An intuitive technique for inputting user gestures into a handheld computing device is disclosed allowing a user to better manipulate different types of screen display presentations, such as desktops and application windows, when performing tasks thereon, e.g., minimization, maximization, moving between display screens, and increasing/decreasing a display thereof across multiple display screens. For manipulating an application window on a device display screen for performing tasks as identified above, user gestures are input to a corresponding gesture capture area for this display screen, wherein this capture area is separate from this display screen.