Abstract: The present specification provides a method and apparatus for controlling a display based on signals received from one or more input devices. In one implementation, a mobile device with a touch screen and a touch pad is provided. A notification module executable on the mobile device configures the processor of the mobile device to control the display to generate a notification bar and a content region. The notification bar contains an icon representing each application from which a notification has been generated and a number adjacent the icon for indicating how may notifications have been generated by the application. The content region includes data associated with the notifications, and is arranged in rows beneath a header identifying the application. The layout of the applications may be varied as well as the priority of ordering the application sin the content region.

Abstract: A method of controlling a portable electronic device that has a touch-sensitive display includes displaying information on the touch-sensitive display, detecting a gesture on the touch-sensitive display, scrolling through the information in a first scrolling mode when the gesture is associated with a first area of the touch-sensitive display, and scrolling through the information in a second scrolling mode when the gesture is associated with a second area of the touch-sensitive display.

Abstract: Communicating with a contact over one of a plurality of communications services accessible via a mobile communications device. Representing a contact's association with each of the communication services by a contact object. Displaying the contact object on a display of the device. Receiving a first input directed to the contact object, and in response, displaying the status of the contact with respect to each of the communications services. For a displayed status indicating “available,” or the equivalent thereof, upon receiving a user second input directed to the status, initiating communication with the contact via the service.

Abstract: A method is provided for providing a visual indicator of content existing in a play list while displaying available media items for adding to the play list. The method comprises the steps of: retrieving information related to the available media items; retrieving information related to the content existing in the play list; comparing the available media item information with the play list content information to determine items from the available media that are already included in the play list; displaying a menu showing the available media items; and displaying visual indicators next to the items in the menu of the available media that are already included in the play list.

Abstract: A method includes rendering an interface area for inputting a first plurality of characters associated with a plurality of locations on a touch-sensitive display of a portable electronic device, detecting, by the touch-sensitive display, a first gesture in a first direction on the touch-sensitive display, associating a second set of characters with the plurality of locations in response to detecting the gesture.

Abstract: A method is provided for providing a visual indicator of content existing in a play list while displaying available media items for adding to the play list. The method comprises the steps of: retrieving information related to the available media items; retrieving information related to the content existing in the play list; comparing the available media item information with the play list content information to determine items from the available media that are already included in the play list; displaying a menu showing the available media items; and displaying visual indicators next to the items in the menu of the available media that are already included in the play list.

Abstract: Information including a first part of a list is displayed on a touch-sensitive display (118) of a portable electronic device (100). The touch-sensitive display (118) detects (403) a first gesture in a first direction on the touch-sensitive display and scrolls (409, 411) within the information in response to the first gesture. The touch-sensitive display (118) detects (403) a second gesture in a second direction on the touch-sensitive display and displays a second part of (415, 417) the list on the touch-sensitive display in response to the second gesture.

Abstract: A handheld electronic device includes a keypad having a plurality of keys and a selection member; a display component; and a processor cooperating with the keypad and the display component to provide a display at the display component. The display includes a first representation of a plurality of the keys, and at least one of: (a) a second representation of an activated one of the input members, (b) a third representation including a plurality of diacritics disposed about an activated one of the input members, and (c) a fourth representation including a plurality of diacritics disposed about an activated one of the input members, and a direction of selection between the activated one of the input members and one of the diacritics. The processor cooperates with the selection member to adjust the direction of selection, and select one of the diacritics for display by the display component.

Abstract: A mobile electronic device and an associated method provide for the outputting on a touch sensitive display or other display a content page plus an activity bar having one or more shortcut objects that relate to the subject matter of the content page. As different content pages are output, corresponding activity bars are also output, with each activity bar typically including one or more shortcut objects that relate to the subject matter of the content page that is being output.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing a memory at an electronic device is provided. A first number of new media files that can be stored in the memory in a current format is determined. It is determined if a memory management condition is met. If the memory management condition is met, the current format is setting to a second format such that the memory can store a second number of new media files, if acquired, a given new media file in the second format occupying less of the memory than if the given new media file is in the current format, such that the second number is greater than the first number.

