Windows Phone 8.1 is shaping up to be a major OS update. Though there are a few big ticket new items, there are also a lot of under the hood fixes too. One of those in-between additions will be a new swipe-based keyboard. We mentioned this addition in our 8.1 features list and other articles not as a third-party replacement, or Swype from Android, but rather Microsoft’s own addition to the stock keyboard.
This morning, Unleash The Phones have posted a video purporting to be that very keyboard. Indeed, we can confirm its authenticity at this time.
The keyboard itself is fairly straight forward: stocky keyboard but with the ability to drag your finger to pick letters. There’s also a newly updated prediction engine to help make things faster, including the ability to suggest emoji when typing certain phrases e.g. ‘happy’ will bring up that word plus the smiley emoticon.
The new swipe keyboard looks clean, fast and an exciting way to input text into Windows Phone 8.1. It was one of the key pieces of the update to not leak out, though like everything about 8.1, it has now seen the light of day.
What do you think of the keyboard? Sound off in comments.
Source: Unleash the Phones; via: the Verge
Reader comments
Windows Phone 8.1's new swipe keyboard revealed on video
Yay!
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I just can't believe someone from a tech site/company (or dev) took a video in portrait orientation.
Fake no On Screen Buttons Sry
Lack of swype was probably going to be a long term deal breaker for me. I am SOOOO glad to see this.
bla bla bla.. Make us the good old 12button T9 option.
Does anyone know if there will be T9 available for Serbian language or at least word flow? Symbian used to have Serbian T9, and for me it's been huge downgrade foe that matter switching to WP.
I see that they removed the comma next to the spacebar on the right, which makes me really, really happy!! Cause when I type in landscape mode, I very often press the comma instead of the spacebar. Annoying,as,hell. They should have put it on the left side of the space bar in the first place. So with the removal of the comma, the spacebar jumps a bit to the right, which is perfect! For me at least ;)
Bring on WP8.1. Can't wait!
Looks stewpid ... Or maybe that's just cause it looks like was shot with an iPhone user in portrait
We keep on seeing random videos of people playing around with the leaked SDK in WP emulators on PCs. I have also seen a few videos like this one where they apparanty have the leaked OS running on a phone. Does anybody have any idea what it would take to flash the phone (lumia 920 for example) with this update? I have the SDK already, but my guess is that I actually need something else. Has anybody here had any experience with 8.1 on their handsets?
absolutely i miss swype in my WP...go3.;)
Beeaassst, who cares if its late, we still getting it :D
Wow
I don't care about this, but does this mean we can see other unrevealed features like call duration in history log?
Everybody says too late for WI does phone. Hello, the ios keyboard does not even change the appearance of he letters when you hit shift or turn on caps lock.let alone offer swype
Now I'm glad I don't have a big screen phone! I'd love Swype-ing on my Lumia 920
I wish people would learn bow to make a video with their phone. Never do it with the phone upright unless your purpose is a shitty clip.
Somebody has Vertical Video Syndrome.
This is honestly the only thing I missed when I jumped from Android and Samsung to Nokia and Windows 3 years ago. I'd welcome it!
Sweet
Nice
I've used the Google Keyboard, Swype, and Swiftkey on my Droid Ultra and I never, ever use the swiping function. Not that cool TBH.
Vertical video... when will the world ever learn?
I love swipe keyboards!! (I really hate the people who walk around shouting into their phones so hopefully this will help eliminate that)
I think the voice input thing is a cool idea but in reality I don't want people staring at me because I'm talking to my phone.
Great to see this is coming. I always go to swipe the keyboard on my 920 after I have been using Nexus 5.
I'm surprised nobody seems to notice that the startscreen in this video is devided by titles...
but it kinda looks like that app we have currently that let you create titles with tiles which isn't truely like windows 8.1/rt 8.1 where you can select them based on the category you created, that's probably no one mentioned it.
Finally, one of the things I miss most after leaving Android
Lol Daniels last sentence...everything has leaked from wp8.1......so there's no 'cortana' or did I miss that leaked video / image?
Nop, every leak we've soon for now came from the Windows Phone 8.1 SDK Preview, not the full version of Windows Phone 8.1. According to developers that where on the introduction of the SDK, Microsoft stated that only developer-faced features where build in, no user-faced features.
