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can't get swype? Get shapewriter from market.

stumbled upon this in another post, and it rocks. Shapewriter is available in the market for free, and it is the best keyboard I have used. try it and I promise you'll love it. or your money back. haha

thats what i thought too, until I found its major shortcomings. (wont work with terminal, missing characters ...)

Yea shapeshifter just doesn't work as well as Swype and does miss some very key features. Get Swype any way you can.

can't get swype? Get SlideIT from market.
Still amazed how much quicker SlideIT is then Swype.
After using it more and more I'm finding myself getting quite confortable with SlideIT. Defnitely feels a lot "lighter" than swype.
I have tried ShapeWriter and I much prefer SlideIT. it’s mainly due to how it handles the iritic behavior of the capacitive screen, I mean HTC need to fix up its response, in ShapeWriter the line drawn with your finger tends to be scribbled everywhere missing letters, to much lesser extent on SlideIT, the keys are much easier to hit in SlideIT imo. the finger sliding keyboards are the way to go either way, I can type so much faster with SlideIT and takes only little practice to get a real knack of it ... SlideIT is fantastic!

Great Keyboard app idea, DEVS NEEDED!!

I keep reading the same discussions, SWYPE vs. Multitouch, Multitouch vs. IME, Shapewriter VS. SWYPE.....
How about this. I prefer to use a regular keyboard (IME, touchpal, multitouch) with two hands (or fingers) when Im in Landscape mode. When I want to send a quick reply or type a quick email (usually when Im driving, i know.. its bad) I hold the phone with one hand in Portrait mode and thats when I really like SWYPE or Shapewriter. So I would surmise that a GREAT app at this point would allow for one keyboard to be default in Portrait and the other to be default in Landscape. I currently switch back and forth and its a pain in the a$$...
Thanks for listening to my rant.

Three months and not even a reply.
infected. XxxVirusxxX makes the roms, we wear them.

Im pretty sure its already been done recently. I think I read about it a week or two ago on this site and then again on reddit.

Any ideas to what its called?
infected. XxxVirusxxX makes the roms, we wear them.

But you can type with two fingers using Swype (or any other gesture-keyboard), so I don't see what the big deal is. No one forces you to swype out words. Ultra Keyboard also has the feature to enable swype gestures in only one mode if you are that obsessed with it.

Slide hit has a slider on the keyboard to allow you to go from swipe to ABC.

it was called keyboard manager but was pretty finicky. i found that ultra keyboard works pretty damn well. swiping is def not as good as swype and multitouch isnt as good as the droid x keyboard, but it is a pretty decent comprimise.

Hence the need for an app that can either do both well or switch between both depending on orientation.
infected. XxxVirusxxX makes the roms, we wear them.

I'd expect you could set up Tasker to do it.

You can do it with ultra keyboard. Just go to settings, then tracing, and set it to portrait only. You could even make tracing switch on and off with a gesture on the spacebar. Ultra keyboard is completely customizable, it's the only keyboard I use anymore.
Sent from my Evo using XDA App

@ OP
i love typing with two hands since im on pc more than evo.
when galaxy s tabby comes ill buy it and it will be my new phone; now you can type with both hands 7", if you dont mind the size(i personally think its awesome since i never put my phone in pocket anyway). i hate samsung so will not sell my evo until i am sure the sg tab surpasses it in most, if not all aspects...
htc/android for the smartphoneWIN
samsung CAN make screens;
too bad they wont give the good stuff to competitors...htc(wink,wink)

I'm testing ultra keyboard now.
infected. XxxVirusxxX makes the roms, we wear them.

Highly customizable. Still going to take some getting used to.
infected. XxxVirusxxX makes the roms, we wear them.

I've been testing ultra keyboard, it's a decent alternative.

So... just how important ARE physical keyboards nowadays?

