Are all Android keyboards basically horrible?

Pamela Anderson · Mar 17, 2014

Every keyboard I use makes me extremely mad. I cannot find one that isn't entirely annoying to use. My stock LG G2 keyboard doesn't know swear words, basic words, and capitalizes random words.

For example, just now, it didn't know the word "your" I had to save it in. It's changes words to the dumbest things that don't look at all like what I was going to type.

I changed from this to the swift swype, or whatever the high recommended one was, and this was even worse. It was basically unusable. I spent more time changing words and deleting than typing. Same with google. Now I can't even disable my stock Text app, cause it keeps reverting to the LG g2.

The only good text app I ever used was on my girlfriend's little iPhone. That app was such a beast! I don't know what Android is doing with the texting, but it makes me want to throw my phone off Mt. Everest and and then climb down and shoot it 10 times.

funkylogik · Mar 17, 2014

Lol pammy i cant really recommend any but im pretty sure one that suits you exists

And unlike iphone you can set it as default.
Please dont shoot the poor lil android

MLSS · Mar 17, 2014

Try swiftkey

Pamela Anderson · Mar 17, 2014

MLSS said:
Try swiftkey

Like I said, yeah I did, and it was absolutely garbage.

hiredgun · Mar 18, 2014

Pamela Anderson said:
Like I said, yeah I did, and it was absolutely garbage.

Not sure which version you tried or when, but I would encourage you to give it another shot if you haven't tried it recently. Not only does Swift key do a great job of learning all the slang and "made up words" I use, but it can do it in two languages! I have found that after just a few hours of use it learned enough that I can hit predict more than actually having to type, which has really speeded up my typing also. I have no problems with it adding random CAPS, and I usually don't cuss when I text, so I don't know for sure, but I can't see why it wouldn't be able to learn that as well as it learns everything else!

RazzMaTazz · Mar 18, 2014

First of all, if you're typing instead of dictating a text message to an Android phone, then you might as well use a hammer and chisel to carve the message onto your phone. It's 2014. Break the typing habit. Android voice-to-text synthesis is excellent. You can even dictate punctuation (like "exclamation point" and "smiley face"), and last names in your address book. I'll bet you can dictate a message 5-10 times faster than you can type it on ANY keyboard of ANY device-- including a PC/Mac.

Swype works really well (and beats the stock iPhone keyboard) if you go into the settings and tune the amount of prediction & auto-correction to suit your needs. Otherwise it will drive you up the wall. My Swype settings look like this...
Word prediction: Unchecked.
Auto spacing: Checked.
Auto capitalization: Checked.
Word choice window: Slider is at far left "Never".
Speed vs. accuracy: Slider is almost far left near "Fast Response".

Hadron · Mar 18, 2014

What do you mean about your text app reverting? Do you mean it keeps re-enabling notifications from that app? To switch apps all you do is turn off notifications from the one you aren't using, so that's all I can think of. Seems strange though.

Otherwise what is it you like about the iPhone message app? To me it seems to be just another SMS app, nothing special, but if we knew what feature(s) made it good for you we might be able to suggest something.

funkylogik · Mar 18, 2014

RazzMaTazz said:
First of all, unless you're in the middle of a church service or deafening rock concert, if you're typing instead of dictating a text message to an Android phone, then you're like a caveman carving on stone tablets. It's 2014. Break the habit. Android voice-to-text synthesis is excellent. You can even dictate punctuation (like "exclamation point" and "smiley face"), and last names in your address book. I'll bet you can dictate a message 5-10 times faster than you can type it on ANY keyboard of ANY device-- including a PC/Mac.

Swype works really well (and beats the stock iPhone keyboard) if you go into the settings and tune the amount of prediction & auto-correction to suit your needs. Otherwise it will drive you up the wall. My Swype settings look like this...
Word prediction: Unchecked.
Auto spacing: Checked.
Auto capitalization: Checked.
Word choice window: Slider is at far left "Never".
Speed vs. accuracy: Slider is almost far left near "Fast Response".

Voice to text would be excellent in an ideal world where everyone has a classical accent but, as a Scotsman, i can tell you that it just isnt an option for me yet, its not even close

:beer:

codyedmonson · Mar 18, 2014

Pamela Anderson said:
Every keyboard I use makes me extremely mad. I cannot find one that isn't entirely annoying to use. My stock LG G2 keyboard doesn't know swear words, basic words, and capitalizes random words.

For example, just now, it didn't know the word "your" I had to save it in. It's changes words to the dumbest things that don't look at all like what I was going to type.

