BlackBerry PlayBook 101: Prepare Yourself for PlayBook

The wait seems longer for the BlackBerry PlayBook? Here’s something that will make you a pro user before the tablet itself is launched. Kevin from CrackBerry.com blogs a post on different gestures you have, initial setup & how you can bridge(connect) your BlackBerry smartphone. Enjoy the post & know more about the much awaited black beauty.

Navigations

1. Gestures

Swiping

The basic idea of getting around the OS on the PlayBook is swiping – plain and simple.

To scroll though a list, navigate panes, get around pages and more just swipe left and right or up and down.

Pinching

Also know as “pinch to zoom”, pinching is an easy way to zoom in and out of webpages, photos, documents and more.

To pinch just touch the screen with your finger and thumb, then either drag together or apart to zoom our and in respectively.

Dragging

To move and item from one place to another on the PlayBook you can simple drag it. No need to worry about copying and pasting as this can get the job done with ease.

To move an item (photo, document etc.) from one place to another, touch and hold the item then drag to the new position.

2. Navigation

One of the best parts of the PlayBook is the integration of the off-screen frames for navigation. You can bring up menus, switch between apps and more with just a few flicks.

Showing the home screen

To show the home screen (and thus minimize applications) on the PlayBook, swipe up from the bottom frame onto the screen.

Show the menu

There are many additional features found in applications as well as options and help menus. To access these, drag down from the top frame when in the application. To close the menu, simply tap away from it on the screen.

Switch between apps

To change between open apps without returning to the home screen, simple swipe left or right from the side frames.

Show the status bar

To view the status bar no matter what application you are using, simply swipe from the top left onto the screen. From the status bar you can view notifications, battery info, options and more.

Close an app

To close an application from the homescreen, simply touch the app and swipe up to toss it away.

Switch between homescreen views

From the homescreen, swipe left or right on the lower portion to change views.

Setup

1. Welcome Screen

Plug the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet into a power outlet to ensure that you have enough power to complete the setup process (odds are you should be safe without doing that, but better safe and plugged in!).

2. Connect to Wi-Fi

Connect to a Wi-Fi network using one of the following methods:

• Manually Connect to a Network
• Wi-Fi Protected Setup

Note: You can also connect to available Wi-Fi networks that are displayed on the screen.

3. Set Date And Time

Easy to do, you’ll want to update the date and time next.

4. BlackBerry End User Terms

The next step is to accept the BlackBerry End User Agreement. Once you accept the license agreement you can continue the setup process.

Note: If you do not accept the license agreement, the tablet turns off!!! So be sure to accept.

5. Login to BlackBerry ID or Create Your Account

Create or sign in with a BlackBerry® ID to use a single email address and password to log in to any BlackBerry product that supports BlackBerry ID. To sign in to your BlackBerry ID account, type your BlackBerry ID login information. To create a BlackBerry ID account, tap Create a BlackBerry ID.

6. BlackBerry PlayBook Setup – Software Updates

To ensure your PlayBook is running the latest software available, during the setup process it will check for updates. If newer software is available than what shipped on your device, you can download it here to use the latest software available.

7. BlackBerry Bridge Setup

You do not need a BlackBerry Smartphone to use a BlackBerry PlayBook, but if you own a BlackBerry you can connect it to your PlayBook tablet via the BlackBerry Bridge. Connect your tablet to your BlackBerry smartphone to access email, calendars, BlackBerry Messenger files, and other data directly from your tablet. To set up BlackBerry Bridge, tap Setup.

8. BlackBerry PlayBook Basics

Learn how to navigate the BlackBerry Tablet OS. To view tutorials, tap Learn about the home screen and Learn how to access Menus. The PlayBook makes use of gestures, so you’ll want to be sure to learn these to get the full experience of the device and operating system.

9. Congratulations – You’re Ready to Play!

Using BlackBerry Bridge

1. About BlackBerry Bridge

If you are running BlackBerry Device Software 5.0 or later on your BlackBerry smartphone, you can connect your BlackBerry PlayBook tablet to your smartphone to access email, calendars, BlackBerry Messenger files, and other data directly from your tablet.

