1. In a portable electronic device, a computer-readable media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for providing a scalable interface on a display, the instructions performing steps comprising: defining within the display of the portable electronic device a first area for accepting user input indicating a desire to modify a first interface characteristic; accepting user input via the first area, the user input indicating a desire to modify a first interface characteristic of the interface on the display; and in response to the user input, causing the first interface characteristic of the interface on the display to be modified such that a first interface state of a plurality of interface states is displayed on the display.