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So I found this out by accident and wanted to share. I don't know whether this was a feature on 2.1 as I've always used HTC_IME but here goes.
On the main keyboard drag your thumb up from the letters to above the preview bar and a whole row of letters and punctuation appears under your thumb. You don't have to hit the ?123 button anymore as a quick swipe up above the keyboard accomplishes the same thing.
This by no means gives me enough reason to move away from the HTC_IME but it's kinda neat.
I heart Froyo.
Jason Syn said:
So I found this out by accident and wanted to share. I don't know whether this was a feature on 2.1 as I've always used HTC_IME but here goes.
On the main keyboard drag your thumb up from the letters to above the preview bar and a whole row of letters and punctuation appears under your thumb. You don't have to hit the ?123 button anymore as a quick swipe up above the keyboard accomplishes the same thing.
This by no means gives me enough reason to move away from the HTC_IME but it's kinda neat.
I heart Froyo.
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Click to collapse
You can do that on HTC_IME also. I'm in CM 5.0.7 test3 and works perfectly.
How? Where in HTC_IME can you get two additional rows?
HTC IME already lets you long press letters to get additional keys, I consider this far better because I can see them already and just have to press for a short while (customizable length in the HTC IME mod)
Awesome! Didn't know about that. Thanks
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This is what he means...
Oh nice. Never tried that before so I wouldn't know if it's new to froyo or not.
However, I used to closed the keyboard by swiping down, and I find it extremely difficult to do in FroYo, I don't know what's wrong :-/
codito said:
HTC IME already lets you long press letters to get additional keys, I consider this far better because I can see them already and just have to press for a short while (customizable length in the HTC IME mod)
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I'm not saying HTC_IME is worse. In fact I very much like it. The only feature of stock keyboard I like is the way you change languages if you have selected multiple dictionaries.
That's awesome ! FroYo really made Touch Input usable for me.
Thanks a lot for the tip.
Also did you all notice the tab key when inputting fields. Saves a lot of time.
it's a neat feature, but i don't think it's any faster than long pressing a key. overall i still think google should make HTC_IME standard
Also on smart and better kb
Cool, thanks. I had never noticed that. Kind of like all the cool features there are on Swype that I just found accidentally.
I'm really happy with this latest version of the stock Android keyboard - it has multitouch! I was wondering why typing was suddenly way more accurate. The punctuation input is also a clever idea.
bcpk said:
Cool, thanks. I had never noticed that. Kind of like all the cool features there are on Swype that I just found accidentally.
I'm really happy with this latest version of the stock Android keyboard - it has multitouch! I was wondering why typing was suddenly way more accurate. The punctuation input is also a clever idea.
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What? Where did you get that keyboard from?
Cool, I didn't know this.
I also like in Froyo (wasn't there before), after you hit the space bar after a word, punctuation shows up where the suggested words would be.
The stock keyboard has had multitouch since 2.1, it's not true multitouch like the iPhone but you can press two keys and it'll pick them both up. It's only when they're close together that it might mess up because it could think you're sliding but that's just the crappy touch screen. I really wish HTC didn't cheap out with the touch screen..
I search to make sure I didn't post something already well known by everyone!
here is the link to download a free version of TouchPal, Chinese/ENglish for the time being...
http://www.cootek.com/_d/TouchPal.apk
I am testing it on Desire 2.1 it is working sofar.
Regards
SebSAB
Works on my Milestone, Chinese and English input but help is in Chinese
I loved TouchPal on PPC hopefully it's just as good on ANDROID.
support! im using it now.
I've never heard of it, but it looks somewhat identical to SwiftKey (which is still in beta though)..
Is it better than SwiftKey?
It's very similar to swift key... It's not like how it was on WM so I uninstalled.
Last I tried this, it was kludgy.. I loved TouchPal in WM, so hopefully it gets to that level.
Still using HTC IME mod myself.
It's definitely not as good as it was on WinMo, but it's still probably the best keyboard for Android now. I LOVE LOVE LOVE being able to SWIPE keys to select modifiers, rather than HOLD them for a second (which seems like an eternity)
Three main problems keep this one from being perfect:
1) It doesn't seem as snappy as it did on WinMo (using HTC desire now, was using Omnia II before)
2) It's missing the "insert space after completed word" function
3) It is completely missing the '#' key, which makes tweeting difficult sometimes
Oh, and it would be nice if it was skinnable too
Every key imaginable is under the number key keyboard, at least in the T+ keyboard I've always used TouchPal under. You just scroll up on the list. It's not exactly obvious, I actually found it on accident.