Your tablet connects to your smartphone using Bluetooth technology. To connect, you need the BlackBerry Bridge application installed on your smartphone. You can download it from the BlackBerry App World storefront.

2. Download BlackBerry Bridge

You can download the BlackBerry Bridge application using a barcode, or by searching BlackBerry App World.

Using a barcode

To download the BlackBerry Bridge application using a barcode, complete the following steps:

Complete the following steps on your tablet:

1. On your tablet home screen, on the status bar, tap settings > BlackBerryBridge.
2. Tap Setup.
3. If necessary, enter a name for your tablet.
4. Tap Next.
5. Tap Show Barcode.

Complete the following steps on your BlackBerry Smartphone:

1. On your smartphone home screen, click App World.
2. Press the Menu key.
3. Click Scan a Barcode.
4. To scan the barcode, point your smartphone camera at the barcode that appears on your tablet.
5. On your smartphone, click the BlackBerry Bridge application. 6. Click Download. 7. Enter your BlackBerry® ID login information. 8. If necessary, enter your smartphone password.

Searching BlackBerry App World

To download the BlackBerry Bridge application by searching BlackBerry App World, complete the following steps on your smartphone:

1. On the home screen, click App World.
2. On the Featured Items screen, press the Menu key.
3. Click Search.
4. Type BlackBerry Bridge.
5. Click the BlackBerry Bridge application.
6. Click Download.
7. Enter your BlackBerry ID login information.
8. If necessary, enter your smartphone password.

3. Connect your tablet and smartphone using BlackBerry Bridge

You can connect your tablet and smartphone using a barcode and the BlackBerry Bridge application, or by manually pairing using the BlackBerry Bridge application. Please note, to connect your tablet and smartphone, the BlackBerry Bridge application must be installed on your smartphone.

Using a Barcode

To connect your tablet and smartphone with a barcode using the BlackBerry Bridge application, complete the following steps:

Complete the following steps on your tablet:

1. On your tablet home screen, on the status bar, tap settings > BlackBerry Bridge.
2. Tap Setup.
3. If necessary, enter a name for your tablet.
4. Tap Next > Continue.

Complete the following steps on your smartphone:

1. In the BlackBerry Bridge application on your smartphone, click Add Device > Next.
2. To scan the barcode, point your smartphone camera at the barcode that appears on your tablet.

Manually Pairing

To connect your tablet and smartphone by manually pairing using the BlackBerry Bridge application, complete the following steps:

Complete the following steps on your tablet:

1. On your tablet home screen, on the status bar, tap settings > BlackBerry Bridge.
2. Tap Setup.
3. If necessary, enter a name for your tablet.
4. Tap Next > Continue > Manual Pairing.

Complete the following steps on your smartphone:

1. In the BlackBerry Bridge application on your smartphone, click Add Device.
2. Click Manual Setup.
3. Select the tablet from the list.
4. Confirm that the pairing number is the same for the tablet and smartphone, and click Yes.
5. Click Yes.

4. BlackBerry Bridge Connections

When your tablet and smartphone are connected, the following applications appear on your tablet home screen:

Saved Wi-Fi networks and bookmarks from the Browser application on your smartphone are available on your tablet. When your tablet and smartphone are not connected, the applications appear as unavailable on your tablet home screen.

Note: BlackBerry Bridge connections are only available on your tablet when your tablet and smartphone are connected. When your tablet and smartphone are disconnected, the connections are removed from your tablet, but remain on your smartphone.

IT Policy: For administered BlackBerry Smartphone users, a new IT policy exists called Enable BlackBerry Bridge which specifies whether a smartphone can run the BlackBerry Bridge application. If this rule is set to True, a smartphone user can run the BlackBerry Bridge application and use it to connect the tablet to the smartphone.
If this rule is set to False, a smartphone user cannot run the BlackBerry Bridge application and cannot use it to connect the tablet to the smartphone.

Source: CrackBerry.com