So there could possibly be even more unknown features??
This is one feature i have been craving for. I use it on my secondary android phone, and I've been missing it badly on my nl1020
Its very useful while I'm on a moving vehicle. And in general also, it makes my fingers very efficient.
Looks cool but not a feature id use nice to have though
This will bring me back to windows phone! Went from Andriod to WP when the 8x came out and then back to android mainly because of this. I have been waiting to come back home!
I'm really happy that WP is going somewhere now. Seems like there will be a great bunch of additional features added in 8.1.
This is absolutely a wonderful feature. I recently bought an android phone ( nexus 5) just for the swipe keyboard. I own a Lumia 920. I am really excited now about having a windows phone.
Are we sure this is authentic ?, why only 2 options on the bottom of the application (circle buttons) as opposed to the current SMS app which has 3 when typing a new message (voice,send and attach)
The video could be a fake, for all we know. But that's immaterial because swipe-keyboard will be coming to WP8.1 whether that video existed or not. I heard, the T-9 keyboard too might make an appearance.
wife's S3 has swipe.. she loves it but I'm not a fan. I'll have to turn it off for sure.
Only a 23 sec video doesn't proofs anything
The video is immaterial. Swipe-keyboard is coming to WP whether that video existed or not.
the blue trace seems to be fake.,
This is the reason that makes me feel touch keyboard is superior to hardware keyboard. I wish I can swipe my way when typing long report at work.
The WP8 keyboard is not as easy to use as the iPhone one. Besides my phone is bigger than an iPhone. I don't understand why. But its faster on the iPhone. I m mistyping more frequently. After more than a year I should be used to it but this not the case. I hope the new one is better
Some days I can'tt type correctly (today si one of those days) and other days I type perfectlu. ;)
yeah, right ;\
Very few people will agree with you on that.
Looks great. If WP8 is going to steal any of those Android users jaded by the fragmentation, crapware and app bloat having this feature will be critical. For a lot of Android users this is truly the killer feature that chains them to the platform. With MS's great predictive text it could ultimately be a better solution than the plethora of competing paid apps on Android.
So many kinds of win here.
I keep reading this isn't Swype from android but from that video they look the same... can someone explain what I'm missing!
it works like swype, but it's build by Microsoft. so it will still using Microsoft's word guessing logic instead of swype's.
Is this good or bad? I never use Swype before. WP word guessing is fine.
Swype was present in Microsoft's own defunct Windows Mobile so they have a lot of experience with it. I'm sure their execution will be just as good, if not better, than Swype.
So I say it's all good.
I can't make out what they're typing the in video, so I can only hope that when they swipe their fingers on the board and it makes the blue lines, that it recognizes those as letters/numbers and adds the text appropriately similar to how i've seen the tablets do.
Still: no arrow keys to move cursor around :-( in some situations this would be so much faster than having to hold the screen, wait for the cursor popup, then maneuver it into just the right spot...
And as another commenter said, Voice-to-Text anywhere you can type would be super sweet!
Swipe keyboard, if it works as I think it will, will be very welcome, but the keyboard still has so much posibility. I feel this is just dipping a toe in the water.
What smart phone has arrow keys........no only would it be ugly but cluncky and clutter up the texting menus adding extra unneeded pages
I don't know, nor care, about what other phones have as I've only used WP.
Not sure how it would be 'ugly'. Sure, it would take up a little bit of real estate, but it would be very helpful for emails and blogs, ect. Sure, not so much for texting, but that's not where i wish i had them.
Even if it was just left/right arrows that would help a lot and wouldn't take up much space.
Could make the &123 into a narrow key like the letter keys, maybe just label it &, and then steal a little bit of real estate from the space bar, and that would be room enough for two narrow arrow keys, maybe between the . and the return key.
I mentioned other phones because you said you were still waiting for it as if it is a feature being expected by the masses. I understand it's possible usefulness but don't agree with its practicality. We have a way to move around through holding, its not always as efficient but I think trying to add the arrow keys might create new problems for a small and isolated concern.
Only a left and right arrow would be nice already. Like the touch keyboard on Windows 8 I believe?
