New iPhone vid demystifies the "keyboard"

In perhaps a move to stave off some rumblings of disappointment that typing on Apple's soon-to-be ubiquitous new device may be a little less "intuitive" than they had hoped, the company has added a new video into its iPhone movie catalogue detailing the "correct" operation of the phone's virtual keyboard. Interestingly, the video outlines the use of a heretofore unseen feature -- the magnifying glass -- which allows you to reposition your cursor while typing. Check the link for a whole bunch of one-finger typing.

[Thanks, Isabelle]

[Rainier Posted Jun 27th 2007 2:22PM]

That's a huge contact lens!!

[Wifiguy Posted Jun 27th 2007 2:49PM]

I remember reading that an interview from Bill Gates and he was asked what websites does he like to read. The first one that came out of his mouth was Engadget. Now if Gates reads Engadget looking at all the Apple and Sony bashing I see on this site I would have to say his employees do also.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 27th 2007 2:53PM]

That video was MISLEADING. Notice how the iPhone didn't move at all when he was typing with his thumbs!

When you thumb type on a mobile device the device moves with your typing motions. That iPhone was glued down to something.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 27th 2007 4:11PM]

94th post! Hell Yeah!

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 27th 2007 4:24PM]

LOL
Hey, wait a minute, Where are the numbers? what the hell gives you the right to claim 94?

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 27th 2007 4:35PM]

Hell, I don't know. It just seemed like a good number.

Anyway, my comment is arguably better than the original post, don't you think? I'm so sick of the iPhone.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 27th 2007 4:39PM]

You kids stop that or I'm going to pull this car over right now!

[bobl Posted Jun 27th 2007 5:57PM]

Should have said "Stop or I'll turn the internet around" but I'll let it go for now.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 27th 2007 7:19PM]

But Mooooommmm... Josie hit me first!

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 27th 2007 4:35PM]

Some will like it, some won't.

I will because I'm currently the sort of user who holds the phone in one hand, types with the other and relies on predictive text. I "text like this" and anyone can understand it.

My 14 year old won't. She's the sort who types with predictive text off, using the thumb that she holds the phone with, getting tactile feedback of the number of times she pushes the key to know which letter she has selected. She "txts lk ths" and is faster than I am but understanding of her messages by anyone not part of the texting generation is difficult.

As for Blackberry type devices, I'm not so sure that tactile feed back is as important as it would be for my daughter and that such users wouldn't adapt but then I haven't used one so really I can't comment. (Unlike all the knockers who feel they can make definitive statements without having tried the iPhone.)

[Vitruviux Posted Jun 28th 2007 8:46AM]

Me: Beat up Martin

IPhone: Eat up Martha

[Vitruviux Posted Jun 28th 2007 8:46AM]

Me: Beat up Martin

IPhone: Eat up Martha

[keunee Posted Jun 27th 2007 9:48PM]

Round virtual keys please... Since I already wrote about it on my blog, I'll give you the skinny: the squarish virtual keys on the iPhone is a relic from our hardware-based keyboards. But it doesn't fit the iPhone and more importantly our fingers. Our finger, when pressed on the screen, looks like a circle from the point of view of the sensor. To improve the finger input on the iPhone, I think round virtual keys would do the trick.

http://displayblog.wordpress.com/2007/06/27/iphone-virtual-keyboard/

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 27th 2007 10:04PM]

uhh....i seem to remember typewriters having circular keys.

secondly, circular keys on an inherently rectangular device is piss-poor design. yuck.

also, don't plug your blog here. no one cares.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 27th 2007 11:35PM]

As usual, stand and count has an article highlighting the features of the Apple iPhone keyboard and some of the pros and cons of the device here:
http://www.standandcount.com/index.php/looking-closer-at-the-iphone-keyboard-15

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 28th 2007 1:49PM]

I dont know about the touch typing thing or the fact that the keyboard doesnt go to landscape but also the fact that it doesnt have gps and no 3g but i know that will all be fixed by the upgrade or V2 BUT IT IS WAY TO MUCH DAMN MONEY 600 BUCKS CAN GET ME A DAM PS3 THEY NEED TO LOWER THE DAMN PRICE.I like it because it basicly an ipod and a half ass blackberry which is fits me being 16.But the fact is that its better for me to get a blackberry or a treo because the ipod side isnt good for me since i'm alway texting and i have not read anywhere that i can be listening to the iphone while texting which works better to have my ipod in my ear and my blackberry in my hand surfing the web or texting.The iphone is pretty nice though but when the cost goes down and they get a nicer network than AT&T call me.