New playbook. Welcome screen tells me to swipe to continue to setup wifi. I swipe the screen and nothing happens

Update the software patches to the latest version

You can do both from your fire. Just follow this.
To register your Fire tablet outside of the initial setup screens:

1. From Home, swipe down from the top of the screen and then tap Settings.
2. Tap My Account.
3. Tap Register.
   • If you already have an Amazon account: Enter your Amazon account information, and then tap Continue.
   • If you do not have an Amazon account: Tap Start Here, and then follow the instructions to set up a new account.

Just follow these directions.
To register your Fire tablet outside of the initial setup screens:

1. From Home, swipe down from the top of the screen and then tap Settings.
2. Tap My Account.
3. Tap Register.
   • If you already have an Amazon account: Enter your Amazon account information, and then tap Continue.
   • If you do not have an Amazon account: Tap Start Here, and then follow the instructions to set up a new account.

swipe your finger from top down

Swipe your finger up from the bottom of the screen so it displays the controls. The one at top right with a padlock in a circle with an arrow in the clockwise direction is the orientation lock. Tap it once to lock.

reset the KOBO

Google make model manual
download it and check for Factory Reset

The Playbook attempts to download the license agreement from http://csbeta.websl.eval.blackberry.com/
and it seems this URL is no longer valid, as it returns
"Sorry! Nothing could be found here."

i figured the OS on my playbook is an early release so i'll be forcing an update.

to force an update, i fired up the latest desktop manager, completely turned off the playbook by pressing/holding the power button then clicking turn off, then i plugged it in..
desktop manager then shows an error message and gives you the option to update.. click that and leave it alone for an hour++ (depending on your internet connection)

i started the updated playbook, went through the setup wizard and this time when i selected the country, i got the license agreement and was able to continue.

option 2:

On my playbook when I scroll down the list of email messages and get to a certain point it just downloads more older messages from the phone. If this isn't happening on your playbook, then you should try rebridging the devices. Go to the bluetooth connections screens on both the phone and the playbook and delete the other device from the device list. Then go to the BB bridge app and reconnect them. Hopefully that works.

Sounds like a bad install on the new operating system. Since your question was posted in April, I'm assuming you have the problem solved by now, or returned the device, but for anyone else looking at this, I suggest either returning the device and exchanging it, or if you prefer to solve it with this device, then leave it on and let the battery run down. Once it is dead, try plugging the device in and powering it on, hopefully that gets you back in business. Blackberry Tech Support is also helpful, their phone number for your country should be on their website.