That said, TouchPal is a lot better than it was when I last tried it, but it's very laggy and is missing the voice search button, which as far as I know a keyboard just calls, not like they actually write code to do the voice transcription within the keyboard itself.. I know you can long-press the search button for general search, but I like to use the voice recognition in things like Waze to type for me while I drive.
It's 3.4M too. Sheesh. What would help is if it were possible to dump the keyboards I don't use, but I doubt that'll be possible.
I think it still has a ways to go, but it's better than it was. I always loved TouchPal in WM, but I think I'll still have to stick to IME for now. SwiftKey I still just don't like, it's like a pair of shoes that just don't feel right. Can't really say way, just don't like it.
Ah, I found the # key, cool! That's a pretty inconvenient place for it though.
On my device, TouchPal takes about 17M of memory, while SwiftKey takes 50M+. SwiftKey is much smoother though.
I've been using it today, it's working pretty good overall. One annoying thing is it switches to Full QWERTY after going to the number pad input, have to swipe it back to T+
It's prediction is rather good, probably not that much better than HTC IME but the buttons are much larger and easier to type.
I miss the amount of symbols directly available on the keys, however. It is slower to type things like _, which I use a lot
First off: I text A LOT, so having decent text input options is very important to me. I send upwards of 3500 sms per month
I have known of Swype for a long time now. I enthused about it when i first saw it demoed, but later found it to be less than efficient; but that was on the Windows Mobile platform. Now I might have been a little bit harsh on swype in the past but seeing the final Beta up for open testing i felt I HAD to give it another chance. This is a new operating system after all, and there has been plenty of time to iron out any flaws. So here is my take on it:
it is well designed and feels like a lot of work has gone into it BUT I just don't see how it could EVER be faster than typing with the default Froyo keyboard. For one, you can only use ONE finger, standard keyboard lets me use TWO, thereby doubling PRODuctivity (!); for two, much as Swype's predictive algorithms are GOOD, the fact that the standard keyboard shows suggestions along the top bar as you TYPE is a lot more efficient. In the event Swype gets it wrong you have to highlight the word, press the Swype button in the corner and choose the alternative word. You also hit a stumbling block when it comes to punctuations too as Swype doesn't seem to suggest possessives or other grammatical nuances. So there it is: I'll be Swyping Swype from my Android phone and forever wondering why it even exists.
What do other people think?
leoni1980 said:
What do other people think?
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I think its terrible, horrible and YUK
Kev
Swype has a learning curve. Most people who learn to use it find that they type much much faster with a single thumb than with two.
I swype probably 5 times faster than I type, now that I have gotten the hang of it. Just keep practicing. At first it is slow and sucks. Give it a chance. Now I can't imagine typing on my Nexus without it. I really hate it when I have to go terminal to do something and then have to switch to HTC or standard keyboard to get the emulator to take the input.
moved this thread to general, which is the better place for discussions like this.
So if would type with three fingers you would get triple the productivity? Sorry, but this is BS mate. Same with making mistakes. I don't know about you, but I was making mistakes way too often on HTC_IME, and had to go back as well, or choose a different word from the suggestion list (which brakes my train of thought).
At the end of the day it is all about WPM and if you can squeeze more words on a traditional soft keyboard then do it. I swype almost as fast on my phone as I type on my laptop which in my case means really fast.
I can't imagine using anything other than Swype these days. I switched to it from HTC_IME a few weeks ago and immediately felt an increase in composition speed. However, Swype's dictionary can get a little odd sometimes and there is a definite learning curve when it comes to using punctuation. However, once you get used to it, it's better.
Also, if you are having trouble with possessives, just spell out the noun. Then, drag down to the apostrophe then back to the S. Swype will automatically put the correct suffix on the noun.
Swype has a steep learning curve. But once you've mastered it, it's painful to go back to the primitive way of typing. I think Swype will ultimately become the standard of touch interface. It's perfect for tablets too, knowing that you'll always have one hand holding the tablet and only one hand available to type.
I agree, after mastering swype, it blows everything else away. Also, you are ALLOWED to make mistakes with it versus if I made a mistake on a regular keyboard, it usually screwed up the word prediction.
I say give it a try, man. I disliked it at first too tbh, but now I won't text without it.
I like swype a lot. Just got it last night. It does have word prediction if you want it.
