OnScreenKeyboard
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Microsoft delves into Windows 8 touchscreen keyboard design, wants us to be extra-comfy
Microsoft has lately become big on touchscreens -- sometimes, really big -- which makes it only natural that the company would want to explore Windows 8's on-screen keyboard in detail. As User Experience team member Kit Knox explains, the company has made an about-face from the days of unceremoniously foisting touch on a desktop OS. Windows 8's keyboard is not only optimized for fingers, but accommodates the little subtleties that others might miss, like the typical postures for tablet use and our tendencies to frequently hit certain wrong keys. The crew at Redmond ultimately hopes to bring out all the advantages of touchscreen keyboards while reminding us of some creature comforts from old-fashioned physical buttons. The surest way to understand Microsoft's keyboard research will likely be to pick up a Surface tablet this fall, but those of us who can't wait to put fingers on real glass can hop over to Knox's all-encompassing overview at the source link.
Windows Mobile looks to be getting new native keyboard in 6.5.3
It's not exactly a wild accusation to say that the current native on-screen keyboard in Windows 6.5 is, well, bad, and it looks like Microsoft has now picked up on what HTC and others have been not-so-subtly hinting at. While's it's obviously still not official subject to change, that fresh new keyboard you see above has been turned up in Windows Mobile 6.5 build 28002 by the folks at XDA, and is likely similar to what should eventually hit the public in Windows Mobile 6.5.3. They also say that since the source is in a DLL file, the keyboard is prime for some customization -- we'll take ours with the "o" and "p" in their proper place, thanks.
Zune HD on-screen keyboard and browser caught on camera
Oh, you want even more Zune HD news today? You got it! Yahoo! Tech managed to get a hands-on with the device, snapping some pictures of the browser and, more importantly, the on-screen keyboard. It's only a minor glimpse, but it definitely looks sleek. Shot of the browser after the break, and hit up the read link for full gallery. Seriously, Microsoft, add a 3G chipset and dialer app, and you can go ahead and draft those "million seller" press releases already. Update: CNET has posted some more pictures of the browser and keyboard, including Facebook in landscape mode. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
