Max mode

A method comprising:

• providing a communication device comprising a microprocessor, a memory operable to store software, a screen comprising a display and a screen mode selector that, when selected, enables a user to switch from a single application mode in which a common application is associated with any displayed and maximized window panes of information on the screen and a multi-application mode in which different first and second applications are associated respectively with at least first and second displayed and maximized window panes of information on the screen;
• operating the communication device in at least the following modes:
• a portrait single application mode, wherein the screen is in a portrait orientation and only one application is currently providing a maximized view, in portrait, for the display;
• a portrait multi-application mode, wherein the screen is in a portrait orientation and a plurality of applications are currently providing maximized views for the display;
• a landscape single application mode, wherein the screen is in a landscape orientation and only one application is currently providing a maximized view, in landscape, for the display;
• and
• a landscape multi-application mode, wherein the screen is in a landscape orientation and a plurality of applications are currently providing maximized views for the display;
• and
• wherein the user selects the screen mode selector to switch from the multi-application mode in which the first application is currently in user focus and the second application is not currently in user focus, to a single-application mode in which the maximized first window pane of information is displayed but not the second window pane of information.

A tangible and non-transient computer readable medium in a smartpad, the smartpad comprising a microprocessor and a screen having a display, the computer readable medium comprising microprocessor executable instructions, the microprocessor executable instructions comprising:

• instructions to switch between screen modes such that a user can elect to switch from a single application mode in which a common application is associated with all displayed and maximized window panes of information on the screen and a multi-application mode in which different first and second applications are associated respectively with first and second displayed and maximized window panes of information on the screen, wherein the user selects a screen mode selector to switch from the multi-application mode to the single-application mode, wherein the instructions apply the following rules in the application mode switch:
• (i) when the first application is currently in focus by the user in the multi-application mode and the second application is not currently in focus by the user in the multi-application mode, in the single-application mode the first window pane of information is displayed and maximized but not the second window pane of information and (ii) when the second application is currently in focus by the user in the multi-application mode and the first application is not currently in focus by the user in the multi-application mode, in the single-application mode the second window pane of information is displayed and maximized but not the first window pane of information;
• and
• instructions to operate the screen in at least the following modes:
• a portrait single application mode, wherein the screen is in a portrait orientation and only one application is currently providing a maximized view, in portrait, for the display;
• a portrait multi-application mode, wherein the screen is in a portrait orientation and a plurality of applications are currently providing maximized views for the display;
• a landscape single application mode, wherein the screen is in a landscape orientation and only one application is currently providing a maximized view, in landscape, for the display;
• and
• a landscape multi-application mode, wherein the screen is in a landscape orientation and a plurality of applications are currently providing maximized views for the display.

A smartpad, comprising:

• a microprocessor;
• a computer readable memory operable to store software;
• a screen comprising a display;
• and
• a screen mode selector that, when selected, enables a user to switch from a single application mode in which a common application is associated with all displayed and maximized window panes of information on the screen and a multi-application mode in which different first and second applications are associated respectively with at least first and second displayed and maximized window panes of information on the screen;
• and
• wherein the screen is configured to operate in at least the following modes:
• a portrait single application mode, wherein the screen is in a portrait orientation and only one application is currently providing a maximized view, in portrait, for the display;
• a portrait multi-application mode, wherein the screen is in a portrait orientation and a plurality of applications are currently providing maximized views for the display;
• a landscape single application mode, wherein the screen is in a landscape orientation and only one application is currently providing a maximized view, in landscape, for the display;
• and
• a landscape multi-application mode, wherein the screen is in a landscape orientation and a plurality of applications are currently providing maximized views for the display;
• and
• wherein the microprocessor applies the following rules in the application mode switch:
• (i) when the first application is currently in focus by the user in the multi-application mode and the second application is not currently in focus by the user in the multi-application mode, in the single-application mode the first window pane of information is displayed and maximized but not the second window pane of information and (ii) when the second application is currently in focus by the user in the multi-application mode and the first application is not currently in focus by the user in the multi-application mode, in the single-application mode the second window pane of information is displayed and maximized but not the first window pane of information;
• and
• wherein the transition from the single-application mode in which the first application is associated with any displayed and maximized first window pane to the multi-application mode enables the user to select and open the second application and thereby generate the second window pane.