I bought my Desire Z specifically because I did not like using the touchscreen to type on my previous phone, the Wildfire. However, I find that I hardly ever use the physical keyboard as the larger and more responsive touchscreen is actually fine to use! (however I do like the extra bulk of the phone as it's much more comfortable to hold so I'm glad I got it over a regular Desire)
Has anyone else bought a Z only to find that they don't really use the physical keyboard?
If i have to type more then 4 letters, i always use the hw keyboard. I hate using on screen keyboards. That's the reason i bought the desire Z. I will definatly look for a phone with a hw keyboard when my dz dies.
Sent from my HTC Vision using xda app-developers app
I find myself using the HW keyboard whenever I need to write a longer e-mail or message, and for IM. But for a short quick answer, I rarely use it.
I use the hardware keyboard a lot, the main reason because on our small screen a keyboard takes more the half of the space. I would only consider a gesture based (ie Swype, Jelly Bean+, Swiftkey Flow) keyboard an equal to our hardware one.
Related
Thinking about trying something other than the stock Sense keyboard. What are you using and why?
HTC_IME keyboard, removes navigation keys and is more responsive.
Swype. Have been using it since my Hero. I could not get used to using the landscape keyboard using 2 thumbs and the 1 thumb method was too slow.
I use the Droid keyboard
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=753343
For me it is much easier to type on than the stock keyboard, plus I like the look of it too.. much cleaner looking than the stock keyboard.
i like better keyboard. some of there skins are really nice.
I definitely recommend swype, I am much faster with it
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
Add another supporter for swype. It's the best keyboard I've used so far.
fastamx79 said:
I use the Droid keyboard
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=753343
For me it is much easier to type on than the stock keyboard, plus I like the look of it too.. much cleaner looking than the stock keyboard.
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Going to try that right now.
I came from a Blackberry with a physical keyboard and was an amazingly fast typer. Touchscreen on the Evo has been hell for me to get used to. I'm getting decent at it but still not nearly as fast. Last night I picked up my Blackberry and was playing around and typing on it again and just blazing through the keys... Got me thinking it's time to try something new on the Evo.
Swype, I love this keyboard and the accuracy is amazing!
Swyped from Evo using XDA App; viva la EVOlution!
fastamx79 said:
I use the Droid keyboard
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=753343
For me it is much easier to type on than the stock keyboard, plus I like the look of it too.. much cleaner looking than the stock keyboard.
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Click to collapse
Using this keyboard because I really didn't like the navigation keys on the stock. Hopefully they theme/color this keyboard like they did for the 2.1 Droid X one.
Liking the Droid keyboard so far. I like that the word suggestions don't pop up over the SEND key like the stock keyboard did.
thenags said:
Liking the Droid keyboard so far. I like that the word suggestions don't pop up over the SEND key like the stock keyboard did.
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Glad it's working out for you! I also came from a hardware keyboard (Palm Pre) and the software keyboard took some getting used to. I had the Droid X keyboard on my Evo but lost it for a few weeks when the 2.2 update came out. While I was stuck using the stock keyboard (IMO it sucks) I tried a few other keyboards, and for me nothing came close to the Droid keyboard.
Like another poster said, it is nice not having the directional keys (I never used them - I would just tap the screen to move the cursor) plus the suggested words don't cover some of the screen (like you mentioned)
smart keyboard is so much better than stock. the iphone skin is so accurate when typing.
Swype keyboard 4tw. It's the only way to type on a virtual keyboard.
Swyped on my HTC Evo using Tapatalk Pro
Swype. Best touch screen keyboard ever imo
I tried Swype but couldnt get used to it. I know some ppl swear by it but I found it much more of a hindrance. I type much faster using the Droid keyboard. Guess im just a pecker at heart lol
coney718 said:
I tried Swype but couldnt get used to it. I know some ppl swear by it but I found it much more of a hindrance. I type much faster using the Droid keyboard. Guess im just a pecker at heart lol
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+ 1!
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
This is tough. I keep switching back and forth.
On a small screen better keyboard seems best.
