Take Control of Your iPhone, 2nd Edition

Chapter 6. Master the Virtual Keyboard

When you arrive at a location where you can enter text, such as the URL Address box in Safari or a new email message in Mail, a virtual keyboard appears. Tap the onscreen keys to enter text.

There is an ongoing debate over the pros and cons of this type of keyboard. The biggest downside is the lack of tactile feedback, making it almost impossible to know what you are typing without staring at the screen. There is also more danger of unintentionally tapping an adjacent key, especially in portrait mode. On the plus side, a virtual keyboard allows for bigger keys than the tiny keys on most smartphones—and it does so without using up any of the phone's physical real estate. And, because the keyboard is virtual, ...