A Look at Microsoft's Upcoming Word Flow Keyboard, Now in Closed Beta Testing

[MacRumors]

Rumors in January suggested Microsoft was working to bring its Word Flow Windows Phone keyboard to iOS, and now the company's keyboard project has entered a private beta testing phase. Starting this week, a limited number of testers have been given access to the Word Flow iOS keyboard.

MacRumors reader Ruben has shared some images and information with us, giving us our first look at the design and the features Microsoft plans to implement. According to Ruben, the keyboard is "incredibly reliable for a beta," with features like sounds, themes, and the much-anticipated one-handed "Arc" mode, accessed with a drag gesture.

In its default mode, the Word Flow keyboard looks a lot like a standard iOS keyboard, but its one-handed mode sets it apart from other offerings. With one-handed mode turned on, the keyboard morphs into a half-moon shape, arranging the letters to one side of the device for easy thumb access. The Word Flow keyboard supports both standard typing and swipe-based typing, as is one on third-party keyboards like Swipe and SwiftKey.

Standard keyboard features like auto correction and word prediction are included, with options to enable or disable a word learning feature that improves word predictions by sending keyboard usage information to Microsoft. Multiple Word Flow themes are included, including light and dark options, and there are also tools for creating custom themes based on images taken from the iPhone's Photo Library.

Additional information shared by iMore yesterday covers other features like quick access to Contacts through autofill and a free built-in image library that Microsoft plans to add to over time.

Microsoft has not yet publicly announced the Word Flow keyboard or shared details on when it might see a release.

Article Link: A Look at Microsoft's Upcoming Word Flow Keyboard, Now in Closed Beta Testing

 

[einsteinbqat]

Could someone explain the reason that the app needs to send data to Microsoft in order for it to learn my typing habits and have better word predictions? Can the app not do it itself directly from within the app?

 

[fitshaced]

Could someone explain the reason that the app needs to send data to Microsoft in order for it to learn my typing habits and have better word predictions? Can the app not do it itself directly from within the app?

Could be worse. There could be a paperclip 'Looks like you're writing a letter'

 

[iThingsGurl]

Could someone explain the reason that the app needs to send data to Microsoft in order for it to learn my typing habits and have better word predictions? Can the app not do it itself directly from within the app?

Server side processing is faster, and it's easier to make changes/perform maintenance without having to push updates for the app. Additionally, they use this data to improve their service. Apple does the same with Siri.

 

[Sirious]

This is actually quite a neat and unique keyboard. Can't wait to try it out, and Microsoft is usually good at updates (at least IMO) so they should improve it over time.

 

[Jal217]

I'm really excited for one handed mode. If it had a dictation button it could be my only keyboard. Looks like no such luck though so will be stuck with having appeals keyboard to cycle through.

 

[Benjamin Frost]

I note that Pages hasn't been updated for five months.

Perhaps watch bands are more important.

 

[Sleaka J]

Needs an option to get rid of the emoji button like SwiftKey.

 

[Textime]

I just want to have an option to choose the black apple keyboard

 

[Saturnine]

Good, I can't wait to have a nice, fast keyboard with essential features like an Image Library...

 

[joueboy]

Most of the search and typing data happens more mobile devices and Microsoft is getting behind on this. Bing is fine but Google is the most used search engine and Windows Mobile is not doing well. To get those data from Android and iOS users, this the only way.

 

[Shirasaki]

Looks cool but why over half of video time is introducing custom theme feature? And yet I still have no idea how it can input words by sliding on keyboard?
Well, I must be too old to understand such stuff.

 

[JosephAW]

This is MS secret NSA app

 

[iThingsGurl]

Looks cool but why over half of video time is introducing custom theme feature? And yet I still have no idea how it can input words by sliding on keyboard?
Well, I must be too old to understand such stuff.

You are not!

I guess the app is still in the beta version. Once they release it on the app store we might be able to get more information.

 

[einsteinbqat]

Could be worse. There could be a paperclip 'Looks like you're writing a letter'

Oh gosh! Indeed! That would be worse!

 

[Shirasaki]

You are not!

I guess the app is still in the beta version. Once they release it on the app store we might be able to get more information.

Glad that you say this. At least I am not so old physically. off topic.
Yeah, maybe App Store version would be better somehow. This keyboard is still in closed beta phase so anything is possible. I still can remember second iOS 9.0 developer beta contained that quick keyboard selections feature on iPhone, super handy. And now, only iPhone 6s users could use it through force touch.

 

[einsteinbqat]

Server side processing is faster, and it's easier to make changes/perform maintenance without having to push updates for the app. Additionally, they use this data to improve their service. Apple does the same with Siri.

True.

 

[btrach144]

Could someone explain the reason that the app needs to send data to Microsoft in order for it to learn my typing habits and have better word predictions? Can the app not do it itself directly from within the app?

Where does I claim that typing data is sent to Microsoft? This hasn't even been officially announced nor do we know if it truly exists. So how can we assume that data is being shared?

 

[Sleaka J]

Where does I claim that typing data is sent to Microsoft? This hasn't even been officially announced nor do we know if it truly exists. So how can we assume that data is being shared?

Look at the pictures a little more carefully. Specifically, the last one.

 

[Tofupunch]

I wonder if they'll want full access in order to use this keyboard? I just can't bring myself to use a keyboard that has full access.

 

[Sleaka J]

I wonder if they'll want full access in order to use this keyboard? I just can't bring myself to use a keyboard that has full access.

100% it'll need full access to use all its features.

 

[Goatllama]

I note that Pages hasn't been updated for five months.

Perhaps watch bands are more important.

Aaaaand now I'm sad.

 

[JeffyTheQuik]

Could be worse. There could be a paperclip 'Looks like you're writing a letter'

Clippy was misunderstood...
.
.
.
...by everyone that ever met him.

 

[Mactendo]

Could someone explain the reason that the app needs to send data to Microsoft in order for it to learn my typing habits and have better word predictions? Can the app not do it itself directly from within the app?

They need to compare it to your other data, extract names and phone numbers from your contacts, check your location with FBI, see if you're no typing something illegal, send a squad at your location if you are typing something illegal, patent all your bright ideas, store passwords just in case and simply have fun selling info to third parties.

Hey, Google, this user is 24 yo, from NY and it looks like he's going to visit his friend in Chicago this week. Sell him some ads on travelling and airplane tickets.

Psst, Facebook. Do you want to know what we learned about this guy?

---...--. --.--...-..-. ALPHA, THIS IS DELTA. INCOMING TRANSMISSION ABOUT EINSTEINBQAT. YES, EINSTEINBQAT. HE SEEMS TO KNOW TOO MUCH. YES, WAY TOO MUCH.

 

[Tofupunch]

100% it'll need full access to use all its features.

Does anyone else feel apprehensive about allowing that much access? Perhaps I'm not clear on what it entails but, to my understanding, they basically can log everything I type right?