In the beginning, there were just ":-)" and ":-(". Soon there were ":-D", ":-P", ":-{" etc.

And then one day there were Emojis, and everyone is happy.

But Emoji is a separate "keyboard" that you need to select on your iPhone...and it can be inconvenient.

For example, you had to type your sentence, click to switch to the Emoji keyboard and select the appropriate Emoji, click "ABC" to switch back to the original keyboard, and continue typing.

If you only type in one keyboard (e.g. English), this is probably not a big deal.

However, if you type in several different keyboards, then it becomes a real pain.

You either have to hold the key down with a finger and while the list of keyboards popped up, slide your finger to the Emoji keyboard, select your Emoji, then do the same and slide your finger back to the preferred keyboard.

To me, that's a pain.

I'd just stick to ":-D" and ":-(".

But turn your iPhone by 90 degrees, and this is what you'll see (without the red circles):

A few new keys are available. I've highlighted three:

1) Firstly, let's talk about these two:

These are your arrow keys - for you to go back and forth along your text. No need to use your finger to press down, look at the magnified picture and slide your finger along the text...only for it to move one character to the left or right when you let go of your finger!

Come on, admit it, it's happened to you before a few times, right?

This is like the desktop, tap tap tap left, tap tap tap right...EASY!

2) The third key, is this key. Tap it once and you get:

What's good about that?

Well, notice the "ABC" key down in the bottom left hand corner? Tap that and you're back to your previously selected keyboard!

No need to hold and slide, or tapping the key repeatedly, until you get back to your previously selected keyboard.

Of course, if you only have Emoji and one keyboard (e.g. English), then you probably won't find this useful.

BUT, you'll have to admit the arrow keys WILL be handy...especially if you are at the end of a sentence and you discovered you had to correct a letter near the left or right end of the typing area. You'll thank Apple to have put in those two keys.

2 handy iPhone keyboard tips https://t.co/KaB9GlDx3I pic.twitter.com/NBat2evCyo
— Bevan Ting (@aByteofThePie) January 26, 2016