Using the PlayBook interface

The BlackBerry PlayBook operates differently from other tablets and this is in large part due to the unique

operating system provided by QNX

. You may notice some similarities to the iPad OS or Android OS, but you're bound to notice differences as well.

One large distinction is the lack of any buttons on the front like home, back or settings. Instead, you can access certain features by swiping towards the center from the bezel. Swiping from the bottom brings you to the multitasking menu, swiping from the top brings you to the settings screen for either the PlayBook itself or for the current app. Swiping from either the left or the right will switch one app to the left or right.

If you want to close an application, then the multitasking menu is where you need to go. Open it up and you'll notice an X beside the name of the currently selected application. Tap this X to close the program.

The BlackBerry PlayBook has a touchscreen that allows for you to use single-finger swipes or use multiple fingers to perform

gestures like pinch zooming

.

You'll notice that there is a bar at the top of the screen that shows information like the time and date. It's also where you go to turn your Wi-Fi or BlueTooth connection on or off, and there's also a button for orientation lock. You'll also find icons here for specific applications that you're running.

Another thing you'll notice is a lack of a hardware keyboard. That's because the PlayBook forces you to use the software keyboard. Tap the 123sym button to show more keys and tap the icon with two dots to move between pages.

Besides the lack of physical keyboard, you'll also find that there are few physical buttons on the PlayBook at all. The few that are present are located on the top of the device and allow you to turn it on or off, or control media playback and volume.