Frontype

Evolution in technology reached new boundaries, with VR headsets already a reality. However, basic input devices are not obsolete, but rather keep up the pace with changes. For instance, Frontype is a cool virtual keyboard which bundles different customization options and is especially handy for touch-enabled devices.

Before the application can function you need to make sure that .NET Framework is installed on your PC. There is however, a high chance it’s already there, because modern Windows iterations come with it in the default feature set. The setup process is over before you realize.

A virtual keyboard shows up on the desktop when the application is launched. A tray icon is also added and is the place where the keyboard minimizes to when not used. You can use the mouse to interact with the keyboard, and even using your regular keyboard highlights all buttons you press, with a cool fade-out effect.

The keyboard can be dragged across the desktop to any suitable position. Resizing is also possible, but this is only done progressively, meaning you can’t adjust just the height or width. Moreover, it does not snap to edges of the screen, so careful positioning needs to be manually performed.

All the way over to the settings panel you get the chance to change the visual style, and behavior options. Visual customization only consists of a transparency slider for the keyboard, and a custom color apart from the default one. Keyboard sections can be toggled on or off through simple mouse selection. You can have the keyboard automatically show up when specific programs are running.

Taking everything into consideration, we can state that Frontype comes as a slim alternative to the default virtual keyboard. The set of features is a little shallow, especially because of the manual positioning, resizing, and no snapping to edges. On the other hand, it’s possible to only leave keyboard sections you need in plain sight, such as the numpad, F keys, arrows, or alphabetical characters.