One of the frustrating things about the iPhone’s touch-screen keyboard is the need to switch to a separate keyboard screen to type a period, comma, question mark or other punctuation. Well, consider that a thing of the past, thanks to David Pogue’s Missing Manual. The manual includes a reader contributed tip that is, according to Pogue, “a secret bit of iPhone information that’s so valuable, such a headache- and time-saver, that I don’t know what to do with it.”
Using this new typing tip, you can add a period or other punctuation starting from and returning to the ABC keyboard using only one finger stroke. According to the manual,
So here’s what you can do, all in one motion:
- Touch the “.123″ key, but don’t lift your finger as the punctuation layout appears.
- Slide your finger a half inch onto the period or comma key, and release.
Incredibly, the ABC layout returns automatically. You’ve typed a period or a comma with one finger touch instead of three. In fact, you can type ANY of the punctuation symbols the same way.
Similar approach can be used for capitalizing letters when typing. Traditionally, every time one wants to capitalize a letter, two keystrokes are required: one to enable/highlight the shift key on the keyboard (the up arrow icon), and a second to select the letter. Using the shortcut, this can be accomplished in one stroke.
Using one finger, touch the shift (up arrow) key on the keyboard and do not release. Slide your finger to the letter you’d like to capitalize, and release. There you go. In one stroke, instead of two, you’ve capped a letter.
These tips makes a HUGE difference in the usability of the keyboard and is definitely a valuable tip and every iPhone user should be aware of.