"Best Of" PCM Keyboard skin / layout - Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General

I though I would start a new thread as my previous thread had a lot of great ideas that have lead to this new version.
Please read the other thread for background on this skin and other versions:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=349647
This layout and skin were developed from many other skins and layouts I have come across or created. Primarily it is based on the iPhone look, but uses similar buttons to the RescoPro keyboard.
You can see all the layout features (pop ups) from the screen shots. I tried to put commonly used characters or key combinations to pop up from the comma, space and period keys.
To install this version, you need to have the latest version of PCM Keyboard (link in my other thread) and you need to select both the Eng 2many layout AND 2many skin, in the settings of PCM Keyboard. A soft reset is sometimes necessary, once you have set both layout and skin for the layout to function.

Looks cool. I like it. Thanks for your work!

Agreed. Looks great.

Nice, I like it.
As I am French, I put my layout... French with many symbols...

Nice! The best iPhone-like keyboard I've seen yet...been waiting for a while to find something like this. Thanks a bunch man!

2manyphones said:
I though I would start a new thread as my previous thread had a lot of great ideas that have lead to this new version.
Please read the other thread for background on this skin and other versions:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=349647
This layout and skin were developed from many other skins and layouts I have come across or created. Primarily it is based on the iPhone look, but uses similar buttons to the RescoPro keyboard.
You can see all the layout features (pop ups) from the screen shots. I tried to put commonly used characters or key combinations to pop up from the comma, space and period keys.
To install this version, you need to have the latest version of PCM Keyboard (link in my other thread) and you need to select both the Eng 2many layout AND 2many skin, in the settings of PCM Keyboard. A soft reset is sometimes necessary, once you have set both layout and skin for the layout to function.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi:
Looks amazing!
Any chance for a black version?
Thanks!

Awsome.
Do you think, it would be possible to add a "ctrl" button?
(like in ctrl.c...)

nice! this is the best touch keyboard that feels good. thanks. Now i have to find a way how2 make a french canadien layout

2manyphones said:
I though ...... layout and skin for the layout to function.
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Click to collapse
Really thanks so much for your sharing......

wow. this is awesome. i was about to give up on the crappy keyboards built in here..
any way to build in a period being inputted when you hit space twice like the iphone?

Thanks
Thank you so much for the work you do......I love the layout
Peace
mike

SCtud said:
wow. this is awesome. i was about to give up on the crappy keyboards built in here..
any way to build in a period being inputted when you hit space twice like the iphone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. Glad you like it.
There is a dedicated period key or if you press and hold the space key you will get a period and a space. I find both of these faster than my iPhone.

2manyphones said:
Thanks. Glad you like it.
There is a dedicated period key or if you press and hold the space key you will get a period and a space. I find both of these faster than my iPhone.
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Click to collapse
hey i just installed it on my touch. the keyboard looks and feels awesome. however i dont get the period when i hold on to the space key nor do i get the most commonly used symbols when i hold the comma key. what am i doing wrong?

You have to make sure you set the keyboard skin AND skin for the hold keys to work.
Great skin -- been my most used for a while now. Very easy to hit and it looks great!

This is very, very good. I like using this a lot.
I tried out the iphone the other day in a shop and had a go with the keyboard. There was no trouble hitting the keys but the screen was very hard. I like the "give" on the wm phones. I think this keyboard (esp for the screen size) is actually a bit better than the one on the iPhone.
Well done!

mack said:
hey i just installed it on my touch. the keyboard looks and feels awesome. however i dont get the period when i hold on to the space key nor do i get the most commonly used symbols when i hold the comma key. what am i doing wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Didn't work for me either until after a soft reset...

You always want to select the skin then change the layout. Even if you end up changing the layout to another one and then back to the one you had selected. A soft reset works to.

