Location-Specific Desktop Display

Abstract

In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products. A mobile computing device presents a desktop display, wherein the desktop display includes (i) a desktop background display, and (ii) one or more user-selectable application program shortcut icons. A first geographic location of the mobile computing device is determined. The mobile computing device updates the desktop background display to include a first image of a map that depicts the first geographic location. A second geographical location of the mobile computing device is determined. The mobile computing device updates the desktop background display to include a second image of the map, wherein the second image of the map has panned to depict the second geographic location.

1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 presenting, by a mobile computing device, a desktop display on a display screen of the mobile computing device, wherein the desktop display includes (i) a desktop background display, and (ii) one or more user-selectable application program shortcut icons, wherein the one or more user-selectable application program shortcut icons at least partially overlap the desktop background display;   determining a first geographic location of the mobile computing device;   updating, by the mobile computing device and in response to determining the first geographic location, the desktop background display to include a first image of a map that depicts the first geographic location;   determining a second geographic location of the mobile computing device, wherein the second geographic location is different than the first geographic location; and   updating, by the mobile computing device and in response to determining the second geographic location, the desktop background display to include a second image of the map, wherein the second image of the map has panned to depict the second geographic location.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the desktop display is a first display that is presented on the display screen after the mobile computing device is powered on. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the desktop display is a first display that is presented on the display screen after a user has interacted with a device unlocking user interface in order to unlock the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the desktop display is a first display that is presented on the display screen after activation of the mobile computing device from a sleep state. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the desktop display is presented in response to user selection of a hardware button of the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the desktop display is presented in response to user selection of a home button of the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more user-selectable application program shortcut icons, when selected, invokes a respective application program from a plurality of application programs. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the one or more user-selectable application program shortcut icons are associated with application programs that were downloaded to the mobile computing device from an online application store. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more user-selectable application program shortcut icons are arranged in a grid of application program shortcut icons that is at least one user-selectable application program shortcut icon tall and at least two user-selectable application program shortcut icons wide; and
 further comprising identifying, by the mobile computing device, that user input contacted a first of the one or more user-selectable application program shortcut icons at a first location in the grid and dragged the first user-selectable application program shortcut icon to a second location in the grid.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first image includes a graphical interface element that is displayed over the map and that represents a current location of the mobile computing device on the map. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising continuously updating, by the mobile computing device, the map as a geographic location of the mobile device changes to consistently identify a current geographic location of the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the map is continuously updated such that a center of the map continuously corresponds to the current geographic location of the mobile computing device on the map. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the map is a geographic street map. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the first geographic location and determining the second geographic location includes using a satellite-based positioning system, or identifying base stations in a mobile device cellular network with which the mobile computing device wirelessly communicates. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying, by the mobile computing device, a widget graphical interface element over a portion of the desktop background display, the widget graphical interface element occupying less than the full display of the desktop background display, the widget graphical interface element being associated with an application program that is executing, the widget graphical interface element displaying content that is controlled by the executing application program. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining, by the mobile computing device, that the mobile computing device has physically docked with a docking system and, as a result, changing, by the mobile computing device and without any user input subsequent to determining that the mobile computing device has physically docked with the docking system, the desktop background display from an image that is not of a map to the first image that is of the map. 
     
     
         17 . One or more computer-readable storage devices storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processing devices, perform operations comprising:
 presenting, by a mobile computing device, a desktop display on a display screen of the mobile computing device, wherein the desktop display includes (i) a desktop background display, and (ii) one or more user-selectable application program shortcut icons, wherein the one or more user-selectable application program shortcut icons at least partially overlap the desktop background display;   determining a first geographic location of the mobile computing device;   updating, by the mobile computing device and in response to determining the first geographic location, the desktop background display to include a first image of a map that depicts the first geographic location;   determining a second geographic location of the mobile computing device, wherein the second geographic location is different than the first geographic location; and   updating, by the mobile computing device and in response to determining the second geographic location, the desktop background display to include a second image of the map, wherein the second image of the map has panned to depict the second geographic location.   
     
     
         18 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 presenting, by a mobile computing device, a desktop display on a display screen of the mobile computing device, wherein the desktop display comprises:
 (i) a desktop background display that includes at least one image, and 
 (ii) one or more user-selectable application program shortcut icons that, when selected, each invoke a respective application program from a plurality of application programs, the one or more user-selectable application program shortcut icons at least partially overlapping the displayed desktop background display, 
 wherein the desktop display is presented in response to user-selection of a hardware home button; 
   determining a first geographic location of the mobile device by use of a satellite-based positioning system or by identifying base stations in a mobile device cellular network with which the mobile computing device wirelessly communicates;   updating, by the mobile computing device and in response to determining the first geographic location, the desktop background display to include an image of a map that depicts the first geographic location;   determining a second geographic location of the mobile device by use of the satellite-based positioning system or by identifying base stations in the mobile device cellular network with which the mobile computing device wirelessly communicates; and   updating, by the mobile computing device and in response to determining the second geographic location, the desktop background display to include a second image of the map, wherein the second image of the map has panned to depict the second geographic location.   
     
     
         19 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 18 , further comprising continuously updating, by the mobile computing device, the map as a current geographic location of the mobile device changes to consistently pan the map so that a center of the map continuously corresponds to the current geographic location of the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 18 , further comprising determining, by the mobile computing device, that the mobile computing device has physically docked with a docking system and, as a result, changing, by the mobile computing device and without any user input subsequent to determining that the mobile computing device has physically docked with the docking system, the desktop background display from an image that is not of a map to the image of the map.