Loop menu navigation apparatus and method

A method, comprising:

• associating a plurality of identifiers and/or identifier pointers with a plurality of computer files, applications or other data for use by a data processing device;
• generating a curved listing of said plurality of identifiers and/or identifier pointers on a data processing device display;
• selecting one or more of said identifiers and/or identifier pointers with a selection indicator;
• displaying a only a portion of said curved listing on said data processing device display at any given time;
• displaying said portion of said curved listing along a plane slanted or parallel in relation to the plane of said display;
• maintaining the selection indicator in a consistent position on the display and visually rotating the curved listing through the selection indicator one icon at a time in response to user input, thereby causing the identifiers and/or identifier pointers which visually coincide with the selection indicator to become capable of being selected in response to additional user input;
• and
• displaying within a preview window, concurrently with said portion of said curved listing, information associated with a file, application or other data related to an identifier and/or identifier pointer, said identifier and/or identifier pointer selected by said selection indicator.

A graphical user interface (“GUI”) executed within a display of a data processing device comprising:

• a plurality of selectable icons arranged in a curved pattern on the display, wherein only a portion of the plurality of selectable icons is displayed on the display at any given time, the selectable icons correspond to applications, files or other data executable/usable on the data processing device, and the plane defined by the curved pattern is slanted or parallel in relation to the plane of the display;
• a highlight region maintained in a fixed position on the display, wherein in response to user input, the curved listing is visually rotated through the highlight region one icon at a time, thereby causing the icons which visually coincide with the highlight region to become highlighted and further to become capable of being selected in response to additional user input;
• and
• an information window displayed concurrently with the portion of the plurality of selectable icons, the information window to display information associated with each highlighted icon.

A machine-readable medium having program code stored thereon which, when executed by a machine, causes the machine to perform the operations of:

• associating a plurality of icons with a plurality of applications, files or other data for use by a data processing device;
• generating a curved listing of a portion of said plurality of icons on a data processing device display, wherein the plane defined by the curved listing is slanted or parallel in relation to the plane of the display;
• maintaining a highlight region in a consistent position on the display and visually rotating the curved listing through the highlight region one icon at a time, thereby causing the icons which visually coincide with the highlight region to become highlighted and further to become capable of being selected in response to additional user input;
• and
• displaying an information window concurrently with the portion of the plurality of selectable icons, the information window to display information associated with each highlighted icon.