On the EVO I most often use Swype. I like swping, it handles pecks almost as well as anything else, and it has a great editing screen with arrows, tab key, and good editing controls (copy, paste, etc)
But I kinda like the stock android keyboard (as in the one that is with CM6), it is fast, and sometimes sliding up to punctuation and numbers feels faster than long press. But then sometimes swift key's prediction feels even faster than anything..... And I sometimes use HTC IME just to have manups theme.
And smart keyboard is excellent too... its a lot like the HTC keyboard, but seems a little more accurate, and has a BIG SPACEBAR!!!
So, I use a lot of them... if I had to pick one, it would be swype though.
I'm not sure I could get used to Swype. I actually enjoy typing.
Smart keyboard sounds nice for the bigger space bar. One of the biggest errors I make all the time is hitting the space bar so far on the right that I hit the next key.
I personally like swype more than any other keyboard...but I type much faster on the regular board. Swype makes it easy to type with one hand
found this on the nexus one forums.
I installed the froyo version and it works great
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=624416
credit goes to Jonasl
just thought I'd share it with those that don't have it and what not
Is this because you don't like swype? The stock on-screen keyboard is already installed, you know?
Sent from my HTC Vision
Stock sux. Htc ime rules, but swype is basically the same. I may go back to htc ime just because I like the color better. On the otherhand, swyping is nice to have when you feel like using it. I usually just touch tho.
This hardware keyboard sux compared to G1 which already sucked compared to Touch Pro. I am very dissapointed and might send it back.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
You my friend need some help. The froyo stock keyboard is really good now with the improvements they continue to make. And the hardware keyboard is the best hardware keyboard on any android device, G1 included.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
For vk I prefer HTC over Google...its all preference that's all.... until Google drops a new vk based off blindtype, then I will def switch to that one lol
Sent From My iPhone Eating G2
This is the virtual keyboard I have used on my G1, Vibrant, and G2. Swype is ok but I feel that I can type faster on this virtual keyboard instead.
legendary1022 said:
You my friend need some help. The froyo stock keyboard is really good now with the improvements they continue to make. And the hardware keyboard is the best hardware keyboard on any android device, G1 included.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
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1) The Froyo VK doesn't have a voice input button. Even though I hardly ever use it, I like knowing I can "type" in to any box using my voice while driving my car.
2) Really wide keys means much more finger movement. Missing number row on top sucks (much more fn-key bs). The fact that the letters are on the left side of each key means I press it off-center which feels weird. The screen has accidentally slid closed (or at least half way) many times while trying to hold the phone and type fast. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO TYPE "<" or ">" using the G2 hardware keyboard. I really just can't believe how much it sucks or that anyone likes it. G1 was better. Nothing compares to old HTC Touch Pro. I would give my left nut for a clone of the HTC Touch Pro that had a capacitive TS and could run Froyo with Flash as quickly as the G2.
Thank you for posting this. This is EASILY THE BEST KEYBOARD I have ever used that wasn't a hardware one. And I'm counting the iPhone keyboard. Amazing!
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
rpmccormick said:
1) The Froyo VK doesn't have a voice input button. Even though I hardly ever use it, I like knowing I can "type" in to any box using my voice while driving my car.
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What are you talking about?? The stock keyboard was the first to get voice input and has had it ever since. Have you not used the phone?
swype rocks!! > HTC_IME > Stock VK.
Nah, the g1s keys were very flat. Give it some time, ul get used to it.
Htc ime keyboard is the most visually appealing imo.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
Hi,
maybe somebody can help my on my concern. I am highly interessted to get the desire HD however typing long mails is also a issue for me. Has anyone have experience to SwiftKey (understand it is faster compared dto Skype)and or Skype on this device compared to texting on the G2 Keyboard. My concern is as i like huge screens so if i could write even better on Swiftkey on the HD than i will have no need to buy the G2 because of texting anymore (and the G2 besides on the small screen has not even HTC sense which than looks quite ugly in my option).
Kindly help my on my concern...
I realise my reply is a little late, but it still might be of interesting to you.
I've tried various different soft keyboards (inc. Stock android, HTC_IME (/default Sense keyboard), Swype, 8pen, etc) on both my Hero and Desire HD, and have recently bought Swiftkey.
It's certainly far, far more accurate for myself than Swype, which continuously chooses unlikely words over far more likely and common alternatives.
