Microsoft’s new keyboard makes it easier to text with one hand

Microsoft’s newest free keyboard, Word Flow, is designed for iOS to make it easier to text with a single hand on an iPhone.

Available in English in the U.S. (for now), Word Flow can be used similarly to a traditional QWERTY keyboard. It allows users to swipe between letters to string together words and sentences faster, a feature developed by Swype. But its standout feature is “arc” mode, which, when activated, scrunches the keyboard up into a curve. It’s programmed for both lefties and righties, making it easier to type with one hand, especially on larger iPhones.

Word Flow also comes with a predictive algorithm to anticipate your next word, allowing for even faster texting. For those Emoji fans, Word Flow lets you access smileys simply by tapping the emoji icon, rather than having to switch to another keyboard.

And like other keyboard apps, Word Flow is customizable. Users can choose whatever theme they desire, use their own photos for the background, and customize the color of the letters, background, and highlights.

Word Flow is expected to come to Android later in 2016, so non-iPhone users can use the new arc layout as well.

Microsoft previously launched the Hub Keyboard for iOS, bringing in context from different services. Unfortunately, it did not perform well, and currently has a two-star rating on the App Store with reviews complaining it’s too slow and buggy. We expect a much better rating for Word Flow, as it significantly makes it easier to text on larger iPhones.

Source: Mashable