System and method for user modification of metadata in a shell browser

1. A computer-implemented method for enabling a user to modify metadata of a file, the method comprising:

displaying, by a first application, a window that is divided into at least two panes, wherein a first pane displays a plurality of items representing a plurality of files stored in a computing system;

receiving a selection of an item that is presented in the first pane and that represents one of the plurality of files stored in the computing system, wherein the first application is not a creator of the one of the plurality of files;

displaying, in a second pane, application-neutral metadata associated with at least the item that was selected; and

providing a context menu that is displayable in front of the window and that permits, without opening a second application that created the one of the plurality of files, user modification of the application-neutral metadata, wherein application-neutral metadata that is modified is available to subsequent requesting applications.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the application-neutral metadata that is modified includes a searchable keyword.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of items includes one or more non-file objects.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of items includes one or more folders.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of items includes a folder and contents of the folder.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the application-neutral metadata is displayed together with a preview of the item that is selected.

7. A computer-readable memory device storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computing device having an operating system, facilitate operations enabling a user to modify metadata of a file comprising:

displaying, by the operating system, a plurality of graphical items in a first pane of a window, the plurality of graphical items representing a plurality of files stored in a filing system of the operating system;

receiving a selection of a graphical item that is presented in the first pane and that represents one of the plurality of files stored in the filing system;

presenting metadata of at least the one of the plurality of files in a second pane of the window, wherein the plurality of graphical items remain displayed in the first pane when the metadata is presented in the second pane;

receiving a user selection of the metadata;

providing, by the operating system, a context menu when the user selection is received, wherein the context menu provides selectable options to modify the metadata and wherein the plurality of graphical items and the metadata remain displayed when the context menu is displayed; and

responsive to a user input, without opening an application that created the one of the plurality of files, modifying the metadata to create modified metadata, wherein the modified metadata is available to subsequent requesting applications.

8. The computer-readable memory device of claim 7 , wherein modifying the metadata includes adding new metadata, editing the metadata that is displayed, or a combination thereof.

9. The computer-readable memory device of claim 7 , wherein the user selection is received when a cursor is hovered over the metadata that is displayed.

10. The computer-readable memory device of claim 7 , wherein the item includes a file.

11. The computer-readable memory device of claim 7 , wherein the item includes a non-file object.

12. A computing device storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the computing device having an operating system, generate a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface comprising:

a display window of the operating system, the display window divided into a first pane, which displays a plurality of graphical items representing a plurality of files, and a second pane, which displays application-neutral metadata of at least a file that has been selected by a user from the plurality of graphical items; and

an operating-system interface element that is displayable as an overlay in front of the display window when the file is selected and that permits, without invoking an application that created the file, user modification of the application-neutral metadata displayed in the second pane, wherein the application-neutral metadata that is modified using the operating-system interface element is available to subsequent requesting applications.

13. The computing device of claim 12 , wherein the user modification is in response to a user selection of the application-neutral metadata to directly modify the metadata in the second pane.

14. The computing device of claim 12 , wherein the user modification includes adding new metadata, editing the application-neutral metadata that is displayed, or a combination thereof.

15. The computing device of claim 12 , wherein a user selection of the application-neutral metadata is received when a cursor is hovered over the application-neutral metadata that is displayed in the second pane.

16. The computing device of claim 12 , wherein the operating-system browser supports a plurality of item types.

17. The computing device of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of item types includes music files, picture files, and document files.