Nowadays, it's just so tempting to get one of the latest 'slate' phones and just settle with it. Particularly because keyboard-less phones are a lot thinner than keyboard phones and have a much better selection. Also it seems like no one is considering making a 4"+ phone with a physical keyboard (not with Android, anyway...)
But still it feels like physical keyboards have some features that can't seriously be replicated with software such as
- ability to play emulators and other games. Touch control frankly sucks. By the way, how compatible are Android games with physical keyboards? Are there times when software that should support keyboard input only supports touch screen controls?
- half the screen doesn't get obscured just to input some text.
so the choice is pretty difficult. Can I get some opinions from people who made the switch to slate phones?

Your most certainly right with the drawbacks, but those are the only ones. Now that we can hook up a wireless ps3 controller to our phones I'm not so worried about loosing hard buttons on a KB. Using swype you can actually type much faster on screen then with a phone KB now. Its certainly a different then the old styluses but I like it much more, even WM 6.5 is pretty finger friendly now. I went from a TP2 with the best KB around to an HD2 with no KB. I was worried for about 10 minutes till I tried out the HD2 screen and it being so sensetive I was in hog heaven, no more pushing buttons 3-4 times to get them to click. Just get my finger within .5mm of the screen and it detects my finger and presses the button.

completley agree Pickx.
maxpower097 said:
.... Using swype you can actually type much faster on screen then with a phone KB now. ....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Many people have claimed this but not once have I seen anyone using it to anything near what I would call "quick" and certainly not as quick as a proper keyboard. I tried Swype for a few weeks but its just not possible in my experience.
I now have a HD2 and frankly, despite all its awesomeness I still desperatley miss a proper keyboard. I use my phone frequently at work to make notes/take minutes in meetings and sadly this is simply not possible to do this accurately and quickly on a touch screen keyboard - even with Swype!
The previous phone I had, an Acer m900 was ok and had a great keyboard but it was no HD2.... if only i could plug its keyboard on to my HD2!

Oh god I suck at phone KB's and have large hands so that may be why I have so much more luck with swype then the normal touch KB or normal KB. For me swype is incedibly accurate. I only get may be 1 word wrong out of 100. In fact I hated it so much with my TP2 I didn't even text message. People would msg me and I would just call them back. Now that I'm on the HD2 I actually TXT back because its actually doable without hitting 100 wrong keys.

I´ve just switched from Rhodium to Leo and my typing speed decreased a lot, several errors touching the screen...
I decided to change because slow Rhodium processor but as soon as a good real hardware keyboard device appear with modern specs I´ll switch back again.
You can never compare typing REAL keys and the speed...

I think its gonna be different for everyone. For instance I'm a mutant and have one thumb 1 inch shorter then the other. So one thumb is long and slender, the other is fat and stubby. No matter what KB I used on a phone I always hit wrong keys with my big fat thumbs, both of em. Granted I'm 6'4 and 235 pounds. But with the touch screen swype I can just use my index finger to slide around which for me personally is much more accurate and easy them my big thumbs. Another issue I would have with real phone KB's is I would hit w button and it would type wwww_.

So now that a(n early) PSX emulator has been released and an N64 emulator is being worked on, a device with a keyboard would be great. Screw Samsung for not releasing the Epic on GSM.

Keyboards for the 7+

Im looking for a bt keyboard for my 7+ that is the same physical size so it close in a case. Any suggestions?

KDOG2020 said:
Im looking for a bt keyboard for my 7+ that is the same physical size so it close in a case. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think I'm going to give this a go.
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/blueto...pu-leather-case-for-samsung-p1000-black-56365

I just got the same keyboard today from Amazon. It was $40 works great. Came in a couple days.
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA App

how'd you like it?
$40 is half what samsung's site charges.
The stylus looks interesting too.

goldy253 said:
I just got the same keyboard today from Amazon. It was $40 works great. Came in a couple days.
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you tell me the exact name for this keyboard? I searched in Amazon and it list tons of different keyboard, most are NOT for the 7+.
I did find this though:
http://www.amazon.com/eWonder-TM-Wi...3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1327626663&sr=1-3