I usually use Swype instead of my Milestone's hardware keyboard!
I would hate to have to revert to the standard software keyboard since Swype is so quick and easy to use once you've practiced a bit.
The new Swype auto-punctuates for you (eg. dont will be don't). Each to their own really, I use Swype when I need to be one handed as I have the hardware keyboard for two hand times, it is a useful setup.
Swype is the faster keyboard, but is my opinion only
when the swype beta on my phone ran out for that day i felt handicapped trying to type on the default keyboard again
once you get used to it, its amazing
Forgot to say, read up up on the tips and tricks. It will amaze you how much faster it can become even after mastering it.
It is my #1 must have, most used app by a mile! I feel awkward even trying to type on a regular keyboard now. There is definitely a learning curve but once you get used to it, it is amazing!
After I got used to swype it's way faster. According to my own speed tests (timed by a stopwatch). I can finish a 40 word paragraph roughly 6 second quicker using swype, and I can FLY using tap keyboards.
It's far more accurate for me personally. For sure had a learning curve but I'd feel naked without it now.
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This might sound odd, but one thing I do like a lot about Swype is that it is fun. I like challenging it sometimes with super-long words, and it amazes me how it recognizes the swiping patterns. Now admittedly, I'm not a "power user" who needs to text and email constantly, so I could understand why people might tire of it, but for longer emails I actually find it very useful, and I think if I had to use my phone constantly, it'd grow on me even more and become invaluable. What I do love, and this is what make Android so versatile for me, is that we get the choice. It's easy to switch from the stock keyboard to Swype in a second, and that's valuable in itself, because so many other smart phones don't allow the user that much choice.
One other thing I forgot to mention is that unlike with the stock Froyo keyboard if you type with Swype you have to put in EVERY letter, much like with the old number pad T9. Just for example, almost every word I am currently typing with the stock keyboard requires only half or less of the actual word to be tapped out before it guesses and autocompletes it with a press of the spacebar. This is how I am able to type so fast. It basically ups your word productivity by about 50% at a guess.
A while ago I did some tests and found roughly the following order for my particular fingers (greater means faster):
Swype portrait N1 > landscape iPod Touch > landscape stock Android N1 > portrait iPod Touch > portrait stock Android N1 > landscape Swype N1
In landscape Swype is truly awful... the spacing is just too awkward to make it work. But it's very handy in portrait. Currently I'm on my Milestone so it works out nicely. For my N1 it would be nice to be able to choose separate keyboard options for portrait & landscape modes.
cmstlist said:
A while ago I did some tests and found roughly the following order for my particular fingers (greater means faster):
Swype portrait N1 > landscape iPod Touch > landscape stock Android N1 > portrait iPod Touch > portrait stock Android N1 > landscape Swype N1
In landscape Swype is truly awful... the spacing is just too awkward to make it work. But it's very handy in portrait. Currently I'm on my Milestone so it works out nicely. For my N1 it would be nice to be able to choose separate keyboard options for portrait & landscape modes.
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Agreed. I really wish I could have Swype in portrait and HTC_IME in landscape.
Which of these keyboards have the biggest keys when using the phone in portrait mode; the android keyboard, the ime mod keyboard or better keyboard? I am looking for one that makes it less likely for those of us with fat fingers to fat finger what we are typing.
Um, i'd have to say Smart Keyboard Pro with the HTC Skin has the biggests keys. And it's not as big of a file as the HTC IME mod so there isn't that much lag when using it
come keyboards i have used
There is a keyboard called thick buttons which resizes the keys as you type making the keys that are most likely the next letter in the word larger and the rest smaller, you can also set the resize rate (small,medium, large)
SwiftKey is a pretty cool keyboard that scans your chat history to try to predict what word you will type next. They keys are pretty much the same size as the htc keyboard though. feature updates to the app will be able to scan sms, twitter, email and then create different recommendations based on the app you are typing in i.e. sms, email, or twitter.
Right now my fav keyboard app is touchpal. Don't be afraid that a lot of the text about the app is in chinese in particular parts of the tutorial they board can be set to english and all your txt recommendations will be in english. This keyboard has three layouts (my fav is the compact keyboard which gives you two letters per key but with txt prediction enabled typing is not a problem. they keys in this layout are pretty big to making it hard to miss the one you want) What is really cool about this keyboard is the ability to swipe either side ways to change keyboard layouts or down to access the secondary key (e.g. swiping down on say e will give you a 3) or in full quwerty keyboard swiping up gives you the capital letter of the letter.
