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There's one thing you can always count on when Apple releases a new beta version of iOS: Developers digging through its code in search of new features.。
As always developer Steve Troughton-Smith was quick to discover there are two hidden keyboards for iPad that Apple is likely testing internally within the newly released iOS 10.3 beta. 。
SEE ALSO:The iPhone has a hidden one-handed keyboard mode you can't access 。The first is a "floating" keyboard that hovers above apps in a "picture-in-picture"-like window. According to Troughton-Smith, the little keyboard, which seems like it's perfect for one-handed use, can be moved around anywhere on the screen, including when two apps are open in split-screen mode. 。
And this is iPad's floating keyboard. Both of these are kinda fiddly and awkward and it's not hard to see why they didn't ship as-is pic.twitter.com/YB1q18ei2w 。
— Steve T-S (stroughtonsmith) January 25, 2017 。
— Steve T-S (stroughtonsmith) January 25, 2017 。
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It does make you 🤔 about trackpad mode, however. pic.twitter.com/SFCZR5o5vn 。
— Steve T-S (stroughtonsmith) January 25, 2017 。
A smaller "floating" keyboard has obvious benefits. For one thing, it doesn't cover up the entire screen. And it could be useful for changing input between two split-screen apps without needing to minimize the keyboard. 。
The other hidden keyboard tucked deep within iOS 10.3 beta is a "gestural keyboard" which lets you swipe left and right on any key to perform a backspace or space. You can see it in action below: 。
This is iPad's gestural keyboard (similar to Playgrounds' programmer one). You can swipe left/right on any key to backspace or space pic.twitter.com/jaskd0EEEh 。
— Steve T-S (stroughtonsmith) January 25, 2017 。
Apparently, the keyboard has been hidden since iOS 10. Why Apple didn't "activate" the keyboards in the beta release is anyone's guess. But it wouldn't be the first time Apple's had a secret keyboard hidden in iOS. 。
In October, Troughton-Smith was also the first to discover a hidden keyboard on the iPhone that seemed to be designed for easier single-hand operation. 。
Apple could also be saving the new keyboards for a future version of iOS. Perhaps even iOS 11, which is expected to be announced at WWDC in June and ship in the fall with the new iPhones. As for iOS 11, there's only one rumor so far: group FaceTime calls. 。
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