1. A handheld computing device, comprising; a user interface; a digital data processor coupled to the user interface and programmed to perform operations comprising: over time, observing cues describing environment of the device and observing user performed actions of configuring the device and operating its application programs; learning which if any of the cues and combinations of cues are relevant predictors of which of the user actions; for each user action having a learned relevant predictor, planning one or more of the following types of machine-executed actions: configuring the device in anticipation of the user action; causing the device to perform the user action; responsive to occurrence of learned relevant predictors of user actions, performing the machine-executed actions planned for the learned relevant predictors that occurred.