SwiftKey 7.0 brings in new toolbar with stickers

Microsoft’s rival to Google’s GBoard keyboard app, Swiftkey has been updated with several new features in the latest update. The 7.0 update, SwiftKey is replacing the existing Hub with Toolbar, an expandable menu that gives fast and easy access to a host of new and existing frequently used features, on both Android and iOS. Toolbar can be found under the new ‘+’ sign on the left of the prediction bar.

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Also included in the update is Stickers, providing SwiftKey users with a way to add extra personality to a message. Some sticker packs can be edited before being inserted, with exclusive Microsoft packs also coming soon. Edited Stickers can be saved and accessed later in Collections, which can be accessed via the “pin” icon on the Toolbar. Collections provide a place to store personalized and favorite stickers, media and edited photos that can be used at any time and within most apps. SwiftKey also announced more features due to be released soon. Location sharing (available in US and India) will allow users to quickly insert the address of their current location, and Calendar sharing will help users insert a calendar appointment in a couple of taps.

Further, SwiftKey is introducing 8 new ‘Lish’ languages: Assamese (English), Bengali (English), Kannada (English), Malayalam (English), Marathi (English), Nepali (English), Odia (English), and Telugu (English). A ‘Lish’ language is a hybrid language that lets people shift seamlessly between languages, in this case, English and Indic languages. In total, SwiftKey now offers compatibility for over 40 Indian languages as well as transliteration and layout options.

Chris Wolfe, Principal Product Manager at SwiftKey comments, “People are using more and more GIFs, stickers and emoji. Our research shows that 77% of Indian smartphone users insert stickers at least several times a week. The objective of SwiftKey 7.0 is to make these faster and easier than ever before. Toolbar makes that possible, as well as offering more personalized content that SwiftKey users can store in Collections. Today’s release shows our ambition to improve users’ experience with rich media. We’ll soon bring support for Calendar sharing as well as Location sharing in India and the US, continuing our commitment to bring the best possible typing experience to our users in India”

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