I changed from this to the swift swype, or whatever the high recommended one was, and this was even worse. It was basically unusable. I spent more time changing words and deleting than typing. Same with google. Now I can't even disable my stock Text app, cause it keeps reverting to the LG g2.

The only good text app I ever used was on my girlfriend's little iPhone. That app was such a beast! I don't know what Android is doing with the texting, but it makes me want to throw my phone off Mt. Everest and and then climb down and shoot it 10 times.

I use kk keyboard, it works better than the stock keyboard plus it has built in emoji. Also use textra with the emoji plugin, its basically stock messaging app with more customization and iPhone emoji's.

mikedt · Mar 18, 2014

I've tried many keyboards myself, but the two I always come back to, I don't think will be available for an LG phone. Samsung Keyboard and Samsung Chinese IME. However the Samsung keyboards didn't know any vulgar slang, i.e. swear words, until I added them. But the capitalisation is OK.

mikedt · Mar 18, 2014

funkylogik said:
Voice to text would be excellent in an ideal world where everyone has a classical accent but, as a Scotsman, i can tell you that it just isnt an option for me yet, its not even close :beer:

LOL. When I try to do voice to text, it only seems to work properly for me in Mandarin...and I'm not even Chinese.

03bluecoupe · Mar 18, 2014

I tried a lot of KBs after I got my phone. Swiftkey seems to be the best, for me anyhow. The keyboard is VERY customizable, the suggested words are usually right on track, the voice recognition works (for me). I can't say about foul language as I don't typically include it in texts.

funkylogik · Mar 18, 2014

I quite like Google Keyboard. If i had to choose a qwerty layout keyboard it would be that one

RazzMaTazz · Mar 18, 2014

funkylogik said:
Voice to text would be excellent in an ideal world where everyone has a classical accent but, as a Scotsman, i can tell you that it just isnt an option for me yet, its not even close :beer:

Would they kick you out of Scotland if you spoke to your phone in an annoying American accent? I mean, there's no law against using all 5 vowels, is there?

funkylogik · Mar 18, 2014

:beer:

Stuntman · Mar 18, 2014

I personally hate every on screen keyboard I have ever used including the iPhone keyboard. The one I hate the least is Kii Keyboard which you can find here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zl.inputmethod.latin

chanchan05 · Mar 20, 2014

Well, you CAN turn off auto-correct you know.

Petrah · Mar 20, 2014

I always disable all the annoying things; capitalization, auto correct, etc. etc. etc. Generally I prefer the stock keyboard, but Google screwed up the last one when they removed the ability to add the mic where I always keep it. I now use the Jelly Bean keyboard from the Play Store along with the Handcent Emoji Plugin. Nice simple keyboard, no fuss no muss and no unnecessary added extra garbage.

nate39 · Mar 20, 2014

I use Thumb Keyboard 4. I have it on split view so I can use my thumbs. Everything I need is on the screen, numbers, symbols, @ and .com, etc. The stock Asus was good but I like the split ones best and this is the best one I have found so far.

03bluecoupe · Mar 20, 2014

Swiftkey also has the "thumb" or split layout which is the one I like also. It can also be resized on the fly if need be which is another nice feature.

watunda · Mar 20, 2014

I needed bigger buttons so I use the Big Buttons Keyboard. Easy on my eyes too.

funkylogik · Mar 20, 2014

Im testing swiftkey on my tab just now thanks to all the recommendations. Seems good so far. Just wish it had the google emoji..
Also wish they would add G+ to the social learning thing

03bluecoupe · Mar 20, 2014

The beta does have emoji's included but it's a bit buggie. Kept crashing on my L39C and could never get a dump generated to send to the dev's. You could give it a shot, it may work great on your tablet.

kopkiwi · Mar 20, 2014

Pamela Anderson said:
Like I said, yeah I did, and it was absolutely garbage.

Mate you are hands down using it wrong or haven't enabled some things if it isn't working properly.

Auto corrects everything, puts spacing into words that I miss the space button on. Saves words I've used more than once, auto correct to swear words too.

The fault here lies with the user, not the software.

funkylogik · Mar 20, 2014

03bluecoupe said:
The beta does have emoji's included but it's a bit buggie. Kept crashing on my L39C and could never get a dump generated to send to the dev's. You could give it a shot, it may work great on your tablet.

Thanks mate, whered you get the beta from? Wonder If they have a g+ community.. :beer:
Update: doesnt look like they have

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