User interface controls for portable devices

A portable electronic device, comprising:

• a touch-sensitive display that has a graphical user interface (GUI) with a primary display and a translucent layer;
• a memory;
• one or more processors;
• and one or more modules stored in the memory and configured for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more modules including instructions:
• to display the primary display which contains the graphical objects for normal operation;
• while the primary display is being displayed, to activate the translucent layer to display a control arrow arrangement;
• to manipulate the control arrow arrangement to adjust a parameter associated with the GUI or the electronic device;
• and
• to de-activate the translucent layer to cause the primary display to be displayed again.