Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Katrina M Blanch

Rui Chen

Tyler Kien Beam

Steven J Ball

John S Holmes

Trevin M Chow

Jeffrey Earl Steinbok

Sermet Iskin

Ranjib Singh Badh

Scott B Graham

Jason C Fluegel

Erren Dusan Lester

John Hazen

Kavitha Radhakrishnan

James Henry Baker, Iii

Mark Wong

Jennifer L Bayer

Allen Kim

Wendy K Cook

Guillermo Enrique Rueda Quintero

Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for enabling selective file system access by applications. An application is installed in a computing device. An application manifest associated with the application is received. The application manifest indicates one or more file types that the application is allowed to access. The indicated file type(s) are registered in a location accessible by a broker service. The application is launched as an application process. The application process is isolated in an application container. The application container prevents direct access by the application process to file system data. An access request related to first data of the file system data is received at the broker service from the application process. Access by the application process to the first data is enabled when the broker service determines that a file type of the first data is included in the registered file type(s).

Selective file access for applications

Various embodiments provide a standardized way to interact with and extend instant messaging applications. A platform is provided and enables developers and other third parties to create extensions for instant messaging applications. Through a set of APIs, interacting applications or plug-ins are 'sandboxed' in their own areas where they are unable to perform unpermitted or unauthorized actions. The plug-in platform or architecture is integrated with the platform of the instant messaging application and can allow developers to create plug-ins that can interact with a local user and their buddies. Any number of various types of plug-ins can be developed and incorporated into the instant messaging application in a standardized manner.

Instant messaging plug-ins

Techniques are described which may be employed to provide a login screen with identifying data. In an implementation, a login screen is displayed having an image that identifies a user. Credentials are received via the login screen to log the user onto a service provider over a network.

Login screen with identifying data

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

Katrina M Blanch