My local discount/closeout store (Marc's, here in Ohio) had a bluetooth keyboard that's a little big but the price was right... I think it would be big even with a 10" but I haven't compared it to the family iPad yet. Made by Merkury Innovations (no, that's not a typo), was $30 at the store, runs on 2 AAA batteries (which is great for a distracted individual like myself who forgets to charge up non-daily-use devices if they don't have very clear low-battery warning indicators). I've had a ThinkOutside folding Bluetooth Keyboard that I've been using with my MyTouch 4G Slide (when I want to type more than I want to do on a thumbboard - I use my Android devices for taking notes in my grad classes when I don't feel like lugging along my laptop). The ThinkOutside keyboard is great for portability so long as I'm not going to be typing numbers very much (has no dedicated number keys and I find the hold down function and number key combo annoying). I'm also working on a novel and the TO is great for that but my grad classes involve a lot of numeric input so I decided I wanted something with numbers. Tested out the MI keyboard, all the main keys are properly mapped. Not entirely sure about the control/option+alt/command keys. It is about the same keyspacing as a standard keyboard but very little room around the edges. Considering picking up another for our media PC hooked to the television in the family room (cheap nettop box, wanted something a bit more advanced than a roku for the kids to play educational games on & such). We use Unified Remote on our Android devices to control that television to good effect, keyboard would be more for the kids to use and this one is good footprint and price for that use also.

DragonMam said:
My local discount/closeout store (Marc's, here in Ohio) had a bluetooth keyboard that's a little big but the price was right... I think it would be big even with a 10" but I haven't compared it to the family iPad yet. Made by Merkury Innovations (no, that's not a typo), was $30 at the store, runs on 2 AAA batteries (which is great for a distracted individual like myself who forgets to charge up non-daily-use devices if they don't have very clear low-battery warning indicators). I've had a ThinkOutside folding Bluetooth Keyboard that I've been using with my MyTouch 4G Slide (when I want to type more than I want to do on a thumbboard - I use my Android devices for taking notes in my grad classes when I don't feel like lugging along my laptop). The ThinkOutside keyboard is great for portability so long as I'm not going to be typing numbers very much (has no dedicated number keys and I find the hold down function and number key combo annoying). I'm also working on a novel and the TO is great for that but my grad classes involve a lot of numeric input so I decided I wanted something with numbers. Tested out the MI keyboard, all the main keys are properly mapped. Not entirely sure about the control/option+alt/command keys. It is about the same keyspacing as a standard keyboard but very little room around the edges. Considering picking up another for our media PC hooked to the television in the family room (cheap nettop box, wanted something a bit more advanced than a roku for the kids to play educational games on & such). We use Unified Remote on our Android devices to control that television to good effect, keyboard would be more for the kids to use and this one is good footprint and price for that use also.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which Marc's?

bought this at my local Fry's. I know it's a little bit longer than the Tab+ but I think it's the perfect size while not making the keys too small and thin enough when i want to pack a keyboard with me. I tried a few where the keyboard was exactly the same length as the tablet and the keys were so small and cramped that it wasn't worth it with all the errors introduced during my typing test.
Manufactured by Azio and can pair and switch between 6 different BT devices via hotkey.
The only thing i was hoping to see by now is a keyboard that has android shortcut keys for the home, back, search, and recent. Has anyone seen a hardware keyboard that does that?

lanwarrior said:
Can you tell me the exact name for this keyboard? I searched in Amazon and it list tons of different keyboard, most are NOT for the 7+.
I did find this though:
http://www.amazon.com/eWonder-TM-Wi...3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1327626663&sr=1-3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wow, this alone is a very awesome find. I wish to know if it has cutouts for the IR Blaster though

dealextreme case
I purchased that keyboard case from dealextreme. It took a wile to get here but was in good condition. The unit worked fine connected well and works as advertised. I do have several problems with it. The tab does not fit tightly in the holder. The case adds significantly to the size of the tab. There is nothing to hold the case closed. The final downfall is I think I can type faster on the onscreen keyboards.
Jon

jonsteckelberg said:
I purchased that keyboard case from dealextreme. It took a wile to get here but was in good condition. The unit worked fine connected well and works as advertised. I do have several problems with it. The tab does not fit tightly in the holder. The case adds significantly to the size of the tab. There is nothing to hold the case closed. The final downfall is I think I can type faster on the onscreen keyboards.
Jon
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I have the same keyboard. Works nicely in class lectures when I need to take notes. Then one day I forgot it (because it's so mahoosive) and found out I type faster and more accurately with thumb keyboard.....yeah.....

