A computer-implemented method for transitioning a computing device from a first low power mode to an active power state, comprising: learning, based on multiple repeated user-computing device interactions, to: respond to determining that the computing device (102a-d; 200) is in a stationary position for a predetermined time, at a time of day that satisfies a first criteria, by placing the computing device in an operating mode that synchronizes data included in the computing device with data included on a remote server; and respond to determining that the computing device is in a stationary position for a predetermined time, at a time of day that satisfies a second criteria, by placing the computing device (102a-d; 200) in the first low power mode and to perform the following steps while in said first low power mode: detecting input from at least one sensor included in the computing device (102a-d; 200); identifying at least one application to launch on the computing device (102a-d; 200) based on the detected input and on a heuristic-based usage pattern for the computing device (102a-d; 200); and transitioning the computing device (102a-d; 200) from the first low power mode to the active power state based on the detected input, the transitioning comprising automatically launching the at least one application on the computing device (102a-d; 200), the at least one application providing content for display on a display device included in the computing device (102a-d; 200). respond to determining that the computing device (102a-d; 200) is in a stationary position for a predetermined time, at a time of day that satisfies a first criteria, by placing the computing device in an operating mode that synchronizes data included in the computing device with data included on a remote server; and respond to determining that the computing device is in a stationary position for a predetermined time, at a time of day that satisfies a second criteria, by placing the computing device (102a-d; 200) in the first low power mode and to perform the following steps while in said first low power mode: detecting input from at least one sensor included in the computing device (102a-d; 200); identifying at least one application to launch on the computing device (102a-d; 200) based on the detected input and on a heuristic-based usage pattern for the computing device (102a-d; 200); and transitioning the computing device (102a-d; 200) from the first low power mode to the active power state based on the detected input, the transitioning comprising automatically launching the at least one application on the computing device (102a-d; 200), the at least one application providing content for display on a display device included in the computing device (102a-d; 200). detecting input from at least one sensor included in the computing device (102a-d; 200); identifying at least one application to launch on the computing device (102a-d; 200) based on the detected input and on a heuristic-based usage pattern for the computing device (102a-d; 200); and transitioning the computing device (102a-d; 200) from the first low power mode to the active power state based on the detected input, the transitioning comprising automatically launching the at least one application on the computing device (102a-d; 200), the at least one application providing content for display on a display device included in the computing device (102a-d; 200).