Target region for removing icons from dock

Abstract

Providing a mechanism for removal of icons from a dock in response to user input is disclosed. A dock is generated for display in a user interface, the dock comprising a region of the user interface in which one or more icons are presented. An input is received for selecting an icon presented in the dock, the icon associated with an original position in the user interface. A visual indicator of a particular distance to drag the icon before the icon will be removed from the dock is generated for display. A second input for releasing the icon at a second position in the user interface is received. The icon is removed from the dock if a distance between the second position and the original position is within a predefined range of the particular distance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 at an electronic device with a display and one or more input devices:
 displaying, on the display, a dock in a user interface, the dock comprising a region of the user interface in which one or more icons are presented, wherein the icons in the dock are displayed proximate to a first edge of the display; 
 receiving, via the one or more input devices, a first input selecting an icon presented in the dock in order to drag the icon from the dock, the icon associated with an original position in the user interface; 
 in response to receiving the first input for selecting the icon, displaying, on the display, a visual indicator of a removal target position, wherein the visual indicator of the removal target position is displayed proximate to a second edge of the display that is different from the first edge of the display, and the icons in the dock other than the selected icon continue being displayed proximate to the first edge of the display while the visual indicator of the removal target position is displayed proximate to the second edge of the display; 
 receiving, via the one or more input devices, a second input releasing the icon at a second position in the user interface; 
 determining whether the second position is within a predefined range of the removal target position; 
 in accordance with a determination that the second position is within the predefined range of the removal target position, removing the icon from the display; and 
 in accordance with a determination that the second position is not within the predefined range of the removal target position, maintaining display of the icon on the display. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the removal target position is represented by a trash can icon. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the first input includes receiving an input for dragging the icon from the dock. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising altering a visual appearance of the icon in response to receiving the first input for selecting the icon in order to drag the icon from the dock. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising in accordance with the determination that the second position is not within the predefined range of the removal target position, returning the visual appearance of the icon to an original appearance of the icon. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in accordance with the determination that the second position is within the predefined range of the removal target position, removing the visual indicator from the user interface.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 after receiving at least a portion of the first input, displaying, on the display, a placeholder object on the dock that indicates a location of the icon in the dock prior to receiving the first input for selecting the icon.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the icon has a first shape, and the placeholder object has a second shape, the same as the first shape. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the placeholder object is displayed concurrently with the visual indicator of the removal target position. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the placeholder object is displayed at the original position of the icon in the user interface. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 after displaying the placeholder object on the dock, in accordance with the determination that the second position is within the predefined range of the removal target position, removing the placeholder object from the display.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first input and the second input comprise one or more touch inputs on a touch-sensitive display. 
     
     
         13 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by one or more processors of an electronic device with a display and one or more input devices, cause the electronic device to:
 display, on the display, a dock in a user interface, the dock comprising a region of the user interface in which one or more icons are presented, wherein the icons in the dock are displayed proximate to a first edge of the display;   receive, via the one or more input devices, a first input selecting an icon presented in the dock in order to drag the icon from the dock, the icon associated with an original position in the user interface;   in response to receiving the first input for selecting the icon, display, on the display, a visual indicator of a removal target position, wherein the visual indicator of the removal target position is displayed proximate to a second edge of the display that is different from the first edge of the display, and the icons in the dock other than the selected icon continue being displayed proximate to the first edge of the display while the visual indicator of the removal target position is displayed proximate to the second edge of the display;   receive, via the one or more input devices, a second input releasing the icon at a second position in the user interface;   determine whether the second position is within a predefined range of the removal target position;   in accordance with a determination that the second position is within the predefined range of the removal target position, remove the icon from the display; and   in accordance with a determination that the second position is not within the predefined range of the removal target position, maintain display of the icon on the display.   
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions further cause the electronic device to:
 alter a visual appearance of the icon in response to receiving the first input for selecting the icon in order to drag the icon from the dock.   
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 14 , wherein the instructions further cause the electronic device to:
 in accordance with the determination that the second position is not within the predefined range of the removal target position, return the visual appearance of the icon to an original appearance of the icon.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions further cause the electronic device to:
 in accordance with the determination that the second position is within the predefined range of the removal target position, remove the visual indicator from the user interface.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions further cause the electronic device to:
 after receiving at least a portion of the first input, display, on the display, a placeholder object on the dock that indicates a location of the icon in the dock prior to receiving the first input for selecting the icon.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the icon has a first shape, and the placeholder object has a second shape, the same as the first shape. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the placeholder object is displayed concurrently with the visual indicator of the removal target position. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the placeholder object is displayed at the original position of the icon in the user interface. 
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions further cause the electronic device to:
 after displaying the placeholder object on the dock, in accordance with the determination that the second position is within the predefined range of the removal target position, remove the placeholder object from the display.   
     
     
         22 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the first input and the second input comprise one or more touch inputs on a touch-sensitive display. 
     
     
         23 . An electronic device, comprising:
 one or more processors;   a display;   one or more input devices;   memory; and   one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:   displaying, on the display, a dock in a user interface, the dock comprising a region of the user interface in which one or more icons are presented, wherein the icons in the dock are displayed proximate to a first edge of the display;   receiving, via the one or more input devices, a first input selecting an icon presented in the dock in order to drag the icon from the dock, the icon associated with an original position in the user interface;   in response to receiving the first input for selecting the icon, displaying, on the display, a visual indicator of a removal target position, wherein the visual indicator of the removal target position is displayed proximate to a second edge of the display that is different from the first edge of the display, and the icons in the dock other than the selected icon continue being displayed proximate to the first edge of the display while the visual indicator of the removal target position is displayed proximate to the second edge of the display;   receiving, via the one or more input devices, a second input releasing the icon at a second position in the user interface;   determining whether the second position is within a predefined range of the removal target position;   in accordance with a determination that the second position is within the predefined range of the removal target position, removing the icon from the display; and   in accordance with a determination that the second position is not within the predefined range of the removal target position, maintaining display of the icon on the display.   
     
     
         24 . The electronic device of  claim 23 , wherein the instructions are further for:
 altering a visual appearance of the icon in response to receiving the first input for selecting the icon in order to drag the icon from the dock.   
     
     
         25 . The electronic device of  claim 24 , wherein the instructions are further for:
 in accordance with the determination that the second position is not within the predefined range of the removal target position, returning the visual appearance of the icon to an original appearance of the icon.   
     
     
         26 . The electronic device of  claim 23 , wherein the instructions are further for:
 in accordance with the determination that the second position is within the predefined range of the removal target position, removing the visual indicator from the user interface.   
     
     
         27 . The electronic device of  claim 23 , wherein the instructions are further for:
 after receiving at least a portion of the first input, displaying, on the display, a placeholder object on the dock that indicates a location of the icon in the dock prior to receiving the first input for selecting the icon.   
     
     
         28 . The electronic device of  claim 27 , wherein the icon has a first shape, and the placeholder object has a second shape, the same as the first shape. 
     
     
         29 . The electronic device of  claim 27 , wherein the placeholder object is displayed concurrently with the visual indicator of the removal target position. 
     
     
         30 . The electronic device of  claim 27 , wherein the placeholder object is displayed at the original position of the icon in the user interface. 
     
     
         31 . The electronic device of  claim 27 , wherein the instructions are further for:
 after displaying the placeholder object on the dock, in accordance with the determination that the second position is within the predefined range of the removal target position, removing the placeholder object from the display.   
     
     
         32 . The electronic device of  claim 23 , wherein the first input and the second input comprise one or more touch inputs on a touch-sensitive display.