Rotation smoothing of a user interface

A portable electronic device comprising a display and a processor, the processor operative to:

• direct the display to display an interface in a first orientation, wherein the interface comprises at least two regions in a first configuration;
• receive an instruction to change the orientation of the displayed interface to a second orientation, wherein the at least two regions are in a second configuration in the second orientation;
• pre-render the interface in the second orientation;
• direct the display to simultaneously display independent animations for each of the at least two distinct regions, wherein the animation comprises cross-fading from the first configuration to the second configuration.

A method for animating a change in orientation of a displayed interface, comprising:

• displaying an interface in a first configuration, the interface comprising a first region and a second region;
• pre-rendering the interface in a second configuration, wherein:
• the first region is scaled in the second configuration relative to the first configuration;
• and
• content of the second region is re-organized in the second configuration relative to the first configuration;
• and
• transitioning from the first configuration to the second configuration using independent animations associated with each of the first and second regions, wherein the animations comprise cross-fading.

Computer readable media for animating a change in orientation of a displayed interface, comprising computer readable code recorded thereon for:

• displaying an interface comprising a plurality of regions in a first orientation, wherein elements of each of the plurality of regions are disposed in a first configuration;
• receiving an instruction to change the orientation of the interface to a second orientation;
• rendering the interface in the second orientation, wherein the elements of each of the plurality of regions are disposed in a second configuration;
• and
• displaying an animation by which the elements of each of the plurality of regions change from the first configuration to the second configuration, wherein each of the plurality of regions is associated with a distinct animation.