This is outstanding work and has made my new HTC Touch Cruise much more enjoyable and efficient to use. Thank you very much!
Can you recommend a good finger friendly task switcher? I'd like to be able to swap between apps with the push of one button. The HTC task switcher requires you to go to the Today screen first and is not finger friendly. I also installed Task Manager. While a great application, it doesn't serve well as just a task switcher. Ideas?

dlipetz said:
This is outstanding work and has made my new HTC Touch Cruise much more enjoyable and efficient to use. Thank you very much!
Can you recommend a good finger friendly task switcher? I'd like to be able to swap between apps with the push of one button. The HTC task switcher requires you to go to the Today screen first and is not finger friendly. I also installed Task Manager. While a great application, it doesn't serve well as just a task switcher. Ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You may want to try the HTC enlarged start menu. While not designed as task switcher, if you press the start key it gives you icons for the last five applications you have launched (or have open).

Hi Romuald
yr Fr2many keyboard should be better if you put back the coma key (,) on the left of the space key

Related

PCM Keyboard VGA Diamond Skin

I don't know about you people, but I was so used to the automatic spelling correction of PCM Keyboard, that I found the Manila full querty to be a real step backwards. I also don't like the way the letter pop-up preview is actually covered by the fingers used to press the keys.
The only problem with PCM Keyboard, so far, has been the lack of a good VGA skin for it, so here is a Diamod themed skin I made for version .14 (the latest stable version).
The actual keyboard software is free and can be downloaded here: PCM Keyboard
-------------------------------------------------
Edit: I am also including my own layout, for those interested. You have to place it in the PCM Keyboard folder and select it from the options. here's what it does:
1. holding down the apostrophe brings up accented letters etc.
2. holding down the quote brings up the rest of accented letters etc.
3. holding down the 123 key brings up useful punctuation.
See thumbnails for details.
Looks good... would it be possible for you to post a landscape image?
Thanks.
Drybonz said:
Looks good... would it be possible for you to post a landscape image?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Crap, I never use landscape mode, and I can't find screen rotation in the Diamond?
edan said:
Crap, I never use landscape mode, and I can't find screen rotation in the Diamond?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could just pop up the keyboard in Opera landscape... or try the new Gyrator2 app that just got released.
Well, I started using your skin and I love it.
I really like the keypad style number layout. Works so much better for me than the qwerty "numbers in a straight line" layout.
Also, this is the best landscape keyboard layout I have seen. I replaced Touchpal because the landscape is not so hot. Now that Gyrator is working on my phone I needed a good landscape keyboard.
I can type so much faster now.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
edan said:
I don't know about you people, but I was so used to the automatic spelling correction of PCM Keyboard, that I found the Manila full querty to be a real step backwards. I also don't like the way the letter pop-up preview is actually covered by the fingers used to press the keys.
The only problem with PCM Keyboard, so far, has been the lack of a good VGA skin for it, so here is a Diamod themed skin I made.
The actual keyboard software is free and can be dowbloaded here: PCM Keyboard
All comments welcome...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any chance you can upload DiamondSkin2? Or do i have to edit it myself? How?
Those two thumbnails refer to the same skin. One is simply showing it in an SMS and the other is in Word.
edan said:
Those two thumbnails refer to the same skin. One is simply showing it in an SMS and the other is in Word.
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Click to collapse
Weird cos this is what i'm getting on my Touch Pro. It's missing "," & "."
Just wondering.....any chance you can make the format like those i've attached?
Scann69 said:
Weird cos this is what i'm getting on my Touch Pro. It's missing "," & "."
Just wondering.....any chance you can make the format like those i've attached?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What you are talking about is affected by the keyboard layout file, not the skin. Look in the PCM Keyboard folder on your touch pro and you will see a file like "english.layout" or whatever you chose as your layout.
Open that up in notepad and change the keys to whatever you want. There is a lot of information on the PCM Keyboard site linked in the first post regarding layout customization. The skin will adapt itself to whatever you do with your layout file.
To place the comma and period on the sides of the spacebar as in my thumbnails change your "keyboard_layout_1=" in your file to:
Code:
keyboard_layout_1=qwertyuiop\nasdfghjkl'\n\2zxcvbnm\B\B\n\M\M, .\N\N
very nice !!!
thanks