Another keyboard you might want to put on your radar is blindtype. It is not out yet but it looks really awesome. It functions similar to swype but instead of swiping your finger across the keys you type normally. Look it up and you can see videos of it being demoed. It is not aval right now though but it looks like the keyboard to have for us with big fingers lol
blindtype DOES look amazing!
cant wait for it.
umm, it does not show up in my market. wth
you might want to check out ultra keyboard it allows you to re-size the keyboard making it bigger or smaller and it also has incorporated swype style typing and it also allows you to use better keyboard themes it's a paid app but in my opinion well worth it
been using big buttons keyboard for months. since i only type one handed in portrait this works perfect. it's laid out different but within a minute of typing im a pro.
itrackit said:
umm, it does not show up in my market. wth
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No offense if you looking for blindtype they said in the post its not in the market. Don't feel bad I didn't completely read it the first time
Sent from Froyo 2.2 Super Hero
Not sure if this can be done, but has anyone tried cooking a different portrait and lanscape keyboard into the same apk?
My preferred landscape keyboard is the regular HTC IME, but Swype is way better in portrait.
I'm using one of the themed Swype apk's from this forum because it has the constant mic button.
If these could be combined so I don't have to switch input methods every time I rotate the phone, it would be awesome.
I have no idea if this can be done, but i am def a +1 for this idea. I find it weird that you are the first person to actually say something like this, i always thought of it but never asked lol
same here, would definitely like to have this although I've never seen a mod like this.
Hmmm, that's intestersting. I'm using htc ime metamorph theme on swype, and I love it.
Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk
Check out this Xda post for some cool modding of the HTC_ime keyboard Create your own keyboard
+1
I'd actually suggest to move this thread over to the development section - This haas more to do with custom dev than with theming or any specific app.
Basically what we're asking for is an orientation-dependent use of specific keyboards, right?
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Yeah exactly. I can't imagine it's that hard, since every other keyboard out there has 2 different forms, one landscape and one portrait. It seems like it would just be a matter of taking the portrait portion of the Swype app, and the landscape from the stock, and mashing them together. I'm sure that getting the dictionary and word suggestion stuff to mesh will be tough, but it can't be very difficult compared to some of the other crazy stuff out there.
(I've seen Ubuntu running on my phone, ffs.)
I like the creative thinking, but I don't get this idea at all. Swype in landscape is useless, but you can still just type on it like any other keyboard regardless of the orientation.
And, there's no way that you could legally take Swype's code and use it in a new apk. On top of that, no one with the insane coding ability that it would take would want to spend the countless hours doing it just to have a better landscape keyboard in swype. The only realistic possibility would be someone writing a program that sets separate keyboard defaults for landscape and portrait mode. But that sounds like a lot of hacking into android for, again, a feature that would have little benefit over just tap-typing with swype when it's in landscape mode.
I actually think it would be very hard to impossible. The problem is that while every other keyboard out there has 2 different "forms" they are still the same program. Android uses XML layout files to define layouts, one is a regular layout, one is a landscape layout, but both run the same programming files on the back end. Swype and the Stock keyboards are VERY different programs. You could potentially create a layout that mimics one or the other, but if you used the base keyboard as your program, it would never support the swype functionality, only tapping keys. Not sure if this explained things well, but it would take quite a bit of coding to make this work, if you ever could.
xaronax said:
Yeah exactly. I can't imagine it's that hard, since every other keyboard out there has 2 different forms, one landscape and one portrait. It seems like it would just be a matter of taking the portrait portion of the Swype app, and the landscape from the stock, and mashing them together. I'm sure that getting the dictionary and word suggestion stuff to mesh will be tough, but it can't be very difficult compared to some of the other crazy stuff out there.
(I've seen Ubuntu running on my phone, ffs.)
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You make some good points. The Swype keyboard, is, after all, a regular keyboard at heart. The swyping bit is just a perk.
After some thought I agree it would be very difficult if not completely impossible to make a mashup like this. But from my perspective, if the Swype application could adopt multi-touch capability, that would be awesome.
When I end up typing landscape on the Swype keyboard, without Swyping, I find that my clumsy fat-fingered-ness would really benefit from multitouch capability.
These are the times I wish I was 1) 10k more times better at programming, and 2) had infinite time to tinker around.
I haven't read the whole thread, but apparently some progress has been made.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=636836