Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus accesses a memory to obtain information regarding sharing history (as pertains, for example, to a particular user and/or device) and uses that sharing history to display at least one recommended sharing action (from amongst a plurality of available candidate sharing actions) as regards to a particular content item (such as, for example, a particular digital photograph, a video, a presentation, and so forth). This sharing history can comprise previously-selected sharing actions as correlated to content item types including shared-content recipients, corresponding temporal data, shared-content size, corresponding location data, and so forth. By one approach the apparatus itself serves to automatically track user-based content-sharing selections over time, which information is stored as the aforementioned sharing history.

Abstract: A method of controlling display of selectable elements on a portable electronic device includes displaying a navigation bar including a plurality of selectable elements along a side of the touch-sensitive display that is adjacent to the physical keyboard. In response to entering a keyboard input mode, a plurality of keyboard keys is displayed on the touch-sensitive display, along the side that is adjacent to the physical keyboard. The keyboard keys include keys for character entry in a character entry field on the touch-sensitive display and a key to discontinue displaying the plurality of keyboard keys on the touch-sensitive display. In response to receipt of selection of the key to discontinue displaying the plurality of keyboard keys on the touch-sensitive display, display of the plurality of keyboard keys is discontinued and the navigation bar is displayed along the side that is adjacent to the physical keyboard.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dynamically varying backlighting for mechanical keys. By one approach at least some of the individual mechanical keys each includes a capacitively-sensitive keycap. A plurality of light emitters are disposed behind the physical keyboard and are configured to provide backlighting for the individual mechanical keys. A control circuit operably couples to the plurality of light emitters and controls the plurality of light emitters to selectively provide dynamically-varied backlighting for at least some of the individual mechanical keys. By one approach the dynamically-varied backlighting comprises, at least in part, instructions regarding available touch-based gestures (for example, gestures that the user can employ in conjunction with the capacitively-sensitive keycaps). Examples of touch-based gestures include, but are not limited to, swipe-based gestures and tap-based gestures. By one approach the aforementioned instructions include non-alphabetic visually-symbolic instructions.

Abstract: A method of controlling display of selectable elements on a portable electronic device includes displaying a navigation bar including a plurality of selectable elements along a side of the touch-sensitive display that is adjacent to the physical keyboard. In response to entering a keyboard input mode, a plurality of keyboard keys is displayed on the touch-sensitive display, along the side that is adjacent to the physical keyboard. The keyboard keys include keys for character entry in a character entry field on the touch-sensitive display and a key to discontinue displaying the plurality of keyboard keys on the touch-sensitive display. In response to receipt of selection of the key to discontinue displaying the plurality of keyboard keys on the touch-sensitive display, display of the plurality of keyboard keys is discontinued and the navigation bar is displayed along the side that is adjacent to the physical keyboard.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dynamically varying backlighting for mechanical keys. By one approach at least some of the individual mechanical keys each includes a capacitively-sensitive keycap. A plurality of light emitters are disposed behind the physical keyboard and are configured to provide backlighting for the individual mechanical keys. A control circuit operably couples to the plurality of light emitters and controls the plurality of light emitters to selectively provide dynamically-varied backlighting for at least some of the individual mechanical keys. By one approach the dynamically-varied backlighting comprises, at least in part, instructions regarding available touch-based gestures (for example, gestures that the user can employ in conjunction with the capacitively-sensitive keycaps). Examples of touch-based gestures include, but are not limited to, swipe-based gestures and tap-based gestures. By one approach the aforementioned instructions include non-alphabetic visually-symbolic instructions.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus accesses a memory to obtain information regarding sharing history (as pertains, for example, to a particular user and/or device) and uses that sharing history to display at least one recommended sharing action (from amongst a plurality of available candidate sharing actions) as regards to a particular content item (such as, for example, a particular digital photograph, a video, a presentation, and so forth). This sharing history can comprise previously-selected sharing actions as correlated to content item types including shared-content recipients, corresponding temporal data, shared-content size, corresponding location data, and so forth. By one approach the apparatus itself serves to automatically track user-based content-sharing selections over time, which information is stored as the aforementioned sharing history.

Abstract: A method includes displaying information on a display of an electronic device, the information comprising an entry field and a selectable obscuration feature operable to be toggled between a first state and a second state within the entry field. When the selectable obscuration feature in is the first state, characters are displayed as entered in the entry field, and when the selectable obscuration feature is in the second state, obscuration symbols are displayed in place of the characters as entered in the entry field.

Abstract: A method and computing device are provided for retrieval of one or more of a plurality of stored data files.

Abstract: A method and computing device are provided for retrieval of one or more of a plurality of stored data files.