I can't speak for hardware keyboards though, I've never liked them, and find myself more than fast enough with soft keyboards, but considerably more so on the larger screen of the HD.
sychare said:
I realise my reply is a little late, but it still might be of interesting to you.
I've tried various different soft keyboards (inc. Stock android, HTC_IME (/default Sense keyboard), Swype, 8pen, etc) on both my Hero and Desire HD, and have recently bought Swiftkey.
It's certainly far, far more accurate for myself than Swype, which continuously chooses unlikely words over far more likely and common alternatives.
I can't speak for hardware keyboards though, I've never liked them, and find myself more than fast enough with soft keyboards, but considerably more so on the larger screen of the HD.
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I know that this is already an older thread, but I'm interested how you get to run Swiftkey on the Desire HD? I have a Desire with a Desire HD-ROM and I can't write emails because the three buttons (send etc.) take up the rest of the screen so I don't see the text field. This seems to be a known problem: http://support.swiftkey.net/discussions/problems/3267-htc-desire-hd-landscape-issue-in-mail-app
SMS runs fine btw. Also have the same problem with SlideIT. Both keyboards only let me see the text field when I switch to the original Touch input-keyboard and back again.
I use SwiftKey on the dhd with no issues.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
Have been using Swift Key for the last month now and I have found it amazing. It's freakily accurate in guessing what you want to write.
I have just purchased the full programme after using the trial for a month.
Just download the trial app and check it out, pretty sure you won't be disappointed.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
I like SwiftKey too. That and the latest Gingerbread keyboard from Steven Lin.
I'm curious about Better Keyboard. Is it worth the 3 bucks?
Also does Swype still work on it.
Any other comments about the app are welcome.
i suggest smart keyboard. unless you have swype ofcourse
Swype only works on swype...I've bought better keyboard awhile ago on a older android and tried on my G2, but always go back to swype. Have tried the HTC IME one tooo
it is worth it i luvd it, but not on my G2, i mean i use the keyboard most of the time and the swype is just easier. As long as you have the G2 i wouldn't invest in the better keyboard but thats just me
I like smart keyboard.
not worth it anymore. was great on G1 but makes no sense on g2
vision
I have to put my vote in for Smart Keyboard.
I second the recommendation of smart keyboard pro. Has a little more features than better keyboard (yes I play with both) and absolutely love the suggestions on physical keyboard.
Sent from my HTC Vision
I use Ultrakeyboard, it's just fine!
Only sad thing, it has no swedish dictionary :/
Bought it for the wifes mytouch. No sense to have on g2. Was nice but very outdated now
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
I used it before I found SwiftKey
I promise you, Ultra Keyboard is the one to have. I've tried Smart and Better Keyboard already and I always find myself reverting back to Ultra. I have the portrait set to Swype and landscape set to Ultra.
I have noticed that with the stock keyboards, whenever I type really fast they always fail to detect the 2nd keystroke that was made within short interval after the first one. Is there a keyboard out there that could fix this problem or is it a inherent deficiency with the capacitive onscreen keyboards?
On a side note, can anyone tell me where to download the gingerbread in android market? I have looked high and low and couldn't find it.
I honestly haven't used the factory keyboard... I've got Swiftkey X, it seems to handle multitouch. I've even tried typing leaving my first finger down while pressing the next - no issues.
That's not the reason I got it though, I got it because it's built on a slick predictive text algorithm, it predicts the next words it thinks you might want to type so you type less. And the voice recognition I like better too, if you use the voice-to-text... it gives you 3 options to pick from so you aren't stuck groaning at whatever it thought you said.
if you search for gingerbread keyboard in the market you should find it. I think the developer is steven lin and it is called "keyboard from android 2.3"
I am using swift now and it also has that missing keystroke problem. I have also noticed that text prediction doesn't work with at least gmail application. In addition, like the samsung keyboard, there is no way to force use my own "misspelled" word when prediction is enabled.
Sent from my Samsung Epic 4G Touch
I noticed lag with stock keyboard, switched to swiftkey (my always default) and still a little laggy... I came across A.I.keyboard, tried it and its like swiftkey with no lag and cool customization ...I'm really starting to really like this keyboard ...been using it the past few days and liking it alot...
No lag for me
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium