17. A display device having rendered thereon an improved user interface with functionality from a software application that is relevant to selected text, the user interface comprising: a floating object having disposed therein a subset of functionality commands available from the software application that are relevant to editing the selected text in an electronic document, the subset of functionality commands being displayed in a main user interface of the software application and, when disposed in the floating object, having a first visual representation in the floating object similar to a second visual representation in the main user interface, wherein each functionality command within the subset of functionality commands is configured to be selected for applying at least one property to the selected object without requiring a display of a secondary user interface, the at least one property corresponding to text editing functionality; wherein the floating object is operative to display in the electronic document adjacent to the selected text upon receiving a selection of the selected text such that at least a portion of the selected text remains visible; wherein the floating object is displayed translucently based on an opacity associated with a distance between an electronic pointer and the floating object; and continuing to display the command object after receiving a selection of one of the set of functionality commands.
17. A display device having rendered thereon an improved user interface with functionality from a software application that is relevant to selected text, the user interface comprising: a floating object having disposed therein a subset of functionality commands available from the software application that are relevant to editing the selected text in an electronic document, the subset of functionality commands being displayed in a main user interface of the software application and, when disposed in the floating object, having a first visual representation in the floating object similar to a second visual representation in the main user interface, wherein each functionality command within the subset of functionality commands is configured to be selected for applying at least one property to the selected object without requiring a display of a secondary user interface, the at least one property corresponding to text editing functionality; wherein the floating object is operative to display in the electronic document adjacent to the selected text upon receiving a selection of the selected text such that at least a portion of the selected text remains visible; wherein the floating object is displayed translucently based on an opacity associated with a distance between an electronic pointer and the floating object; and continuing to display the command object after receiving a selection of one of the set of functionality commands. 18. The display device of claim 17 , wherein the display of the floating object is increasingly translucent as the distance between the electronic pointer and the displayed floating object increases.