I want the start screen tiles on my Lumia 925 a little bigger to make the left and right side of the spare screen been fully used,
I'm finally satisfied :)
Love swipe on my android. Works really well for single hand typing.
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Great, but I'd still like to have a 3x4 keypad with T9.
I read a leak from another site the T-9 is also coming to WP8.1.
If I disliked Swipe while I was in Android, the T-9 I absolutely hated while I was in feature phones! But each to his own. Actually the numeric keypad for WP's call dialer is a T-9 keyboard so all they need to do is put in T-9 features.
What's that yellow thing he clicked?
Emoji (Smiley face)
I with you on this one. Voice input should be a basic option/alternative to keyboard on current generation smartphones. A microphone button should be part of the keyboard. Come on MS wakeup!
I think will be a great addition. Random question, will there ever be a pop up SMS feature? Or am I getting too close to Android? Just seems like it would help with being in certain apps
Love it, huge reason to come back to wp after defecting to android (moto x) recently!! I'll be waiting.
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I never got use to the swipe feature when I was on Android. Still believe it's a neat method, but I don't anticipate it will be utilized this time either. Maybe I didn't practice long enough.
I also disliked it when I was in Android - not because it was not good but because I personally hated the feel of dragging my finger on the screen. But it's good if they bring it in, that and I heard also the T-9 keyboard, for people who want it.
Vertical video!!!!!!!!!!!
In the beginning it looked like you can organize your tiles by groups and name them
+920 Finally someone who did saw that too
Nice glad I'm not the only one that saw either this would be a much wanted feature.
Yup, i think that would be an awesome feature :)
Yeah.tiles will look nice in groups and a good reason to have background image.
Home someone install 8.1 on a device?
I very much welcome that feature I tend to just hold my phone with one hand and use my thumb to type so to just swype across letters and get predictions is good for me, I'm not new to swype text input used it on WM in the pass and on Android, its user preferences IMO to each is own some like some don't.
Yay.
I'd rather they would open up the system for third party keyboard developers. One of the few things I miss from Android was the ability to download alternative keyboards. "A I keyboard" was excellent with the ability to among other things resize the keys which is far more important to me who have clumsy fingers than swipe keyboard.
Agreed, although my concern is the opposite: the keyboard takes up way too much space on phablets, I wish there was a way to get a more compact keyboard.
Its late, very late, but im looking forward to it, I love swipe. +920
Nice...
:):)
I have seen this on my brothers htc one
All these cool features! Can't wait for 8.1 to come!
Looking forward to a swype style keyboard, and some of the other features in 8.1, There are a lot of good things to be said for this OS and I feel it can only get better with each update, It has been an interesting 3 years for me watching the OS evolve.
I luv WP
This is one arguably one of the most useful features I had on Android. If they do it right, IMO, it's a killer feature. Comfortable especially for one handed use.
Can we get a number pad for the on screen keyboard? Makes entering numbers so much faster!
You mean the T-9? A particular leak in another site reports that the T-9 will come to WP8.1. Sorry but I don't understand why people actually like the T-9 because I find it cumbersome and untuitive. But as with Swype I never used when still with Android, I also welcome the T-9 in WP so people will have more choice.
Man I hope this one is true. Coming over from Andriod that is the feature I have missed the most.
Fingerprint unlock in wp8.1 is that a rumour??? Will be available for existing devices??
Rumour. Fake.
Lol, I cant wait till May. My Lumi with WP8.1 will be completely new phone :-)
WP8.1 will fully catch-up Android Kit Kat
I hope they copy Swype's word capitalization method, where you swipe from the first letter to above the keyboard and then back down to continue typing. Super useful, and other android gesture systems lack that feature.
How about a split thumbs keyboard layout for larger phones? Back when I was using the win8 beta (CP1? 2?) on a touchscreen netbook this was one of my favorite features. Would love to have it on something like a 1520.
What about file manager for wp??
Will come :)
Cool
Chances are that we will only get a file picker(limited) according to wp lovers in Facebook.
I just hope for unlimited tile color choices ;)
WOW , swype on wp , :* microsoft xxx
THANK. GOD.
Sweeet...next stop...think keypad...in like 4 yrs msft
I just want a longer spacebar as I'm forever hitting "," instead of "space".
