Methods and systems for shareable virtual devices

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing software for a universal interface module that may be experienced by users across a plurality of computing devices, wherein the universal interface module is configured to be embedded in the operating system of the plurality of computing devices, wherein each of the plurality of computing devices includes at least a processor, memory and device display, wherein a virtual device module is stored in the memory of each of the plurality of computing devices and is operatively configured to present to a user of each one of the plurality of computing devices a GUI that has a universal appearance and functionality across all of the plurality of computing devices, the virtual device module managing a virtual device, the virtual device containing a plurality of widgets for providing access to a plurality of services, the plurality of services comprising information, entertainment, social-networking, messaging and telephony, the virtual device module further comprising a device manager which is utilized to layout the plurality of widgets on a computing device display area by partitioning the display area into a plurality of categories, each of the plurality of categories only displaying widgets belonging to a predetermined classification, wherein the device manager is further utilized to sort the display of the widgets belonging to the predetermined classification according to a most recent update time associated with each of the widgets, wherein the device manager is further utilized to automatically playback one or more of the plurality of widgets according to a defined playback sequence in response to an idle detection operation in the virtual device, wherein the idle detection operation comprises listening to at least one of user provided input and pointing device events and starting the automatic playback of the one or more of the plurality of widgets according to the defined playback sequence only when at least one of a user provided input and a pointing device performs an action outside of a screen area for the virtual device, wherein the plurality of widgets are contained in a widget container module, the widget container module providing for centralized addition and deletion of the plurality of widgets, the widget container module being embedded in a profile section associated with each of a plurality of social-networking sites, the plurality of social-networking sites being updated in a centralized manner by receiving updates to one or more of the plurality of widgets contained within the widget container module, the updates comprising an addition or deletion of one or more of the plurality of widgets from each of the plurality of social networking sites associated with widget container module.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing software for a universal content management interface configured to enhance a user's experience with using a plurality of different physical devices, by providing a dynamic graphical user interface (“GUI”) operatively configured to function and appear in the same manner on all the plurality of different devices, wherein the universal content management interface is operatively configured to provide the following:

• access to content,
• updates to content, and
• access to the plurality of different services through a plurality of widgets accessible through the universal content management interface, the plurality of widgets being contained in at least one virtual device which is managed by the universal content management interface, the plurality of different services comprising information, entertainment, social-networking, messaging and telephony, the universal content management interface further comprising a device manager which is utilized to:
• layout the plurality of widgets on a computing device display area by partitioning the display area into a plurality of categories, each of the plurality of categories only displaying widgets belonging to a predetermined classification,
• sort the display of the widgets belonging to the predetermined classification according to a most recent update time associated with each of the widgets,
• automatically playback one or more of the plurality of widgets according to a defined playback sequence in response to an idle detection operation in the virtual device, the idle detection operation comprising:
• listening to at least one of user input and pointing device events, and
• starting the automatic playback of the one or more of the plurality of widgets according to the defined playback sequence only when at least one of a user input and a pointing device performs an action outside of a screen area for the virtual device,
• wherein the plurality of widgets are contained in a widget container module, the widget container module providing for centralized addition and deletion of the plurality of widgets, the widget container module being embedded in a profile section associated with each of a plurality of social networking sites, the plurality of social networking sites being updated in a centralized manner by receiving updates to one or more of the plurality of widgets contained within the widget container module, the updates comprising an addition or deletion of one or more of the plurality of widgets from each of the plurality of social networking sites associated with widget container module.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a virtual device module operatively configured to function as a user interface and component platform for physical device OEMs/ODMs, wherein the virtual device module is integrated and implemented on top of the device operating system, and software developers, wherein the device module is utilized to package a suite of software applications, the virtual device module managing a virtual device, the virtual device containing a plurality of widgets for providing access to a plurality of services, the plurality of services comprising information, entertainment, social-networking, messaging and telephony, the virtual device module further comprising a device manager which is utilized to:

• layout the plurality of widgets on a computing device display area by partitioning the display area into a plurality of categories, each of the plurality of categories only displaying widgets belonging to a predetermined classification, sort the display of the widgets belonging to the predetermined classification according to a most recent update time associated with each of the widgets, automatically playback one or more of the plurality of widgets according to a defined playback sequence in response to an idle detection operation in the virtual device, the idle detection operation comprising:
• listening to at least one of user input and pointing device events, and starting the automatic playback of the one or more of the plurality of widgets according to the defined playback sequence only when at least one of a user input and a pointing device performs an action outside of a screen area for the virtual device, wherein the plurality of widgets are contained in a widget container module, the widget container module providing for centralized addition and deletion of the plurality of widgets, the widget container module being embedded in a profile section associated with each of a plurality of sites, the plurality of sites being updated in a centralized manner by receiving updates to one or more of the plurality of widgets contained within the widget container module, the updates comprising an addition or deletion of one or more of the plurality of widgets from each of the plurality of sites associated with widget container module.