A method and apparatus managing processing resources in a portable electronic device are provided. An area of the display device is controlled to provide a banner region comprising device state data, the area of the display device enabled to receive focus using an input device. While focus is in the banner region, first input data is receiving, and the display device is responsively controlled to provide in the banner region an indication of the first application, replacing the device state data. Further input data is received while the indication of the first application is provided in the banner region. In response and, in response, at least one of the following occurs: the first application is brought to the foreground by controlling the display device to provide a representation of the first application; and the first application is closed such that resources used by the processing unit are reduced.