Best Soft Keyboard?

[colin9]

Was looking for some guidance here. I need to replace the garbage keyboard bundled with 1.6 for something else. Which in your opinion is the best replacement and why? Maybe some comparisons would help also. Oh, by the way i'm running a mytouch 3g!

 

[zeus111981]

anyone? i've tried open keyboard and tap tap among others. i am looking for something with more space between the keys, that's a bit easier to type on... kind of at a loss

 

[KlaymenDK]

I'm looking, too ... too many typos.

I've become fond of "Scandinavian Keyboard" for the layout rather than the key spacing.

I've also been recommended "anysoftkeyboard", but that's just too cramped for my apparently fat fingers.

There was a thread about using the HTC keyboard ("IME"?), but I don't know if it's still valid. Searching for the thread is tricky because the search box wants at least four characters...

 

[zeus111981]

i'll check that out. thank you. i've browsed through all kinds of threads looking for input.

i downloaded an app called SlideIT . It has a fairly decent spaced keyboard for click-typing, but also allows for patterns to be drawn over letters. i'm intrigued. at the very least, the keyboard has more spacing.

 

[dreze88]

Have you tried swype or something like it? I love the Shapewriter Beta right now.

 

[schimm]

Big Button keyboard is easily my favorite. You don't mishit anything and the keys are easy to find (semi-qwerty).

 

[Salad]

Swype.

You will never look back. If you are slightly odd and have second thoughts, I thought Touchpal (which came preinstalled on my Pulse) was pretty cool.

 

[zeus111981]

SlideIT is just like swype/shapewriter. Unfortunately, I'm running Fresh 1.1 with Android 1.5, so swype isn't an option... yet

 

[alinver]

I'm using Better Keyboard and I find it much easier to use than the stock 1.5 app.

Al

 

[beefytee]

Is swipe compatible with the Hero or just the Droid and Nexus 1?

 

[Salad]

I'm not sure, but there are two versions around. The normal version and the one which supports lower resolution displays. I'm using the lower resolution one on my Pulse. If you try and use the standard one on a screen that won't support it, it just pops a sorry-can't-let-you-do-that message.

 

[USofPlutarchy]

I'm looking, too ... too many typos.

I've become fond of "Scandinavian Keyboard" for the layout rather than the key spacing.

I've also been recommended "anysoftkeyboard", but that's just too cramped for my apparently fat fingers.

There was a thread about using the HTC keyboard ("IME"?), but I don't know if it's still valid. Searching for the thread is tricky because the search box wants at least four characters...

The HTC IME keyboard is the best so far, and free. Better keyboard is great too. TONS of skins developed for it but costs $2.99 I think. Both are much better than the stock though.

Oh yeah, if you need help installing the HTC keyboard, YouTube it and there are a few tutorials to help you.

 

[rvpartsguy]

SlideIT is just like swype/shapewriter. Unfortunately, I'm running Fresh 1.1 with Android 1.5, so swype isn't an option... yet

I am running Swype on my Eris with 1.5

pretty cool.... someone over on the xda-developers forums ported it over for 1.5

 

[kmarker]

Swype is the easiest and most fun to use, you will definitely get addicted to swyping haha

 

[Mercutio]

I switch between Smart Keyboard and Better Keyboard. Smart is faster and a bit more accurate for me, whilst Better has superior correction and a bit larger dictionary.

 

[trekgraham]

Combine accuracy and multitouch of smart keyboard with correction and dictionary of better keyboard will be a winner.

 

[wmm]

The full version of SlideIT has just been released into the market. Unfortunately, the price they set was rather high: €5.99 ($8.13 at the current exchange rate). That's pretty close to the cutoff point where I wouldn't consider it. I think I'll probably hold off and see if they have a sale or reprice it (I think they have already dropped the price once; if I'm not mistaken, it was higher last night when I first noticed it in the market).

 

[jeffreynew23]

Try HTC IME

 

[jasnmb]

I'm using swype on my 1.6 myTouch and love it. Here's the link to the official version for the myTouch (and I think G1 too): Swype for HVGA Devices - *updated* | IQ0: News, Chat, Life

(The download link on that page is under the "Final Update" section)

 

[wmm]

I'm using swype... Here's the link to the official version...

There is no "official" version. All the installable versions are pirated software based on an unauthorized leaked copy. (See the statement from Swype near the beginning of the comments on that site, for example.) Swype, for the time being at least, only sells to OEMs who include the keyboard with particular handsets; they do not sell or distribute installable copies for end users.

It's up to you whether or not to install what is effectively stolen software on your phone, but at least be honest about what it is and don't call it an "official version."

 

[jasnmb]

There is no "official" version. All the installable versions are pirated software based on an unauthorized leaked copy. (See the statement from Swype near the beginning of the comments on that site, for example.) Swype, for the time being at least, only sells to OEMs who include the keyboard with particular handsets; they do not sell or distribute installable copies for end users.

It's up to you whether or not to install what is effectively stolen software on your phone, but at least be honest about what it is and don't call it an "official version."

thanks for the clarification. I mis-read it as "official".

I have one question though: since Swype is being distributed on all new myTouch 3G phones, is it actually considered illegal to install it on my myTouch 3G that did not come pre-installed with Swype?

 

[wmm]

thanks for the clarification. I mis-read it as "official".

That's why I commented; I didn't want anyone to read that post and think that Swype had come to the decision to release the app for public distribution. To my knowledge, they haven't done so yet, although they say that they do intend eventually to sell it to end users at some point.

I have one question though: since Swype is being distributed on all new myTouch 3G phones, is it actually considered illegal to install it on my myTouch 3G that did not come pre-installed with Swype?

I'm not a lawyer, but I would think so -- the Swype program wasn't included in your purchase price, so Swype isn't being paid for the copy you would install.

To be honest, though, this is an ethical issue, not really a legal one. Swype isn't going to go after end users who install the leaked app. It would be both impractical and a PR disaster. They have to at least go through the motions of protesting it, though, so that it can't be argued that they de facto placed the program into the public domain. They have to be pleased with the positive buzz that the leaked version is building, which is much broader than their OEM versions would generate. On a practical level, they just have to make sure that their eventual end-user version is enough better than the leaked one that people will want to buy it instead of settling for the "free" version.

 

[Renko]

I think SlideIT is the best keyboard around. The speed must be a personal taste, cause IMO its blazing fast. I can Slide faster on this keyboard than on the hardware keyboard of the G1 I owned before the Galaxy.

 

[SmahtMan]

im just wondering what the best keyboard app for the mytouch 3g what is free to download off the android market since my phone is not rooted

 

[jwmacdon1231]

im just wondering what the best keyboard app for the mytouch 3g what is free to download off the android market since my phone is not rooted

I don't know about free, but I'm using Smart Keyboard Pro. Here is the link Smart Keyboard PRO v1.13.3 Application for Android | Tools

I works great and is very responsive. It does cost around $3.00. It is way worth the money.

You can also try Better Keyboard. Here is the link Better Keyboard v5.6 Application for Android | Tools

I like Better Keyboard because of the tons of skinning options. This one also costs around $3.00