1. A method of generating a panoramic image in an application on a portable electronic device, the method comprising: receiving a user selection for a selected threshold angle of a plurality of threshold angles for creating the panoramic image using a plurality of overlapping images obtained from a respective plurality of rotational viewing angles; determining an initial heading of the portable electronic device responsive to signals provided by one or more of a compass or a gyroscope; rotating a camera of the portable electronic device about a vertical axis with respect to the portable electronic device via a motor of the portable electronic device, the camera starting from an initial rotational position; monitoring a current heading of the portable electronic device responsive to signals received from the one or more of the compass or gyroscope; monitoring a current angle of rotation of the camera about the vertical axis responsive to signals provided by an angle sensor; determining a current facing of the camera based on the initial heading of the portable electronic device, the current heading of the portable electronic device, and the current angle of rotation of the camera; recording the respective plurality of overlapping images at the plurality of rotational viewing angles, relative to the initial heading, wherein the recording comprises pausing the rotation of the camera, when the current facing of the camera corresponds to each of the plurality of rotational viewing angles; comparing the current facing of the camera to the selected threshold angle and rotating the camera back to the initial rotational position, indicating completion of image recording, when the facing of the camera equals or exceeds the selected threshold angle; and creating the panoramic image from the plurality of recorded overlapping images.