Windows 10 Insider Build 20206 Includes New Emoji Picker, Voice Typing

Windows 10 Insider Build 20206 Includes New Emoji Picker, Voice Typing

Microsoft has released the Windows 10 preview build 20206 to Insiders on the Dev ring. With this release, Microsoft introduces a new Voice Typing dictation feature, an updated Emoji Picker, and an improved touch keyboard.

Windows Insiders can download Build 20206 right now by going into Settings -> Update & Security -> Windows Update and then checking for new updates.

Below are the new features in this release, and you can read the full release notes here.

Improved Emoji Picker

Microsoft has introduced an improved Emoji Picker with an updated design that supports more emojis, a search feature, easy access to animated GIFs via the Tenor service, and integrated input services.

We know that you need more than just emojis to properly convey your message when communicating using text. To that end, we’ve revamped the emoji picker to be a one-stop for expressing yourself while you type on your device!  This new experience offers:

• An updated design: We are making the experience more aligned with our Fluent Design principles, including a new acrylic background.
• Emoji search: We are improving discoverability of emoji search in supported languages by having an inline search box.
• Animated GIF support, including search: Going forward, WIN + [.] and WIN + [;] will now enable you to quickly input animated GIFs. The selection of animated gifs will be continuously updated based on current trends and #hashtags. Search is also available for those times where you need to find the perfect reaction gif to succinctly communicate your message.
• Converging our input experiences across emoji and clipboard history: We are bringing input and clipboard history together into a single experience. You can still press WIN + V to go straight to clipboard history, but now you can also access it by switching to the “Clipboard” category after pressing WIN + [.] or WIN + [;].

The new Emoji Picker is rolling out slowly to users in the Dev channel, but will ultimately be rolled out to everyone in the channel over time.

New Voice Typing feature

With this release, Microsoft introduces a new ‘Voice Typing’ feature that is a revamped version of Windows Dictation.

The improved features include:

• A modern design – optimized for use with touch keyboards.
• Auto-punctuation that allows you to effortlessly put your thoughts down without worrying about question marks and periods (turn it on in settings).
• An updated back end for the most reliable voice typing experience ever on Windows.

Voice Typing can be launched using the Win+H keyboard shortcut or tapping the Microsoft button on the touch keyboard.

Below is the current list of commands you can use with the new Voice Typing feature.

The new Voice Typing feature is rolling out slowly to users in the Dev channel, but will ultimately be rolled out to everyone in the channel over time.

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Updated touch keyboard design

This build introduces a new touch keyboard with an updated design and integrated emoji picker and animated GIF search.

The new touch keyboard has the following enhancements:

• New key press animations and sounds.
• Child keys have been optimized for quicker entry – try pressing and holding keys like “e” or “-“ and see how it looks.
• For those who prefer to keep their keyboard undocked, the option now accessible via a button directly in the candidate bar, and you can easily move the keyboard around using the gripper region at the top of the keyboard.
• All entries in the settings menu now have labels for improved clarity of available options.
• We are bringing emoji search to the touch keyboard, so you no longer need to hunt through the different categories to find the one you are looking for. More so, you can also now search for animated GIFs. All accessible from our new expressive input button in the candidate bar. (For more – see our section above on evolving the emoji panel.)
• A new entry point into voice typing has been added to the left of the space bar in supported languages. (See above section on voice typing.)

Like the other features, the new touch keyboard is slowing rolling out to Dev insiders.

Move the cursor with the spacebar

Microsoft is copying one of iOS’ features and allowing users to move the mouse cursor by tapping the spacebar and sliding left and right.

Like all the other features, this feature is slowly rolling out.

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