Apple has published an online video explaining many new details of the iPhone keyboard including the ability to move the cursor using a magnification loupe; a detailed description of how the predictive analysis dynamically tunes the click regions for each letter as you type, enlarging the click regions for likely next characters while shrinking those for unlikely characters; a clearer explanation of suggested corrections; and how the auto-correction learns.

The magnification loupe looks nicely done and should address any concerns about moving the cursor in such a small area. Particularly impressive was the dynamic resizing of the click regions for the keys because it is forward-looking, helping to prevent you from making mistakes in the first place, while the auto-correct is backward-looking, suggesting alternatives for what you’ve already typed. In combination, the two look promising.

Also, it’s just a tiny thing, but the way the auto-corrected suggested word animates into its proper place when you confirm it is delightful, in the truest sense of the word.

For more details, including photos, see yesterday’s article, iPhone’s keyboard: A quick-change artist .

Wednesday, June 27th, 2007, 9:24 am    Trackback.