[Review] Removing Swype -- sick of the bad design

[jeffdlb]

I've been using Swype keyboard since I got the Evo in June, but am giving it up for SlideIT (Dasur SlideIT - Mobile text input for Touch screen devices). There are certain things that are better about Swype, but it has two fatal flaws, both related to the dictionary:
(1) It adds all new words to a personal dictionary, without confirmation, including passwords, typographical errors and rarely-used words. The password memorization is a huge security risk.
(2) It prioritizes personal words when they clash with normal words, and incessantly pops up a dialog box to tell you about the clash, and makes it tedious to delete saved words and enter the desired word instead.

A less fatal flaw in Swype is the inability to toggle between languages easily.

In short, Swype is a great idea but poorly executed.

SlideIT allows more control over personal words, does not have an annoying pop-up, and quickly toggles between languages. SlideIT is also better documented, is not in beta-test with an expiration date, and allows bulk upload of many new words if desired. On the other hand, the SlideIT keyboard is not as good as Swype's because it lacks symbols on the letter keys -- you must switch to a separate symbol keyboard. However, this is an annoyance rather than a security risk (unlike Swype's password memorization), so I'll live with it.

I've also tried ShapeWriter, but its capitalization method and unreadably small symbols and lack of hyphen among the default symbols make it tedious to use.

 

[p0rkguy]

Question. Where on earth are you typing your password? Seriously, any password input that doesn't automatically change a character to a * isn't secure.

 

[jeffdlb]

Changing the characters to * only protects you from someone "shoulder surfing". The keyboard can see what you have actually typed.

 

[Race Harley]

I couldn't get Swype to work on my EVO so I'll try this keyboard. Thanks.

 

[AndroidSPCS]

SlideIT is too expensive...so I stick with Swype, SwiftKeyboard, and ShapeWriter.

 

[jeffdlb]

SlideIT is too expensive...so I stick with Swype, SwiftKeyboard, and ShapeWriter.

$8 is too expensive? That's a drop in the bucket compared to the total cost of ownership of this phone, and a lot less expensive than someone stealing your identity if you lose your phone and they know where to find all the passwords that Swype memorized for you.

 

[kegacide]

my swype doesn't remember my passwords, i wish iit did so i would be able to swype them, but i have to type them out letter by letter each time...

 

[Peoples-2]

I've been using SlideIT for a few months now. The only thing I could ask for is a UI makeover. Other than that it performs flawlessly.

 

[AndroidSPCS]

$8 is too expensive? That's a drop in the bucket compared to the total cost of ownership of this phone, and a lot less expensive than someone stealing your identity if you lose your phone and they know where to find all the passwords that Swype memorized for you.

LOL hell yes $8 is too expensive. Considering I paid $3 for SwiftKey which works great, shapewriter for free, and Swype for free, $8 is too much for just another damn swiping keyboard.

What what is this BS about Swype memorizing the passwords? It certainly does not. I use Swype all the time to log onto secure sites, and it never proposes my passwords for me. You're inferring something completely off-base here.

And in the event my phone is lost, I can easily change my passwords if I need to. My phone is protected by passphrase or swipe gesture in the first place. I'm sure they'll be interested in my account information rather than selling the phone for a profit if they steal it, not!

 

[edlex]

You guys should try ultra keyboard. By far the most customizable keyboard and it's only $3. Another plus with ultra is you can use all the free better keyboard skins in the market as well as allowing you to make your own.

 

[jeffdlb]

What what is this BS about Swype memorizing the passwords? It certainly does not. I use Swype all the time to log onto secure sites, and it never proposes my passwords for me.
You're inferring something completely off-base here.

I did not say that Swype automatically fills out password fields for you

Swype automatically memorizes words you type, including passwords. It adds them to the dictionary. You can then Swype the password. Unfortunately, the password is now stored without encryption in the dictionary. This is not safe.

 

[AndroidSPCS]

I did not say that Swype automatically fills out password fields for you

Swype automatically memorizes words you type, including passwords. It adds them to the dictionary. You can then Swype the password. Unfortunately, the password is now stored without encryption in the dictionary. This is not safe.

Do you have any proof that Swype remembers passwords? I have never seen it do anything of the sort on my Android phones. I'd like to know if this is something that is a rumor or has truth to it.

If it were true, I think it would have been identified as a key security concern months ago. I have not seen anything of this sort whatsoever.

 

[uniquenameEVO]

I'm on my first non-swype day in a long time.

