14 DAY TRIAL // One of the features that Microsoft is yet to announce but which are likely to make their way to users with the release of Windows 10 April 2020 Update (20H1) is expected to be predictive typing.
At this point, getting suggestions for the words you type isn’t necessarily something that could blow your mind, as such capabilities have been around for a long time on mobile devices.
In fact, one of the most advanced keyboards with a super-accurate prediction engine is none other than SwiftKey, an Android and iOS application that is owned by none other than Microsoft.
Beginning with 20H1, Microsoft could push the whole thing to a new level by bringing predictive typing to Notepad.
Enter AI-powered predictions
Twitter user Albacore, who already has a good track on Windows 10 scoops, discovered that you can now get suggestions for the words you type in Notepad. Pressing tab lets you auto-complete the word and eventually type long phrases and words faster.
For the time being, however, the engine is likely to require a series of refinements, as we’re still in the early days and Microsoft needs to improve the accuracy of predictions. But at the same time, this example shows the software giant is working hard to improve the experience not only with the touch keyboard, which already featured predictions, but also with a physical keyboard.
What’s not clear is whether the feature would only be supported per app or at system level. If the latter is the case, such a prediction engine can substantially boost productivity overall, especially in apps like Microsoft Office or when typing in a browser.
Windows 10 20H1 is currently in preview stage, and early builds can be downloaded by users in the Fast ring. The public debut should go live in the spring of 2020.