Form factor for portable device

A portable electronic device, comprising:

• a display screen on a front face of the portable device,
• a first linear input device affixed along a first side of the display screen;
• a second linear input device affixed along a second side of the display screen;
• a third linear input device affixed along a third side of the display screen;
• a planar input device on a back face of the portable device;
• control logic for manipulating content displayed on the display screen responsive to user input via the first, second, third, and planar input devices, and
• a speaker that outputs sound through at least one hole extending through the back face and the planar input device, wherein each hole in the planar input device is slightly larger than a corresponding hole in the back face.

A portable electronic device, comprising:

• a display screen on a front face of the portable device,
• a first touch-sensitive linear input device affixed along a first side of the display screen on the front face of the portable device;
• a second touch-sensitive linear input device affixed along a second side of the display screen on the front face of the portable device;
• a third touch-sensitive linear input device affixed along a third side of the display screen on the front face of the portable device;
• a planar touch-sensitive input device on a back face of the portable device, said planar input device covering substantially the same amount of space as the display screen on the front face of the portable device;
• a speaker from which the output is directed through at least one hole in the planar input device;
• control logic for manipulating content displayed on the display screen responsive to user input via the first, second, third, and planar input devices,
• wherein the control logic causes the portable device to identify a horizontal position on the display screen responsive to input received through the first linear input device;
• wherein the control logic causes the portable device to identify a vertical position on the display screen responsive to input received through the second linear input device;
• wherein the control logic causes the portable device to zoom in and out of an image displayed on the display screen responsive to input received through the third linear input device;
• and
• wherein the control logic causes the portable device to horizontally and vertically scroll the image responsive to input received through the planar input device.

A method for operating a portable device, comprising steps of:

• (i) altering a size of content displayed on a display screen responsive to input received through a first linear input device;
• (ii) identifying a horizontal position on the display screen responsive to input received through a second linear input device;
• (iii) identifying a vertical position on the display screen responsive to input received through a third linear input device;
• and
• (iv) panning content on the display screen responsive to input received through a planar input device.

A portable electronic device, comprising:

• a casing;
• a speaker housed within the casing;
• and
• a touch-sensitive sound resistant planar input device comprising a touch-sensitive sound-resistant touchpad covering a first face of the casing, wherein the planar input device comprises at least one hole through which sound emitted from the speaker passes, wherein the at least one hole of the touch-sensitive sound-resistant planar input device is larger than a corresponding hole in the casing of the portable electronic device.

A portable electronic device, comprising:

• a casing;
• a speaker housed within the casing;
• and
• a touch-sensitive sound resistant planar input device comprising a touch-sensitive sound-resistant touchpad covering a first face of the casing, wherein the planar input device comprises at least one hole through which sound emitted from the speaker passes, wherein the touch-sensitive sound-resistant planar input device has sufficient rigidity such that the diameter of the at least one hole does not change to a degree that distorts sound waves emitted from the speaker.

A portable electronic device, comprising:

• a casing;
• a speaker housed within the casing;
• and
• a touch-sensitive sound resistant planar input device comprising a touch-sensitive sound-resistant touchpad covering a first face of the casing, wherein the planar input device comprises at least one hole through which sound emitted from the speaker passes, wherein the touch-sensitive sound resistant planar input device has sufficient rigidity such that the thickness of the touch-sensitive sound resistant planar input device does not change to a degree that distorts sound waves emitted from the speaker.