Abstract: The method of managing media files remotely on a portable electronic device having the touch screen display includes storing a composite media file index that lists all media files, and their attributes, whether stored on the portable electronic device or accessible at a remote computing device. The method continues by rendering a graphical user interface for a media manager application, operable to access the stored media file index, on the touch screen display. At least one activation touch event is then detected on the touch screen display, and in response to the at least one activation touch event, a group of media files having shared attributes are displayed within the graphical user interface, and at least one media file is identified for download from the remote computing device. The at least one media file is then downloaded during synchronization of the portable electronic device to the remote computing device.

Abstract: A method of controlling a portable electronic device that has a touch screen display includes rendering a graphical user interface including a plurality of selectable features, detecting a first touch event at a first location on the touch screen display, detecting a second touch event at a second location on the touch screen display during the first touch event, and selecting ones of the plurality of selectable features located in an area having boundaries defined by the first location and the second location to define a group of selected features.

Abstract: A method for navigating through notifications on a wireless device having a primary user interface shown on a primary display and a secondary user interface shown on a secondary display, the method comprising the steps of: generating a notification at the wireless device, the notification being associated with an event; detecting if the secondary user interface is being shown; indicating the notification on the secondary user interface if the secondary user interface is being shown; displaying a preview of the event on the secondary user interface in response to a selection of the notification in a preview mode; and closing the preview of the event on the secondary user interface in response to a deselection of the notification and bringing the secondary user interface out of the preview mode; wherein the notification is still maintained after displaying the preview of the associated event.

Abstract: A portable electronic device method of determining time periods for a meeting includes receiving an indication of at least two invitees for the meeting, obtaining calendar data for the invitees, determining free time periods for the invitees based on the calendar data, and creating a list of the free time periods for the invitees.

Abstract: A method of determining time periods for a meeting includes receiving an indication of at least two invitees for the meeting, obtaining calendar data for the invitees, determining common free time periods for the invitees based on the calendar data, and time-based collecting of calendar event records and the common free time periods.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a display device for displaying a graphical user interface including a plurality of user-selectable features. A touch-sensitive input device includes an overlay disposed on the display device and a controller connected to the overlay, the touch-sensitive input device for providing a touch-sensitive area on the overlay, on the plurality of user-selectable features and for detecting an object proximal the user-selectable features on the display device. Functional components are provided including a processor connected to the display device and touch-sensitive input device, and a memory device for storage of computer-readable program code executable by the processor for changing the graphical user interface in response to detecting the object proximal one of the user-selectable features, prior to selection of any of the user-selectable features.

Abstract: A method of ambiguous word review or correction for a handheld electronic device includes receiving a plurality of actuations of input members in which each of a number of these members has a plurality of assigned characters, rendering a plurality of words responsive to the actuations, displaying a plurality of representations of the words, and detecting a number of the words, which are ambiguous. For each of the detected number, a visual indicator is displayed associated with a corresponding one of the representations. Touching of a touch screen is detected in connection with the displayed visual indicator. Preferably, a first magnification of the corresponding representation and a second magnification of a representation of a number of alternative words are displayed. The touch screen can be used to select one of the first and second magnifications to correct the ambiguous word.

Abstract: A method for event-dependent state activation for a mobile communication device, the device having an opened configuration and a closed configuration, the device having a primary display visible in the opened configuration and a secondary display visible in the closed configuration.

Abstract: A method is provided for use with a media application running on a wireless device. The method displays to a user a listing of media files available in a memory of the wireless device. The method comprises the steps of: determining locations in the memory to search for the available media files; the locations including all memory devices of the wireless device suitable for storing the media flies except for one or more predetermined folders contained in the memory, searching the determined locations for files to include in the listing of available media files; locating files not yet included in the listing of available media files; determining if the located files meet criteria of the search and identifying located files that meet the criteria of the search as suitable media files, and displaying a menu including the suitable media files.