Apple Inc.

Austen J Green

Joshua H Shaffer

Paul W Salzman

Neil Gareth Crane

Michael J Lamb

Brent W Schorsch

Eugene Dvortsov

Embodiments provide methods and systems for updating application data in snapshots of applications for previewing. Some embodiments update application data by determining when current application data may expire and retrieving updated application data. The application data for various applications in a preview mode may be updated based on an allotted budget. Permission can be selectively granted to applications to obtain updated data so as to control the budget. Application data in the snapshots may appear updated to a user as the user browses the dock without requiring the applications to request updated application data when the user enters the dock, regardless of whether each application is active. Further, some embodiments may generate a snapshot using a layer hierarchy and image layer data generated while the application was last running if the time associated with when the application was last active is later than the time associated with an existing snapshot.

Providing updated application data for previewing applications on a display

Techniques for enhancing the viewing of applications in a preview provider are provided. A method includes receiving an indication to provide a preview mode on a display of the computing device, providing screenshots of a plurality of applications in the preview mode such that the screenshots are accessible for viewing by a user. The method also includes identifying the first application to provide the first screenshot in an updated mode and changing a state of the first application from a suspended state to an inactive state by allocating processing time of the one or more processors to the first application, and displaying updates of the first screenshot while the first application is in the inactive state.

Enhanced application preview mode

Embodiments can provide a portable computing device for pre-launching an application upon predicting that the application may be an application desired to be launched by a user. One or more application pre-launch criteria for an icon may be determined to have been satisfied when the icon is within a specified region of a display. Pre-launching the application can include loading the application into working memory while not presenting an interface associated with the application on the display of the portable computing device. When a selection of the icon is received, an interface associated with the application can be presented on the display of the portable computing device using the loaded application.

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Campbell, CA, United States of America

Austen J Green