected candidate media to a second device associated with a second user or transmitting a set of application program interface (API) calls to the second device.

Example techniques relate to cloud queue tombstones. An example implementation may involve a computing system receiving instructions to remove a particular media item from a playback queue. Based on the instructions, the computing system removes the particular media item from the playback queue and adds, to the playback queue, a tombstone indicator indicating that the particular media item has been removed from the playback queue. The computing system receives, from the media playback system, a request for a window of one or more media items from the playback queue. Based on the request, the computing system sends, to the media playback system, data representing a particular window of media items from the playback queue, wherein the particular window includes the tombstone indicator. The computing system detects a given tombstone removal trigger from among multiple tombstone removal triggers and based on the detecting, removes the tombstone indicator from the playback queue.

Embodiments described herein may involve queue versioning. An example implementation may involve a playback device initiating playback of a queue including one or more first audio streams. A queue identification token stored in data storage represents a current version of the queue. The playback device receives, from a computing system, data representing instructions to add one or more second audio streams to the queue, the instructions including an indication of the one or more second audio streams and a first token representing an expected queue version. The playback device determines whether the expected queue version represented by the first token matches the current version of the queue represented by the queue identification token. If not, the playback device foregoes adding the one or more second audio streams to the queue.

In accordance with an embodiment, a method of managing an automotive infotainment media library, in which media content files sourced from a set of source devices, and the media content files are accessible via respective playback paths by at least one media player application having a plurality of configurations, includes: parsing the media content files in the media library to create at least one indexed table including a respective list of identifiers associated to media content files, wherein the media content files are parsed as a function of at least one of a source device in the set of source devices, as a function of a configuration in the plurality of configurations of the at least one media player application, or as a function of folders grouping the media content files in the media library.

A computer-implemented method of remotely influencing a performer at a live event is disclosed herein. The method, for example, can be implemented via a customer device including a display, a processor, and a memory configured to store an application that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform the method. The method can include displaying a graphical user interface configured to receive user inputs, receiving a first user input including a user request for the performer to take a user-specified action during the live event, displaying terms and conditions associated with the user request, receiving a second user input including a user acceptance of the terms and conditions associated with the user request, and transmitting the user request to a performer device upon receiving the user acceptance of the terms and conditions associated with the user request.

Example techniques relate to playback queue subscriptions. An example implementation involves a computing system receiving, from a first computing device associated with a first user account, an instruction to enable subscription to a first playback queue associated with a first media playback system. In response to the instruction, the computing system enables second user accounts to subscribe to the first playback queue. The second user accounts are registered with respective second media playback systems in respective second household. The computing system receives, from a particular second media playback system, a request to subscribe to the first playback queue; and in response, sends one or more messages that update a control interface of the first control device to display a subscriber indication and (ii) sends one or more messages that populate a second playback queue of the particular second media playback system with audio tracks of the first playback queue.

Playback devices can support audio encoded using various encoding schemes. Playing back such content includes receiving, at a playback device, audio data from an audio source; and receiving an indication from the audio source that the audio data is encoded in the compressed audio format. The device determines, independently of receiving the indication from the audio source that the audio data is encoded in the compressed audio format, whether the audio data is encoded in a compressed audio format. If the audio data is determined to be encoded in the compressed audio format: the device selects a decoder from among a plurality of decoders; decodes the audio data using the selected decoder; and plays back the decoded audio data via the playback device. If the audio data is determined not to be encoded in the compressed audio format, the device inhibits playback of the audio data.