Right? I wish the space bar was in the center. SMH. Sigh....
I hope the swiping effect gets colored with the accent you choose but having independent colors would be awesome too
As someone who was really hesitant to get on to the WP train because of the absence of thr Swype keyboard from Symbian, I have only one word -"Woohoo!" Thanks MSFT.
I can has swype?
Lots of bugs in wp8
Today i took my phone to the scool
It was on silent but it still rang :\
you sure it wasn't an alarm?
Nope
Not a bug. User error. Used it since 2010, never happens, ever.
I LOVE SWYPE !!!!!!
Very 2009.
Such late.
Much uninterested.
It's way passed your bedtime - sleep now!
I dong necessarily need it,but for others its a good addition
Nice!
Wow Daniel i just noticed something else which u probably noticed already but seems like you now can group apps?? Just like Windows 8.1 and give the group a name? Correct me if i'm wrong, would love to see this feature too!
with the GDR3 update you can download this app - http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/app-folder/7d2e7de3-95e7-414... .
however I have no need to group apps on my WP8. Endless Modern UI is OK for me
I'm sorry that was not what i mean.What i mean is this to group apps, not to folder apps. Look at this picture to see what i mean, i saw that you can give grouped tiles a name, like Windows 8.1.
https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=70930046F430C44C!20011&authkey=!AGI5KqFXzCZnZ44&v=3&ithint=photo%2c.png
Yes.groups like social,games and personal can be seen at the start and end of the video.great feature like in win8.1.can't wait.....
I've never really cared that WP didn't have keyboard options, but seeing this video makes me really want it
This will be killer. Its never too late! I really missed this feature from android.
Yes
Hmmm reminds me of fruit ninja hah.
Internet explorer 11 will be also inside windows phone 8.1 ?
Yes.
I love the swipe feature personally. Can't wait for it to arrive, along with all the other cool features
Looks like they're copying Android
Correct me if i'm wrong but Symbian had this feature too :)
In fact, it came pre-loaded on Nokia N8!
Thanks for confirming it :)
Looks like they are copying windows mobile.
This.
^This!
Why would Microsoft copy Android when they have WinMo in their data bank already!
@explosive0 is either a 5-year old or has alzheimer's disease.
Old Windows mobile had Swype before android existed. Good try though.
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NO idea how this works, but it looks shiny. :)
Seems faster
Lol
not looks like wp8.1, look at the icons at the bottom..seems its wp8 ... now a days cant believe anything!
Or it could be an early build of 8.1, none of us truly know. What we do know is swipe is coming in the 8.1 update.
How does he have 8.1 on his phone already?
Yesssss
I never used this feature, but it looks interesting. I will try it out as soon as possible when the update is being rolled out :)
Having this on Windows Phone and on Windows 8.1 tablets would convince my wife to switch from Android. It's that important to some people.
Why would you convert someone by force to switch to windows phone? Please don't be that harscore Christianity guy from 1700
Convert by force? No. She would be open to a Windows Phone and a windows tablet but simply can't do without swype keyboards. Nothing to do with conversion. LOL... Just stating certain little features encourage adoption to new platforms
Woops. Read that wrong!
Keyboards. Pfft. Who uses them?!!
Don't know how the heck this works but if it will make many happy I am here for it!!! Options! Innovations! YES!!!!
I want 8.1 now please! Windows phone already has my all time favorite keyboard, with swipe its going to be even better
I'm not a big fan, but that doesn't matter, there are many who are. Good addition for those who like it and that's really what's important, options. Different strokes (pun alert) for different folks.
Stop the leaks, please! I wanna be surprised with at least one new feature on BUILD.
Let them flow. Those on the fence now have no reason to upgrade to iOS. They may even upgrade in April as the beautiful UI they didn't choose 2 years back is now on par with features, has 200k+ apps and is matured. It will help marketshares.
You could turn off your internet for 5 weeks or so, then you'll be pleasantly surprised. :D
Surprised that you don't need internet to live, you mean. lol
I love this. Hope this matches up to the Swype on Android.
Looking Nice
I feel sorry for Microsoft. They have nothing to show about the phone now as everyone has leaked everything!!
