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One-Handed Keyboard Discovered Within iOS Simulator Code

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Developer Steve Troughton-Smith has uncovered a one-handed keyboard code by hacking the iOS Simulator, also discovering that the code for the feature has "been there since at least iOS 8." The one-handed keyboard mode works by letting users left-swipe or right-swipe from the edges of the iOS keyboard to pull the keys towards their dominant hand, making it easier to type with just one hand.

Taking up the extra space on the side of the keyboard are designated cut, copy, and paste controls, with the rest of the keyboard's buttons gaining a smaller width to accommodate the one-handed mode. Discovered to be dormant since iOS 8, without an official beta or public launch, the feature's original code ties into the launch of Apple's size-bumped 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus.

one-handed-ios-keyboard-800x709.jpg

Today's fun hack (been there since at least iOS 8); the iOS keyboard has an unused left/right one-handed mode. Activated by edge-swipe pic.twitter.com/zIk7x7CVmu - Steve T-S (@stroughtonsmith) October 19, 2016
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It appears that the company was working on ways to help users type on the new, bigger iPhones, but it remains unclear why the one-handed keyboard never made it to an official release on iOS. In lieu of the mode, Apple introduced "Reachability" for iPhone 6 Plus users, which lets them double-tap on the Home button (without impressing it) to pull down the entire screen and reach pieces of the UI otherwise out of the reach of their thumb.

Troughton-Smith noted in a few tweets that the keyboard could potentially be hacked on an actual iPhone like he did with the iOS Simulator, but the device would need to be jailbroken to do so. The developer gave some context regarding the code of such a jailbreak tweak, as well as a video of the one-handed keyboard in action.

Reachability is an answer to vertical problems when using the Plus-sized iPhones with one hand, but it leaves horizontal, one-handed typing issues unsolved in iOS keyboards. Apple could debut the one-handed keyboard in a future version of iOS, potentially next year's iOS 11, but since the code for the feature has remained dormant for so long already, it's impossible to tell.

Article Link: One-Handed Keyboard Discovered Within iOS Simulator Code
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2016/10/20/one-handed-keyboard-ios/
As someone that has horizontal reach challenges on my iphone 7 (not plus), this seems like a good thing. However, I would be concerned that squeezing those keys together could result in more fat finger mistakes. Overall, I hope that this shows up in some form in a future release.
 
jerry16 said:
Why in the world wouldn't Apple implement this? A feature that would be incredibly useful?! Almost forgot, this is the same company that can't be bothered to put a stock calculator app on any iPad after all these years.
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You mean the same calculator app that everyone would complain they can't delete or hide? Apple does a lot of things we don't ever see and sometimes we get to see them. That doesn't mean you understand what their plan was or that you get to complain about something that isn't even there.
 
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There was a jailbreak tweak called HandyKey that did exactly this. It even had the same function keys on the right/left. Would love to see Apple officially implement this as it was one of the few tweaks that kept me jailbreaking back on iOS 8.
 
wigby said:
You mean the same calculator app that everyone would complain they can't delete or hide? Apple does a lot of things we don't ever see and sometimes we get to see them. That doesn't mean you understand what their plan was or that you get to complain about something that isn't even there.
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Everyone would complain? Doubt it - my guess is more would find it useful rather than a nuisance. Furthermore, with iOS 10 the calculator app is able to be deleted - so moot point.
 
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Apple probably decided to let the 3rd party keyboard makers handle this. Who knows why. I'd much rather it be naitive because the 3rd party keyboards have been shower buggy and inconvenient.
 
jerry16 said:
Why in the world wouldn't Apple implement this? A feature that would be incredibly useful?! Almost forgot, this is the same company that can't be bothered to put a stock calculator app on any iPad after all these years.
Click to expand...

Yeah, clearly they didn't put this feature out because they "can't be bothered". They designed/coded/implemented this entire feature because they "can't be bothered". Makes sense.
 
I've been toying around with Word Flow for one handed typing... but find it awkward trying to manage typing with a thumb while keeping the phone from falling out of your hand on an iPhone 7 Plus. (not a fault of the keyboard, just physically awkward... I'm still too afraid I'll drop the phone)

wordl-flow-keyboard-iphone6s-plus-hero.jpg
 
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