1. A graphical user interface method, comprising: receiving positional data from one or more position sensors disposed within a device; determining a 3D frame of reference for the device based at least in part on the received positional data; displaying a plurality of graphical user interface objects depicted in a sub-box form factor on a display of the device at a first orientation with respect to the 3D frame of reference; receiving optical data from one or more optical sensors disposed within the device; determining a position of a user's eyes based on the optical data; determining a position of an ambient light source based on the optical data; determining a position of a graphical layer with respect to at least one graphical user interface object based at least in part on the determined 3D frame of reference and the position of the ambient light source, the graphical layer creating a lighting effect with respect to the at least one graphical user interface object; generating a virtual 3D depiction of the at least one graphical user interface object on the display of the device with the graphical layer positioned with respect to the at least one graphical user interface object based on the position of the ambient light source; monitoring the position of the device and the position of the user's eyes; and adjusting the generated virtual 3D depiction of the at least one graphical user interface object on the display of the device, in response to movement of the device or the position of the user's eyes, to depict at least one of: a top surface of the at least one graphical user interface object, a side surface of the at least one graphical user interface object, or behind the least one graphical user interface object; wherein the at least one graphical user interface object is represented in a virtual 3D operating system environment.