Macros617 said:
Yeah I have the same keyboard. Works nicely in class lectures when I need to take notes. Then one day I forgot it (because it's so mahoosive) and found out I type faster and more accurately with thumb keyboard.....yeah.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What app for you use for notes?
Sent from my GT-P6210 using Tapatalk

domin8 said:
What app for you use for notes?
Sent from my GT-P6210 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use the built in polaris office application. Works nicely. I also use docs to go

Any Keyboard Updates?
I'm also in the market for a keyboard for my tabby.
Anybody find any additional keyboards that are worth looking at?
Also do you experience lag when using your keyboard?
Plus, can you use a mouse with the tab+?
best regards,
G.B. Says

Logitech Tablet Keyboard
I just picked up a Logitech Tablet Keyboard (NOT the Logitech iPad keyboard - they are different models). Build quality is awesome - this is a solid yet still lightweight device. It had no problem pairing up with the GT+ and did not drop any keystrokes when I used it to type.

Added bonus - the Logitech keyboard fits perfectly in a Vera Bradley "Cheers to You" wine bottle tote. For the stylish girl geeks.

I have the Official Keyboard Dock from Samsung and I really enjoy it.

I finally decided and picked up the Logitech bluetooth keyboard for Android. Pretty nifty; seems like a sold keyboard, synched right away to my 7+, like the fact that the keyboard has its own case that converts into a stable angled perch for the 7+ and that you can use it with the table either in landscape or portrait. Though I do wish it had multiple tilt lockings so I can choose what angle my 7+is perched at. So far, very pleased with the purchase.
Sent from my GT-P6210 using xda premium

I was thinking of getting a keyboard but are there any real advantages?other than the hole physical keyboard its self?
Sent from my GT-P6210 using Tapatalk 2

If you find that you are typing more than short messages or notes, you might want to consider it.
G.B. Says
And remember, talking dogs are liars.

NON qwerty keyboards

I'd make this a poll but I probably don't even know of all the available options,
But I have just started using messagease, and though I long for 2i from snapkeys.
I do wonder if I am missing other alternatives...
The reason I am trying to find non qwerty systems is actually because I think the T9 systems used in android pale in comparison to my old K770i. I haven't paid for any keyboards but have tried just about every free one going, Are they all this bad?
If it's not just me thinking this, whats your ideal typing system?
And
Is qwerty going to die?
For me, ideal is 2i, and yes qwerty is dying...I hope anyway...time to move into the next century.

I disagree, QWERTY is NOT dying. Not even close.
MOST computer systems use a QWERTY, and it would make sense for the same keyboard to be on a phone since you're used to where the letters are etc.
So if you think qwerty is dying, then that would ultimately mean that all the keyboard standards would have to be changed as well. Some people prefer non-qwerty, but that population is incredibly small compared to who DO use QWERTY.
Also i think this is in the wrong section, no?

I wasn't thinking this is the wrong section at all, okay perhaps my dislike for qwerty might be, but asking in the general android apps sections about alternatives to keyboard apks, definitely not.
And I wouldn't expect pc's to get rid of qwerty, there have been alternatives for that for a long time now, and none have stuck it out or gained real attention. excluding the graphics designer mouse thing that I can't remember the name off...
But I was referring more to portable devices, tablets, consoles, smartphones, etc, things where real estate is at a real premium, a full keyboard, plus arrows, enter key, space key, it's too much especially when devices are getting smaller, and can now ever be worn around the wrist.
I am half expecting the next i device to be keyboard-less actually...

I didn't know about Snapkeys, I'm going to try it. I've been using MessagEase for a long time and I just love it. I type in Spanish more often than not and it's extremely good for adding accents (´) and other symbols. The best part is that it doesn't rely on word prediction, which I don't like very much.
You should try 8pen, too, it's another alternative, I used it before changing to MessagEase.