I think they have a few surprises in the pipeline :)
They do! But will they remain un-leaked in the next 5 weeks? My confidence in that is not too high, sadly.
Yeah man, it's a little sad. But if i remember correctly, where there leaks of Kids Corner before the announcement of Windows Phone 8 back in 2012? I don't remember leaked things about Kids Corner (i might be wrong), so i hope some of the remained new features will be revealed at BUILD :)
Looking forward to Paris Hilton's newest leak -.-
+1 Every time Daniel writes about a leak I just feel sad. But again this is same angle as they had with Mango. These leaks are extremely helpful to deter those who may even think of jumping on Normandy or S5 or iPhone6. It wont attract everyone but surely it will get those on the fence thinking. If WP is already on par with 8.1 and is the most gorgeous UX, UI - why wait for boring iPhone6?
I saw in this video that Windows Phone 8.1 could group the tiles like Windows 8.x. And I saw this feature already in Nokia Thailand's workshop event.
I recently picked up an LG G Pad 8.3 and use SwiftKey Flow all the time, and when I pick up my 920 I try swiping around and go oh yeah, lol. So definitely looking forward to this!
I am really happy for windows phone that they are bring new features to windows phone.
Off topicish, but does anyone know/think that depending how the background image is done, that it will also be implemented as the background for apps that depend on the theme like messaging or the me tile?
Huh?
You would have a background image for messaging and other apps. Like how now it is dependent upon the theme you choose (light or dark).
That really looks like a... keyboard...
Maybe just my eyes, but really didn't see so much :P
....? what did you expect? its a keyboard you can slide a finger over. i guess you missed the whole point of him sliding his finger and the blue line showing the path he dragged his finger in....
Guess I'll have to watch it again on the PC screen :P
Yeah, dunno why its zoomed out so much.
I wish that this guy show us more from windowsphone 8.1 like Crotona
I don't think we will get to see it until BUILD. These leaks are 'controlled' leaks ...
You mean that they are by Microsoft, so they can know the feedback of the community :) i know
Kind off, i mean that they knew for sure the developers would leak these new features before the announcement, and to see if the people will get excited (which i really am!) but they have a few surpises on the table, like Cortana, something with the search button, and maybe who knows, something else unique or something..
For me Swype was meh on Android.
I am looking forward to trying it on WP though because predictive text is very good. Hoping that makes the swiping keyboard on WP better than what I've used before.
The prediction feature in windowsphone is awesome. True ;)
Hi rebornempowered! Good to see you here :) I'm also looking forward on trying it on Windows Phone :)
It works flawless for me on my Nexus! Hope it will be as good on my 920.
Awesome for one handed typing
+1
Easiest way to txt whilst standing on the train. Miss this dreadfully..
Also good for while you are doing the single-handed hot texting with your girl.
TMI :D
I type using both thumbs, which is maybe why I don't quite get how this works. I think I will need to try it once the feature is released.
THIS is what I miss the most from my Android days!
Same here
From my Symbian days.
I used it first on my HTC hd2 days when it first came out. Swipe still sucks when you have to type URL address.
Same here. Fastest way to enter text with fingers on a phone by far! Looking forwad to using this on my 925. Also looking forward to the new background feature.
I do not use swipe but really want 8.1. Come on!
sent from my kick a$$ Nexus 5!
It's about time. Swiping is bar none the easiest way to type on a handheld device. Easiest and quickest.
I don't understand waiting until April. They obviously have it ready. Release it now. Boom announcement in one day and then release it. Fuck suspense and hype. Be the company that provides the quickest service, you can't buy hype like that. April is a whole other season. It's still snowdrifts and windchills right now. They may as well say they'll release it when man lands on Mars.
I found it pretty awful. Classic typing is the way to go.
To be honest on touch screens I can honestly argue classic keyboard is NOT the way to go. I was faster on my T9 on my flip phone and my Swype keyboard on my Droid. I don't text alot so its not a big deal for me though
Really? Sounds to me like you're just not used to typing on a normal keyboard.
T9 is definitely the slowest - and I personally find swiping to be awkward, unless you're wearing gloves and can only use one hand.
If you're someone who touch types on a full-sized keyboard, chances are "classic" typing is the fastest method for you.