36. A method of processing an input string at least partially entered into a personal computing device with a pointing device, the method comprising: (a) activating a digital keyboard for user input on a graphical user interface of the personal computing device; (b) monitoring for user input; (c) in response to user input corresponding to activating a search, deactivating the digital keyboard for user input and displaying a first plurality of possible completion candidates for the partially entered input string on the graphical user interface, each possible completion candidate comprising the partially entered input string, and awaiting further user input; (d) in response to user input corresponding to selecting one of the first plurality of possible completion candidates, updating the input string with the selected completion candidate for use by an application; and (e) in response to the user input corresponding to terminating the search once activated, clearing the first plurality of completion candidates from the user interface and activating the digital keyboard for further user input without causing the input string to be updated, and awaiting further user input via the digital keyboard.
36. A method of processing an input string at least partially entered into a personal computing device with a pointing device, the method comprising: (a) activating a digital keyboard for user input on a graphical user interface of the personal computing device; (b) monitoring for user input; (c) in response to user input corresponding to activating a search, deactivating the digital keyboard for user input and displaying a first plurality of possible completion candidates for the partially entered input string on the graphical user interface, each possible completion candidate comprising the partially entered input string, and awaiting further user input; (d) in response to user input corresponding to selecting one of the first plurality of possible completion candidates, updating the input string with the selected completion candidate for use by an application; and (e) in response to the user input corresponding to terminating the search once activated, clearing the first plurality of completion candidates from the user interface and activating the digital keyboard for further user input without causing the input string to be updated, and awaiting further user input via the digital keyboard. 37. The method of claim 36 wherein updating the input string with the selected completion candidate further comprises displaying a second plurality of possible completion candidates on the graphical user interface, each comprising the updated input string, and awaiting further user input.