A method and portable electronic device are provided that presents a user interface based upon detected input, such as a touch contact with a touch-sensitive display of the portable electronic device, from displacement of a covering apparatus to uncover a portion of the display while the display is in a low power condition such as a sleep state. The information in the user interface that is displayed is determined at least in part by the extent of the displacement of the covering apparatus. The user of the device can peek at the user interface of the device and not have to completely uncover or remove the device from the covering apparatus to view particular types of information.