User status reports provided by an entertainment access system

A method implemented at least in part by a computing device, comprising:

• causing status information to be communicated to a user, the status information concerning a user permitted to receive entertainment content over a communications network from an entertainment access service, the entertainment access service managing entertainment content on a plurality of third-party content providers for a plurality of users based on a user's identity, the managing comprising determining whether a user may download content to a device;
• receiving the status information at a first device associated with the user over the communications network from the entertainment access service, the status information including information identifying entertainment content available to the user, one or more usage rights governing the user's right to use the entertainment content, and two or more devices associated with the user, including the first device, that are capable of rendering, and permitted to render, the entertainment content;
• and
• presenting the status information to the user as a first set of graphical icons each representing an entertainment content available to the user together with a second set of a plurality of graphical icons each representing a device registered with the entertainment access service as associated with the user, wherein the status information is presented on the first device in a predetermined format selected at least in part on specifications of the first device.

An article of manufacture comprising one or more tangible computer-readable storage devices having computer-readable instructions therein that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform an act comprising:

• collecting status information concerning a user permitted to receive entertainment content over a communications network from an entertainment access service, the entertainment access service managing entertainment content on a plurality of third-party content providers for a plurality of users based on a user's identity, the managing comprising determining whether a user may download content to a device, wherein the status information includes information identifying entertainment content available to the user, one or more usage rights governing the user's right to use the entertainment content, and two or more devices associated with the user that are capable of rendering, and permitted to render, the entertainment content;
• and
• presenting the status information to the user as a first set of graphical icons each representing an entertainment content available to the user together with a second set of a plurality of graphical icons each representing a device registered with the entertainment access service as associated with the user, wherein the status information is presented in a predetermined format selected, by the entertainment access service, at least in part according to specifications of a device associated with the user that will receive the status information and communicate the status information to the user.