I still love swype, but HAD to try the gingerbread kb. Love the C&P, and the suggestions work well. If I could combine the two...I would be in keyboard heaven.

 

[pastafarian]

You guys should try ultra keyboard. By far the most customizable keyboard and it's only $3. Another plus with ultra is you can use all the free better keyboard skins in the market as well as allowing you to make your own.

+1

The ability to configure portrait and landscape separately is killer too. A "swype" type experience in portrait and a more "standard" multitouch keyboard in landscape. Once I got it configured, Ultra blew away every other keyboard by a country mile.

 

[jeffdlb]

Do you have any proof that Swype remembers passwords? I have never seen it do anything of the sort on my Android phones. I'd like to know if this is something that is a rumor or has truth to it.

If it were true, I think it would have been identified as a key security concern months ago. I have not seen anything of this sort whatsoever.

try typing in a password ( even one that has letters and numbers) and then see if you can Swype it. If so, then that word is now in your dictionary.

the other annoyance is that dialog box that pops up all the time to say that the word I wanted was hidden by a custom word in my dictionary.

 

[AndroidSPCS]

try typing in a password ( even one that has letters and numbers) and then see if you can Swype it. If so, then that word is now in your dictionary.

the other annoyance is that dialog box that pops up all the time to say that the word I wanted was hidden by a custom word in my dictionary.

Has never happened to me with my passwords. This is on my Epic with the factory released Swype, or my Evo with a hacked Swype.

 

[Thefoodman52]

Ultra keyboard all the way. I like the stock Android keyboard, and Ultra keyboard lets me have that, minus all of it's problems, and as much multi touch as my kernel allows, which is 5 point. Believe it or not, the Evo is big enough to tap-type like on an iPad if you just flop it onto it's back onto a table. I find it totally usable, at least. Landscape only of course.


Oh yea... and swyping... or whatever... it does that too.

 

[exclamation_mark]

Ultra keyboard all the way. I like the stock Android keyboard, and Ultra keyboard lets me have that, minus all of it's problems, and as much multi touch as my kernel allows, which is 5 point. Believe it or not, the Evo is big enough to tap-type like on an iPad if you just flop it onto it's back onto a table. I find it totally usable, at least. Landscape only of course.


Oh yea... and swyping... or whatever... it does that too.

I downloaded and am trying out Ultra Keyboard, I like several things about it, quick question though regarding the tool bar across the top. I see the voice to text icon in the tool bar, is there a way to add it to the key board to get rid of the tool bar? In that same respect, after the tool bar is removed is there a faster way to access it aside from going through the keyboard menu in the settings?

 

[Thefoodman52]

Not really... I do wish the voice to text button was in-keyboard.

 

[exclamation_mark]

Not really... I do wish the voice to text button was in-keyboard.

Of all the customization, it's surprising to me that it cant be added. I just don't much care for the tool bar but removing it seems to be an ordeal to get it back up there and from a text message in the car i cant be going through all the menu's and what not to add the tool bar back so i can access text to speech and complete the text... oye...

 

[Caloy]

You guys should try ultra keyboard. By far the most customizable keyboard and it's only $3. Another plus with ultra is you can use all the free better keyboard skins in the market as well as allowing you to make your own.

I already have ultra-keyboard installed but don't use it regularly because of several reasons. Oddly enough, I like the ease of adding custom words with Swype. Just type it in, and viola! it's in the dictionary. Before you can edit the user added words, I also like how Swype (before) can erase a user added word one at a time, instead of erasing all your entries. And finally I would love to see a numpad style on the numbers keyboard instead of the usual horizontal orientation.

Once Ultra address this issue, I'll come back in a heart beat. But for now, it's still Swype for me.

 

[p0rkguy]

I just tested it.
If you attempt to edit passwords with swype, it will give you an error.
If you attempt to swype your password and word choice tries to show up, it will give you an error.
So unless you typed out your password in a non password input field or your password is a word in the original dictionary, it isn't added.

 

[jeffdlb]

Will reinstall from scratch and test again. App in which I noticed this behavior was Splash ID. Password is not a normal word.

 

[trader914]

I removed my Swype after a week. I downloaded the iPhone keyboard but it wasn't EXACTLY like my iPhone...so deleted that...Now back to stock keyboard..and making the best of it. Just gotta get used to it I guess.

 

[Ma}{imus]

Swype only memorizes passwords if you tap type them in a non-password field, select them, then hit the swype key to add it to the dictionary. No automatic memorizing.

Written with swype.