Swype official beta

Xyro · March 5th, 2010, 07:01 PM

This has been posted elsewhere in the forum but I know there was some interest in Swype here a few months ago when it was leaked.

Swype is being offered (legally this time :P) as a limited beta, so got over there and register quick!

Swype | Text Input for Screens

Good news is that, unlike the unofficial version floating round, this will work with 2.1

(Spanish and English US only atm unfortunately).

Slug · March 5th, 2010, 07:13 PM

Great news! This can only be due to pressure from the Android community, as at the start of this week Swype were still sticking to their "OEM agreement only" business model and insisting that there would be no retail availability for the app.

BiGMERF · March 5th, 2010, 07:15 PM

They probably figured that the leaked version was out there, so might as well give it to them

Slug · March 5th, 2010, 07:45 PM

I think it's more that they suddenly realised how much potential revenue they stood to lose if they ignored the wider Android market.

bilkay · March 5th, 2010, 07:52 PM

I tried ShapeWriter and didn't like it. Then I tried SlideIt and I like that one. I've been playing with swype for a little bit and it might be better than SlideIt.

I really don't like trying to tap out text with the regular touch keyboard. I moved from a Blackberry to the Hero and was concerned about the keyboard change. It was easy to use both thumbs on the Blackberry's keyboard. Can't do it at all with the Hero keyboard- index finger only. Swype or SlideIt might work out well with a little practice using the old index finger. I'm already adjusting to the fingers-getting-in-the-way-of-the-letters thing.

BiGMERF · March 5th, 2010, 07:58 PM

Did you pay for slide it or use the demo? I had the demo and liked it. But got annoyed buy the pop ups asking me to but the paid version. Thus the switch to swype, must say I like it.

Xyro · March 5th, 2010, 08:15 PM

Yeah I dont really like shapewriter, I think it's got a pretty poor layout when it comes to typing punctuation.

I'm really glad they've changed their minds too

Let's face it, people probably would've taken the OEM version and ported it to other phones anyway (like you can install the hero's keyboard on other phones). So they may as well put it on the market and charge for it :P

BiGMERF · March 5th, 2010, 08:33 PM

How much do you think the eventual price usa gonna be? Il be pissed if I have to pay alt for or and it came free on the mytouch

bilkay · March 7th, 2010, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BiGMERF

Did you pay for slide it or use the demo? I had the demo and liked it. But got annoyed buy the pop ups asking me to but the paid version. Thus the switch to swype, must say I like it.

I used the free version of SlideIt. I struggled with both SlideIt and ShapeWriter. Swype is very fast for me. I was not digging the stock keyboard at all until I started using Swype. I thought I typed pretty fast using two thumbs on my Blackberry but I think Swype may prove to be even faster with some more practice.

Jaffa · March 8th, 2010, 03:47 AM

Just installed the official Beta... think its going to be a cant live without option on my Hero!!

kingvortex · March 8th, 2010, 07:30 AM

Thanks for the heads up! I've had 10 minutes with it and I'm already twice as fast inputting text!

phillevy · March 8th, 2010, 11:38 AM

For me this is the best "slide-input" keyboard I've tried. I wasn't keen on shape writer, but slideit was pretty good. Swype beats them both.

andy d · March 8th, 2010, 12:26 PM

Oh yes ten out of ten, makes typing a pleasure.
What happens when 2.1 comes out do we loose it?

drbgotenks · March 8th, 2010, 12:33 PM

Is there a way to have swype while in portrait and the stock keyboard in landscape?

Thanks!

alinver · March 8th, 2010, 01:58 PM

I've been using Better Keyboard for a while but this wipes the floor with it, or should that be Swypes the floor

Thanks for the heads up.
Cheers Al

Xyro · March 8th, 2010, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy d

Oh yes ten out of ten, makes typing a pleasure.
What happens when 2.1 comes out do we loose it?

You can reinstall it on 2.1 again

andy d · March 8th, 2010, 03:56 PM

Cheers.

nx1977 · March 8th, 2010, 04:20 PM

Thank. Trying it now.

shadders139 · August 5th, 2010, 08:30 AM

does the beta still work now? if not is there any way of getting swype onto our phones?

jimjim · August 5th, 2010, 11:36 AM

Damn, the beta is closed now? I've been wanting to try this for a while now.

Xyro · August 5th, 2010, 01:54 PM

@jimjim It seems to be closed at the moment yes.

But they have temporarily reopened in the past and taken more people. You'll just have to keep an eye out for it

@shadders139 The beta is still running, it's just not accepting new testers. So there are no (legal) ways to get swype until it opens again.

JohnHwessel · August 15th, 2010, 10:41 AM

The Sunday Times was recommending this today as a must have for Android. Seems a bit stupid that's it not available for download.

Xyro · August 15th, 2010, 12:37 PM

Yeah. There are plenty of people out there ready to give Swype their money :P

At one point they didn't even seem to want to go down the market route. They wanted to only focus on OEM releases.

tojjer · August 15th, 2010, 01:01 PM

Just out of interest, if you are spelling a word with a double letter ( ie: letter ) how do you get it to do the double 't' ?

Xyro · August 15th, 2010, 01:04 PM

Draw a loop over that letter before you carry onto the next one.

If you hit the swype key there's a video to show you all the tricks.

Also, if you go to a letter, then go above the keyboard before going to the next letter, the first letter will be capitalised. If you do a loop whilst above the keyboard, the whole word is capitalised.

cabsnow · August 15th, 2010, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tojjer

Just out of interest, if you are spelling a word with a double letter ( ie: letter ) how do you get it to do the double 't' ?

either short pause or kinda circle and it'll catch on!