1. A method, comprising: at a client device having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs executed by the device: performing a first activity in a first application with content associated with a first content type selected from the group consisting of television programming, online content, on-device application, information views, and other content types, wherein the first activity is described using a predefined format including an action specification string specifying an action and a content specification string specifying content associated with the action, wherein the action specification string and the content specification string are formatted according to Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) syntax that provides a consistent format for the action specification string and the content specification string across different first content types; logging the first activity in accordance with the predefined format, including storing in an activities log a first action specification string and a first content specification string associated with first content; performing a second activity in a second application with content associated with a second content type, the second content type comprising search queries, wherein the second activity is described using the predefined format, the second content type being distinct from the first content type; logging the second activity in accordance with the predefined format, including storing in the activities log a second action specification string and a second content specification string associated with second content; extracting a first action associated with the first activity from the first action specification string as a first extracted action; extracting a second action associated with the second activity from the second action specification string as a second extracted action; and displaying concurrently in a home screen on a display of the client device a plurality of user selectable affordances, each of the affordances being associated with an action to be performed with associated content, the plurality of affordances including a first affordance associated with the first action and the first content and a second affordance associated with the second action and the second content.
1. A method, comprising: at a client device having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs executed by the device: performing a first activity in a first application with content associated with a first content type selected from the group consisting of television programming, online content, on-device application, information views, and other content types, wherein the first activity is described using a predefined format including an action specification string specifying an action and a content specification string specifying content associated with the action, wherein the action specification string and the content specification string are formatted according to Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) syntax that provides a consistent format for the action specification string and the content specification string across different first content types; logging the first activity in accordance with the predefined format, including storing in an activities log a first action specification string and a first content specification string associated with first content; performing a second activity in a second application with content associated with a second content type, the second content type comprising search queries, wherein the second activity is described using the predefined format, the second content type being distinct from the first content type; logging the second activity in accordance with the predefined format, including storing in the activities log a second action specification string and a second content specification string associated with second content; extracting a first action associated with the first activity from the first action specification string as a first extracted action; extracting a second action associated with the second activity from the second action specification string as a second extracted action; and displaying concurrently in a home screen on a display of the client device a plurality of user selectable affordances, each of the affordances being associated with an action to be performed with associated content, the plurality of affordances including a first affordance associated with the first action and the first content and a second affordance associated with the second action and the second content. 13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of user selectable affordances comprises a plurality of thumbnails and their respective times of last access, the plurality of thumbnails including a first thumbnail associated with the first action and the first content and includes a first time of last access, and a second thumbnail associated with the second action and the second content and includes a second time of last access.