It’s not really a new feature… But it would make the app less annoying when relatively long SMS are received.

Have the virtual keyboard remain hidden at first when the SMS statusbar icon is tapped to display the message. Currently you must manually hide the message in order to read any long SMS

Really, it’s not designed that way….you sure?

Well it’s not. I got the latest build from July 19th and it’s still not designed as such… Perhaps you misunderstood me.

If I send myself a message:
1-A banner shows up
2-A tap on the banner brings up a “Quick Reply” window. If the message is very long I must tap on the hide keyboard button to read it or use the curtain.

It would be nice to have an option to have this all the other way around.
1-A banner shows up
2-A tap on the banner brings up a “Quick Show” window (keyboard hidden with reply button showing up). Then if I feel like replying a tap on the Reply button would bring up the keyboard.

Now if that can be done then tell me how it’s done because I surely didn’t figure out and yet I’ve played pretty much with all options.

shows up what would have been nice is to have the keyboard already hidden

For me (and as it’s designed) once you get more than what you could read in the Quick Reply window (4 lines) then the KB does not auto-show, you have to press Reply first. In other words works as you describe.

I think I know what’s happening here… When I protect Quick Reply in Lock Mode once I’ve punched in the password, the keyboard gets displayed.

Can you had a feature to allow the keyboard to be hidden when the received message is 4+ lines after QuickReply has been unlocked?

I see! well yes we tried that and it looked really weird with the KB flashing up, you enter passcode then it dispearing again. Will take another look when time permits as we are flat chat with iOS 6 porting.