Adaptable layouts for social feeds

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving shared content as a social network action initiated at a user device by a social network user;

generating an activity based on the social network action to collect metadata associated with the shared content;

in response to one or more layout templates being generated for different display layout formats associated with different types of client devices and for different social network form factors, wherein the different social network form factors are associated with different types of social network Web sites, mapping the shared content and the metadata to the one or more layout templates, the social network action including uploading photos, sharing a URL link, and updating a social network status, the one or more layout templates including different types of data, respectively, depending on the social network action; and

in response to the shared content not having social network form factor specific features, presenting the content using a fallback rendering option.

2. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the shared content further includes at least one of a status update from the social network user or a shared URL link.

3. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein each layout template includes one or more layout properties that correlate to template data for the activity that is generated based on the social network action.

4. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a request for the shared content to display at a client device in a social network application, the request including a designated social network form factor;

determining a layout template that corresponds to the shared content and the designated social network form factor; and

communicating the shared content to the client device in the layout template for display in the designated social network form factor.

5. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a request from a client device for the shared content to display at the client device, the request including a designated display layout format for the client device;

determining a layout template that corresponds to the shared content and the designated display layout format for the client device; and

communicating the shared content to the client device in the layout template for display in the designated display layout format.

6. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 5 , further comprising:

receiving an additional request from an additional client device for the shared content to display at the additional client device, the additional request including a different display layout format for the additional client device;

determining a different layout template that corresponds to the shared content and the different display layout format for the additional client device; and

communicating the shared content to the additional client device in the different layout template for display in the different display layout format for the additional client device.

7. A system, comprising:

a social network service configured to receive shared content as a social network action initiated at a user device by a social network user, the shared content comprising at least a URL link;

at least a memory and a processor to implement an adaptable layout service configured to:

generate an activity based on the social network action to collect metadata associated with the shared content, the activity comprising at least obtaining the URL from the link, getting a thumbnail image for the link, and generating a large image relating to the URL for display on larger display devices;

in response to one or more layout templates being generated for different display layout formats associated with different types of client devices and for different social network form factors, wherein the different social network form factors are associated with different types of social network Web sites, map the shared content and the metadata to the one or more layout templates, the mapping comprising converting one or more elements of the shared content to other display methods based at least in part on the social network that is receiving the shared content; and

in response to the shared content not having social network form factor specific features, present the content using a fallback rendering option.

8. A system as recited in claim 7 , wherein the different display layout formats are associated with different types of client devices.

9. A system as recited in claim 7 , wherein the shared content further includes at least one of a status update from the social network user or uploaded photos.

10. A system as recited in claim 7 , wherein each layout template includes one or more layout properties that correlate to template data for the activity that is generated based on the social network action.

11. A system as recited in claim 7 , wherein:

the social network service is further configured to receive a request for the shared content to display at a client device in a social network application, the request including a designated social network form factor;

the adaptable layout service is further configured to:

determine a layout template that corresponds to the shared content and the designated social network form factor; and

communicate the shared content to the client device in the layout template for display in the designated social network form factor.

12. A system as recited in claim 7 , wherein:

the social network service is further configured to receive a request from a client device for the shared content to display at the client device, the request including a designated display layout format for the client device;

the adaptable layout service is further configured to:

determine a layout template that corresponds to the shared content and the designated display layout format for the client device; and

communicate the shared content to the client device in the layout template for display in the designated display layout format.

13. Computer-readable storage media devices comprising instructions that are executable and, responsive to executing the instructions, a computer device:

receives shared content as a social network action initiated at a user device by a social network user;

generates an activity based on the social network action to collect metadata associated with the shared content; and

in response to one or more layout templates being generated for different display layout formats associated with different types of client devices and for different social network form factors, wherein the different social network form factors are associated with different types of social network Web sites, map the shared content and the metadata to the one or more layout templates, the social network action including uploading photos, sharing a URL link, and updating a social network status, the one or more layout templates including different types of data, respectively, depending on the social network action; and

in response to the shared content not having social network form factor specific features, present the content using a fallback rendering option.

14. Computer-readable storage media devices as recited in claim 13 , further comprising additional instructions that are executable and, responsive to executing the additional instructions, the computer device:

receives a request for the shared content to display at a client device in a social network application, the request including a designated social network form factor;

determines a layout template that corresponds to the shared content and the designated social network form factor; and

communicates the shared content to the client device in the layout template for display in the designated social network form factor.

15. Computer-readable storage media devices as recited in claim 13 , further comprising additional instructions that are executable and, responsive to executing the additional instructions, the computer device:

receives a request from a client device for the shared content to display at the client device, the request including a designated display layout format for the client device;

determines a layout template that corresponds to the shared content and the designated display layout format for the client device; and

communicates the shared content to the client device in the layout template for display in the designated display layout format.

16. Computer-readable storage media devices as recited in claim 13 , further comprising additional instructions that are executable and, responsive to executing the additional instructions, the computer device receives the shared content as two or more of a status update from the social network user, uploaded photos, or a shared URL link.

17. Computer-readable storage media devices as recited in claim 13 , further comprising additional instructions that are executable and, responsive to executing the additional instructions, the computer device generates each of the one or more layout templates to include one or more layout properties that correlate to template data for the activity that is generated based on the social network action.