I decided to include my custom layout. It's English, though it does have a ton of special letters and symbols. The numbers pad is pretty complete as well.
edan said:
What you are talking about is affected by the keyboard layout file, not the skin. Look in the PCM Keyboard folder on your touch pro and you will see a file like "english.layout" or whatever you chose as your layout.
Open that up in notepad and change the keys to whatever you want. There is a lot of information on the PCM Keyboard site linked in the first post regarding layout customization. The skin will adapt itself to whatever you do with your layout file.
To place the comma and period on the sides of the spacebar as in my thumbnails change your "keyboard_layout_1=" in your file to:
Code:
keyboard_layout_1=qwertyuiop\nasdfghjkl'\n\2zxcvbnm\B\B\n\M\M, .\N\N
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you so much for the explaination Managed to get it the way i like it already
Scann69 said:
Thank you so much for the explaination Managed to get it the way i like it already
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Edan, I am interested in changing the "123" button to "abc" when on the number screen (a technicality, but would look nice). Just wondering if this can be edited in the layout file or if it is theme specific.
Also, have you tried your skin on the .15 version of PCM? I noticed they have more customization options in that version.
Thanks.
Drybonz said:
Edan, I am interested in changing the "123" button to "abc" when on the number screen (a technicality, but would look nice). Just wondering if this can be edited in the layout file or if it is theme specific.
Also, have you tried your skin on the .15 version of PCM? I noticed they have more customization options in that version.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have managed to create a new key with an ABC button. The real problem lies in assigning an action (switch layout to layout 1) in the .ini file.
Almost everything related to customizing version .14 has been removed from the site. So, it's a little hard now... unless we can get some tips from the author.
Version .15 is not even beta stage, and is extremely unstable on the diamond. It's really just a big mess at the moment... not worth the headaches...
edan said:
I have managed to create a new key with an ABC button. The real problem lies in assigning an action (switch layout to layout 1) in the .ini file.
Almost everything related to customizing version .14 has been removed from the site. So, it's a little hard now... unless we can get some tips from the author.
Version .15 is not even beta stage, and is extremely unstable on the diamond. It's really just a big mess at the moment... not worth the headaches...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I noticed they still claim .14 is the stable version but the tutorial is for .15. I wasn't able to get much further than changing a couple symbol keys in the layout file.
Anyway, thanks again for the great skin and please keep us updated if you make any changes.
Drybonz said:
Yeah, I noticed they still claim .14 is the stable version but the tutorial is for .15. I wasn't able to get much further than changing a couple symbol keys in the layout file.
Anyway, thanks again for the great skin and please keep us updated if you make any changes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some problem. After like 2 minutes of use, my diamond crashed (really badly with numerous report error windows popping up). Some of the keys were not showing and some of the keys showed gibberish (some nonsense chinese words) - check out the first screenshot.
I believe it's because of the encoding when the layout files (both English layout and the one OP made) is saved. I tried opening the layout file in notepad and lots of the key assignments were gibberish. So, I tried opening it in Word and found out the original file was saved with Turkish Windows encoding. I opened it in the right encoding (so that all the keys were shown correctly) and then saved it back with unicode encoding. Then I put the revised file back to the PCM folder and it did wonders - check out the second screenshot.
So, an advice. If you find the keyboard is not showing what should be shown. Check out the .layout file that the OP posted and try modifying it and save it with another encoding (can be done in Word but not notepad). For my case (diamond with English ROM), unicode works for me.
I have attached the modified layout file (saved with unicode encoding). You can try this one if the original one doesn't work for you. No guarantee though.
I tried using the Diamond skin but the period and comma buttons are missing on the keyboard? I have to press the "123" to access the symbols keyboard. Can someone help please?
clue11 said:
I tried using the Diamond skin but the period and comma buttons are missing on the keyboard? I have to press the "123" to access the symbols keyboard. Can someone help please?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please read this thread. All the answers are here already.
Oops. completely missed that part. Sorry and thanks for the skin!
Edan, have you considered doing a PCM Contacts skin? VGA ones are hard to come by.

Best Keyboard for the HD?

