Handheld device with notification message viewing

A handheld electronic device, comprising:

• a controller is configured to execute instructions to cause the handheld electronic device to:
• in response to detecting receipt of a new incoming message followed by a movement of the handheld electronic device from an initial position into a first orientation:
• determine that the initial position of the hand held electronic device is a display screen of the handheld electronic device facing a surface;
• determine whether, when the handheld electronic device is in the first orientation, a reflectance of the surface is sufficient to activate a reflective display mode;
• when it is determined that the reflectance of the surface is sufficient to activate the reflective display mode, display on the display screen a first notice including displayed information related to the new incoming message using the reflective display mode;
• maintain a new message marker for the new incoming message after displaying the first notice;
• and
• in response to a further movement of the handheld electronic device from the first orientation to a second orientation, displaying on the display a body of the new incoming message, and removing the new message marker after displaying the body of the new incoming message.

A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions which when executed on one or more processors of a handheld electronic device cause the handheld electronic device to, in response to detecting receipt of a new incoming message followed by a movement of the handheld electronic device from an initial position to a first orientation:

• determine that the initial position of the handheld electronic device is the display screen facing a surface;
• determine whether, when the handheld electronic device is in the first orientation, a reflectance of the surface is sufficient to activate a reflective display mode;
• when it is determined that the reflectance of the surface is sufficient to activate the reflective display mode, perform the act of displaying on a display screen a first notice including displayed information related to the new incoming message using the reflective display mode;
• maintaining a new message marker for the new incoming message after displaying the first notice;
• and
• in response to a further movement of the handheld electronic device from the first orientation to a second orientation, displaying on the display a body of the new incoming message, and removing the new message marker after displaying the body of the new incoming message.