A device comprising: at least one orientation sensor; a memory storing one or more carrying-case insertion signatures indicative of time-depending acceleration characteristics of the device; and, a processor configured to: receive an acceleration output as a function of time from the at least one orientation sensor; place the device in a carrying case mode when the time-dependent acceleration pattern in the output matches the one or more carrying-case insertion signatures, wherein in the carrying case mode at least portions of components at the device are turned off and visual indicators are controlled to provide notifications at device areas that are not obscured by a carrying case; track a running average of a given number of time-dependent patterns and store at least a portion of the average in the memory as the one or more carrying-case insertion signatures when the time-dependent pattern matches the one or more carrying-case insertion signatures; and update one or more carrying-case insertion signatures each time a carrying-case insertion is detected to periodically update the one or more carrying-case insertion signatures based on data received from the at least one orientation sensor. at least one orientation sensor; a memory storing one or more carrying-case insertion signatures indicative of time-depending acceleration characteristics of the device; and, a processor configured to: receive an acceleration output as a function of time from the at least one orientation sensor; place the device in a carrying case mode when the time-dependent acceleration pattern in the output matches the one or more carrying-case insertion signatures, wherein in the carrying case mode at least portions of components at the device are turned off and visual indicators are controlled to provide notifications at device areas that are not obscured by a carrying case; track a running average of a given number of time-dependent patterns and store at least a portion of the average in the memory as the one or more carrying-case insertion signatures when the time-dependent pattern matches the one or more carrying-case insertion signatures; and update one or more carrying-case insertion signatures each time a carrying-case insertion is detected to periodically update the one or more carrying-case insertion signatures based on data received from the at least one orientation sensor. receive an acceleration output as a function of time from the at least one orientation sensor; place the device in a carrying case mode when the time-dependent acceleration pattern in the output matches the one or more carrying-case insertion signatures, wherein in the carrying case mode at least portions of components at the device are turned off and visual indicators are controlled to provide notifications at device areas that are not obscured by a carrying case; track a running average of a given number of time-dependent patterns and store at least a portion of the average in the memory as the one or more carrying-case insertion signatures when the time-dependent pattern matches the one or more carrying-case insertion signatures; and update one or more carrying-case insertion signatures each time a carrying-case insertion is detected to periodically update the one or more carrying-case insertion signatures based on data received from the at least one orientation sensor.