TECHNIQUES FOR INTERACTIVE MEDIA ALBUM DISPLAY AND MANAGEMENT

1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving a plurality of messaging packages from a messaging server;

determining a plurality of visual media items referenced by the plurality of messaging packages;

displaying a messaging thread user interface;

displaying a first visual media item of the plurality of visual media items in the messaging thread user interface;

receiving a horizontal swipe of the first visual media item; and

replacing the first visual media item in the messaging thread user interface in response to the horizontal swipe.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

replacing the first visual media item with a second visual media item of the plurality of visual media items in response to the horizontal swipe.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

transmitting a message-read notification corresponding to the second visual media item via the messaging server in response to the replacing of the first visual media item with the second visual media item.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

replacing the first visual media item with a placeholder image in response to the horizontal swipe;

receiving a user download selection of the placeholder image;

downloading a second visual media item of the plurality of visual media items in response to the user download selection; and

replacing the placeholder image with the second visual media item in the messaging thread user interface.

5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

determining that a media download preference associated with the messaging thread user interface indicates not to auto-download visual media; and

using the placeholder image in response to the media download preference.

6 . The method of claim 5 , the media download preference dependent on a data connection type, further comprising:

determining that a mobile client device displaying the messaging thread user interface is using a cellular data connection type of data connection type; and

using the placeholder image based on the mobile client device using the cellular data connection type.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving media item information for each of the visual media items;

selecting particular media item information related to the displayed first visual media item; and

displaying the particular media item information in the messaging thread user interface in relation to the first visual media item.

8 . The method of claim 1 , the plurality of visual media items defined as a group in response to the plurality of visual media items being received in uninterrupted sequence from a same transmitting user account.

9 . An apparatus, comprising:

a processor circuit on a device;

a messaging component operative on the processor circuit to receive a plurality of messaging packages from a messaging server; and determine a plurality of visual media items referenced by the plurality of messaging packages;

a display component operative to display a messaging thread user interface;

display a first visual media item of the plurality of visual media items in the messaging thread user interface; and replace the first visual media item in the messaging thread user interface in response to a horizontal swipe; and

a user interface component operative to receive the horizontal swipe of the first visual media item.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising:

the messaging component operative to transmit a message-read notification corresponding to the second visual media item via the messaging server in response to replacing the first visual media item with a second visual media item.

11 . The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising:

the display component operative to replace the first visual media item with a placeholder image in response to the horizontal swipe and replace the placeholder image with a second visual media item in the messaging thread user interface;

the user interface component operative to receive a user download selection of the placeholder image; and

the messaging component operative to download the second visual media item of the plurality of visual media items in response to the user download selection.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising:

the messaging component operative to determine that a media download preference associated with the messaging thread user interface indicates not to auto-download visual media; and

the display component operative to use the placeholder image in response to the media download preference.

13 . The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising:

the display component operative to receive media item information for each of the visual media items; select particular media item information related to the displayed first visual media item; and display the particular media item information in the messaging thread user interface in relation to the first visual media item.

14 . The apparatus of claim 9 , the plurality of visual media items defined as a group in response to the plurality of visual media items being received in uninterrupted sequence from a same transmitting user account.

15 . At least one computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a system to:

receive a plurality of messaging packages from a messaging server;

determine a plurality of visual media items referenced by the plurality of messaging packages;

display a messaging thread user interface;

display a first visual media item of the plurality of visual media items in the messaging thread user interface;

receive a horizontal swipe of the first visual media item; and

replace the first visual media item in the messaging thread user interface in response to the horizontal swipe.

16 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , comprising further instructions that, when executed, cause a system to:

transmit a message-read notification corresponding to the second visual media item via the messaging server in response to replacing the first visual media item with a second visual media item.

17 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , comprising further instructions that, when executed, cause a system to:

replace the first visual media item with a placeholder image in response to the horizontal swipe;

receive a user download selection of the placeholder image;

download a second visual media item of the plurality of visual media items in response to the user download selection; and

replace the placeholder image with the second visual media item in the messaging thread user interface.

18 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , comprising further instructions that, when executed, cause a system to:

determine that a media download preference associated with the messaging thread user interface indicates not to auto-download visual media; and

use the placeholder image in response to the media download preference.

19 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , comprising further instructions that, when executed, cause a system to:

receive media item information for each of the visual media items;

select particular media item information related to the displayed first visual media item; and

display the particular media item information in the messaging thread user interface in relation to the first visual media item.

20 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , the plurality of visual media items defined as a group in response to the plurality of visual media items being received in uninterrupted sequence from a same transmitting user account.