Windows 10 gets a new touch keyboard with GIF, emoji and better voice typing

Microsoft plans to release some significant changes to its integrated touch keyboard for Windows 10. The updated touch keyboard design builds on the company’s work with Windows 10X, bringing new keystroke animations, sounds, and all important search capabilities. to and insert animated GIFs.

Microsoft called it the WonderBar for Windows 10X, and the new layout in Windows 10 also includes better layouts that are optimized for typing and the ability to move the cursor via the spacebar on the touch keyboard. This is very similar to how iOS allows you to operate the cursor, placing a finger on the space bar and swiping left, right, up and down to navigate.

Microsoft is also updating its emoji picker in Windows 10. The emoji picker, which activates when you press winkey + period, will soon include an improved design based on Microsoft’s Fluent Design system. There is emoji search, animated GIF support, and the convergence of clipboard history and emoji input in one interface.

Along with keyboard and emoji enhancements, Microsoft today also announces a new form of Windows dictation. Dubbed Voice Typing, Windows’ built-in speech-to-text interface has been overhauled. It includes a more modern design, automatic punctuation, and an updated backend that Microsoft promises will make it “the most reliable voice-typing experience ever on Windows.”

All of these new Windows 10 changes are being tested with Windows Insiders in the dev pipeline this week, and they may not all show up to all testers. They are part of a larger update that Microsoft is planning for Windows 10 in the first half of 2021.