Windows 10 may be the preferred operating system around the desktop, but it's also a good choice for tablets along with other devices where touch is the main input method.

As numerous people have no doubt about, Microsoft is betting big on touch for future years of Windows 10, therefore the operating system has been optimized for such input from one end to another.

One important feature of the experience is the touch keyboard, which allows users with tablets running Windows 10 to type whenever this really is needed.

And today, Microsoft is announcing a significant refresh of the touch keyboard that gives us with the long awaited update this feature really needed.

"Some Insiders will start to see our new touch keyboard design rolling to their PCs. The updated design features a fresh aesthetic and lots of other small tweaks, including updated key sizes / layouts to optimize for typing comfort & accuracy. We have also done some try to help to improve discoverability and usability of available features," Microsoft says.

First of all, the most notable addition belongs to the revamped emoji picker. Thanks to the integration of the emoji UI within the touch keyboard, users are now supplied with GIF support, so they can include animations in their messages. Needless to say, this selection is only obtainable in text boxes where GIF is supported, so for instance, you won't be able to place them in a browser's address bar.

However, if you're communicating with someone on WhatsApp web, this new feature should really prove useful making it simpler to send them a GIF.

"We are bringing emoji search to touch keyboard, so you no more need to hunt with the different categories to find the one you are looking for. More so, you can also now look for animated GIFs. All accessible from our new expressive input button in the candidate bar. (For additional - see our section above on evolving the emoji panel)," Microsoft explains.

The brand new touch keyboard comes with fresh keypress animations and sounds, as well as child key optimizations to type faster. A choice to undock the keyboard has additionally been added, and users can now drag the laptop keyboard round the screen by touching the gripper region at the from the keyboard. This is without a doubt a welcome touch, especially as previously, moving the laptop keyboard on the screen was a significant struggle, so using the new gripper, it's a lot more straightforward to do this.

Launching the touch keyboard much more tablet mode is definitely an automatic process, while you only need to type a text field and Windows 10 protects the whole thing for you personally. On the other hand, you may also launch it by tapping its dedicated icon within the taskbar.

"The touch keyboard may also be invoked on any PC from the touch keyboard button around the taskbar, although you may need to let the button. To do so, right-click or press and hang on the taskbar, then select "Show touch keyboard button" in the menu. When the touch keyboard is open, try typing or shapewriting around the keyboard and let us know the way it feels," Microsoft notes.

One really cool feature that's inspired by mobile devices concerns the cursor movement. Starting with this overhaul, you are able to move the cursor left and right with gestures on the spacebar, an experience that is available even just in Microsoft's SwiftKey on iPhone and Android.

The brand new touch keyboard experience on Windows 10 is currently in testing as part of the Windows Insider program.