Methods for simulating icon popout on memory constrained devices

A client device, comprising:

• one or more processors, a display, a memory coupled to the one or more processors;
• and
• one or more programs, stored in the memory, configured for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs comprising instructions to for:
• displaying a list of conversations;
• displaying, for each conversation in the list of conversations, a respective conversation status icon, wherein a each respective conversation status icon includes a fixed image having an opaque border and a display background with one or more properties that can be varied;
• such that, when a respective conversation associated with the respective conversation status icon is not selected, the opaque border is not visually distinct from the display background;
• detecting selection of a particular conversation from the list of conversations;
• in response to detecting selection of the particular conversation;
• varying a visual appearance of the display background, such that the opaque border of a conversation status icon associated with the particular conversation is visually distinct from the display background.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured for execution by an electronic device, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:

• displaying a list of conversations;
• displaying, for each conversation in the list of conversations, a respective conversation status icon, wherein each respective conversation status icon includes a fixed image having an opaque border and a display background with one or more properties that can be varied such that, when a respective conversation associated with the respective conversation status icon is not selected, the opaque border is not visually distinct from the display background;
• detecting selection of a particular conversation from the list of conversations;
• in response to detecting selection of the particular conversation;
• varying a visual appearance of the display background, such that the opaque border of a conversation status icon associated with the particular conversation is visually distinct from the display background.