Method and apparatus for text selection

1. A method comprising:

displaying a content selection icon on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device;

detecting touch input at a touch location on the touch-sensitive display operable to select a content selection function associated with the content selection icon;

modifying the displayed content selection icon to display a touch portion at a location on the touch-sensitive display corresponding to said detected touch location and a content selection portion operatively coupled to, but spatially separated from, the touch portion;

detecting a subsequent touch input representing a drag of the content selection icon and further modifying the displayed content selection icon to include a neck portion extending between the touch portion and the content selection portion;

moving entire contents displayed on the touch-sensitive display away from the touch location so that a context in close proximity to the content selection icon is not obscured by a touch input object; and

displaying an animation showing the neck portion extending between the touch portion and the content selection portion as the entire contents move away.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying an animation showing the neck portion extending between the touch portion and the content selection portion as the entire contents move away comprises displaying the animation showing the neck portion extending between the touch portion and the content selection portion at a same rate as the entire contents move away.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the displayed content selection icon comprises modifying the displayed content selection icon to increase a spatial separation between the touch portion and the content selection portion.

4. An electronic device comprising:

a touch-sensitive display to receive a touch;

at least one processor operable to execute computer-readable instructions, the instructions, when executed on the processor, cause the electronic device to:

display a content selection icon on the touch-sensitive display;

detect touch input at a touch location on the touch-sensitive display operable to select a content selection function associated with the content selection icon;

modify the displayed content selection icon to display a touch portion at a location on the touch-sensitive display corresponding to said detected touch location and a content selection portion operatively coupled to, but spatially separated from, the touch portion;

detect a subsequent touch input representing a drag of the content selection icon and further modifying the displayed content selection icon to include a neck portion extending between the touch portion and the content selection portion;

move entire contents displayed on the touch-sensitive display away from the touch location so that a context in close proximity to the content selection icon is not obscured by a touch input object; and

display an animation showing the neck portion extending between the touch portion and the content selection portion as the entire contents move away.

5. The electronic device according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to modify the displayed content selection icon to increase a spatial separation between the touch portion and the content selection portion.

6. The electronic device according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to display the animation showing the neck portion extending between the touch portion and the content selection portion at a same rate as the entire contents move away.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by an electronic device perform operations comprising:

displaying a content selection icon on a touch-sensitive display of the electronic device;

detecting touch input at a touch location on the touch-sensitive display operable to select a content selection function associated with the content selection icon;

modifying the displayed content selection icon to display a touch portion at a location on the touch-sensitive display corresponding to said detected touch location and a content selection portion operatively coupled to, but spatially separated from, the touch portion;

detecting a subsequent touch input representing a drag of the content selection icon and further modifying the displayed content selection icon to include a neck portion extending between the touch portion and the content selection portion;

moving entire contents displayed on the touch-sensitive display away from the touch location so that a context in close proximity to the content selection icon is not obscured by a touch input object; and

displaying an animation showing the neck portion extending between the touch portion and the content selection portion as the entire contents move away.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 7 , wherein modifying the displayed content selection icon to comprises modifying the displayed content selection icon to increase a spatial separation between the touch portion and the content selection portion.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 7 , wherein displaying an animation showing the neck portion extending between the touch portion and the content selection portion as the entire contents move away comprises displaying the animation showing the neck portion extending between the touch portion and the content selection portion at a same rate as the entire contents move away.