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Arching on-screen keyboard might debut in Windows Phone 8

Arching on-screen keyboard might debut in Windows Phone 8

Posted: 02 Jul 2012, 05:52, by Nick T.

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Arching on-screen keyboard might debut in Windows Phone 8

Now, here's a possible Windows Phone 8 feature that was not mentioned during the platform's announcement – a redesigned on-screen keyboard optimized for single-handed use. Too unlikely, you say? Well, not really. Back in June of 2011, we had a leak indicating that a "next gen soft keyboard" made for one handed input was being planned for Apollo. This photo, which was allegedly obtained from a leaked Microsoft Research presentation, shows what the said virtual keyboard might look like, if it happens to be real.

But will an alternative keyboard like that be really necessary? After all, the current Windows Phone on-screen keyboard is already pretty comfortable to type on, even if you are not an experienced smartphone user, and even if you use a single thumb. Besides, judging by this leaked photo, inputting a given letter might require the user to tap a button several times, much like typing on a physical keypad, which doesn't seem like too convenient of a method to us.

Yet who knows, if done right, this arching keyboard might actually work just fine once you get the hang of it. And if you don't need it, switching back to the old one should not be too hard. What do you, guys and girls, think? Do you think such a keyboard will be comfortable to use? Let us know by dropping a comment.

source: WMPoweruser

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1. wassup posted on 02 Jul 2012, 06:09 8 2

Looks cool , but it's like the old phones with the numpads

2. wendygarett (limited) 4 days ago posted on 02 Jul 2012, 06:12 9 1

typing with one hand? AWESOME!!!
GIMME A BIG FAT SCREEN WITH LESS BEZEL PLEASE!!!!

4. denied911 (banned) posted on 02 Jul 2012, 07:31 3 8

here you go -=SGS3=-

3. imran_khan0786 posted on 02 Jul 2012, 07:18 1 0

Good looking with pureview+wp8

5. qwertypoor posted on 02 Jul 2012, 07:40 1 0

how about no bezel Pantech to care of that already they need to make a wp8 with no Bezel too

6. fraydoe posted on 02 Jul 2012, 07:43 1 0

oh thats nice, finally something fresh, but i really dont see them comfortably fitting a whole keyboard

7. azri05 (unregistered) posted on 02 Jul 2012, 07:48 1 0

A very neat idea!

8. greatGreekGeek posted on 02 Jul 2012, 08:21 0 2

why the complexities? the current keypad is just fine. and anyway such a keyboard will require the phone to identify which hand the user is using to type-i dont type with a particular hand all the time..it depends.
but if the phone somehow identifies if the right or the left or both hands are being used then such a feature might come in handy.

10. whothisperson posted on 02 Jul 2012, 12:30 1 0

Its ideal for one hand typing, of course it is more suitable for large phones or people with small hands that can't reach across the screen to type with one hand. As for left and right hands, I'm pretty sure it will come with a setting to switch between the two.

11. greatGreekGeek posted on 02 Jul 2012, 13:19 0 1

what i mean to say is suppose i'm typing and suddenly i need to switch my phone over to the other hand. so i dont want to be meddling with crappy settings in the midst of the typing. and anyway how would the phone be able to guess which hand i'm using, if the manual settings are to be skipped?

14. Nullstring posted on 08 Mar 2013, 16:56 0 0

why would they call it a smartphone if it doesn't work smartly? Keypads should be smart too. Let those device sensors work if necessary

9. Bluesky02 posted on 02 Jul 2012, 09:16 0 0

Great Keyboard

12. greatGreekGeek posted on 02 Jul 2012, 13:22 0 1

i dunno why the keyboard reminds me of 7210.

13. Nullstring posted on 08 Mar 2013, 16:51 0 0

Look great. But it would be nice to use the classic letter arrangement if they're going to design that kind of keypad.

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Arching on-screen keyboard might debut in Windows Phone 8

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14 Comments Follow Following

1. wassup posted on 02 Jul 2012, 06:09 8 2

2. wendygarett (limited) 4 days ago posted on 02 Jul 2012, 06:12 9 1

4. denied911 (banned) posted on 02 Jul 2012, 07:31 3 8

3. imran_khan0786 posted on 02 Jul 2012, 07:18 1 0

5. qwertypoor posted on 02 Jul 2012, 07:40 1 0

6. fraydoe posted on 02 Jul 2012, 07:43 1 0

7. azri05 (unregistered) posted on 02 Jul 2012, 07:48 1 0

8. greatGreekGeek posted on 02 Jul 2012, 08:21 0 2

10. whothisperson posted on 02 Jul 2012, 12:30 1 0

11. greatGreekGeek posted on 02 Jul 2012, 13:19 0 1

14. Nullstring posted on 08 Mar 2013, 16:56 0 0

9. Bluesky02 posted on 02 Jul 2012, 09:16 0 0

12. greatGreekGeek posted on 02 Jul 2012, 13:22 0 1

13. Nullstring posted on 08 Mar 2013, 16:51 0 0

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