Abstract: A portable electronic device for facilitating user input, the portable electronic device having a display screen on a front face thereof, a side edge substantially orthogonal to the front face, and a side input button located on the side edge having an associated input function. When a predetermined trigger condition is detected, a user input interface accessible on the front face of the device is enabled to provide the input function associated with the side input button.

Abstract: A removable case for a mobile device is provided, the mobile device having a front face and a side edge, and an input button located on the side edge. The case includes a main body defining a region in which the mobile device can be removably received, and an actuator on the main body having a user interface and a button interface, wherein the actuator translates an input force received on the user interface into a button activating force applied by the button interface in a different direction than the input force.

Abstract: A holster for a mobile electronic device, comprising at least one input for detecting at least one notification signal generated by the mobile electronic device, at least one output for generating at least one amplified notification signal, and a processor connected to the input and output for causing the output to generate the amplified notification signal in response to detection of the least one notification signal generated by the mobile electronic device.

Abstract: A method for image data capture and storage is provided, where a reference and an image are optically captured and then processed. The reference is used to assist in determining a normalization operation that can be performed in order to correct for skew, rotation, and other events that can occur during capture of an image. The reference is also used to determine a data schema which is used for storing the normalized image.

Abstract: A customizable keyboard for a handheld electronic device is provided. The keys of the keyboard are rotatable, either individually or in groups, either under manual control of a user of the device or by means of one or more micro-motors or solenoids controlled by a microprocessor running software on the device. The keyboard may be integrated in the device or may be detachable therefrom.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a shape-adaptable surface for an audio port of a device includes an audio port, a shape-adaptable surface having a plurality of portions, a plurality of sensors coupled to the shape-adaptable surface, wherein the plurality of sensors are operative to sense a plurality of distances between the object and the shape-adaptable surface, and a processor operatively coupled to the shape-adaptable surface and the plurality of sensors, said processor configured to control some of the plurality of portions of the shape-adaptable surface to adjust the plurality of distances and to provide a channel between a sound receiver of the object and the audio port. An improved audio coupling is formed by adjusting the distances between the shape-adaptable surface and the object, thereby transmitting sounds directly from the audio port of the device to a sound receiver of the object.

Abstract: A handheld electronic device having a slide-and-twist mechanism for changing between multiple device positions is provided. A slide-and-twist style form factor allows the device configuration and/or exposed input devices to be changed by the device user. The different device positions may support different operational modes or uses of the device by exposing different input devices.