Hi I'm currently using PocketCM Keyboard which is better than the default but a bit frustrating when having to use !&- etc as you have to switch to numbers then to exclamations...
I was wondering if anyone have found a better keyboard (perhaps like the iphone with everything on the one screen) but still takes advantage of the screen size?
JetMouse, you know you can easily customise the layout of PocketCM Keyboard to suit your needs? It's as easy as editing a text file to control which symbols appear on which buttons. Since I did that it's easily become my favourite software on my Touch.
SiliconS said:
JetMouse, you know you can easily customise the layout of PocketCM Keyboard to suit your needs? It's as easy as editing a text file to control which symbols appear on which buttons. Since I did that it's easily become my favourite software on my Touch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No I didn't know this - can you run me through how to do it?
JetMouse said:
Hi I'm currently using PocketCM Keyboard which is better than the default but a bit frustrating when having to use !&- etc as you have to switch to numbers then to exclamations...
I was wondering if anyone have found a better keyboard (perhaps like the iphone with everything on the one screen) but still takes advantage of the screen size?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use SPB Keyboard (the new one, version 4.0) with fullscreen mode. The non-fullscreen mode is pretty much iphone-like. Don't know if it's "better" - to my taste the stock one is just perfect in all respects except for lack of support for Russian, which I need. Unlike most other keyboards, it has arrows which compensate the absense of the dpad on the device.
Sure thing:
Connect your PocketPC to your computer so you can browse the contents of the device.
Browse to \Program Files\PCMKeyboard
Copy English.layout (or whichever one you're using) to your computer's desktop
Make a backup of the file, just in case
Open the live file with Notepad
You can see four lines labelled keyboard_layout_#=
Edit the characters in those lines to change the symbols on the keys in PocketCM Keyboard
Each of the four lines contains a complete template for the keyboard. Rows are separated by the \n (newline) combination
There are some shortcuts to create special-purpose keys:
\2 seems to be uppercase
\1 seems to be lowercase
\b is backspace
\M is the symbol/text toggle button
\N is the enter key
There is a way of including smilies or combinations of characters on single keys, but I can't remember how. I also can't remember how to edit the row of quick symbols you see if you hold down the '123#?' button
Once you've made your changes, save the file on your computer and copy it back over to the PocketPC.
You'll need to choose a different softinput thing and then go back to PCM Keyboard to see the changes.
Don't forget to save the file somewhere in case you upgrade to a newer version of PCM Keyboard.
My favourite keyboard is Tengo. Allows very fast and forgiving typing. You might like to try it. I hope it works on Touch HD cos I have not got one to try on yet.
They have a free version, a commercial regular version, and a commercial thumb version.
the best keyboard for me is touchpal from http://www.cootek.com/
so many improvements
prospects said:
the best keyboard for me is touchpal from http://www.cootek.com/
so many improvements
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
is it compatible with the TOUCH HD
Touchpal
I think Touchpal is the best.
iznee said:
is it compatible with the TOUCH HD
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Click to collapse
I just tested it, yes it is 100% compatible.
I love this keyboard, but I am trying to get it to run using the Dutch language. It is so blazing fast and accurate in English using the suretype layout, it's not even funny. I SWEAR I cannot type faster using a hardware keyboard, simply because of the fact that it is just as accurate, has big enough keys to type blind, and you don't actually have to depress a button so... works for me
Still stuck with the trial version though...
Only thing that I still gotta get used to is switching keyboards using a finger slide, I just keep pressing buttons instead of triggering the slide really cool function though as it saves button space and basically is just cool to show people
Thanks for the tip people!
EDIT:
Got my own language it in it now, easy... Also really easy to switch languages... Just pull down the ABC key and pick one. This does reveal some non-skinned ugly winmo buttons though, even while the rest of the keyboard is Diamond skinned.
wfhowell said:
I think Touchpal is the best.
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Click to collapse
Completely Agree, it is very usefull, Fast and easy to use Keyboard
TouchPal
I would at least try the demo of this. I personally prefer TouchPal to a Blackberry hardware keyboard. I am serious. The seplling correction and word prediction is simply amazing. Completely altered my view of software keyboards.
BTW- I am 6' 2" and weigh 220 with BIG hands, and Have been happy with TouchPal since the first Touch.

[CAB] [10 MAY 10] SoftTouch MaxKey Keyboard: Now More Languages Supported

[Update May 10 2010:]
Huge thanks to Soul72 for adding other language support to MaxKey:
- English
- Italian
- German
- Norwegian
- Hungarian
Just follow the instructions below, but download the file below ending in "multilanguage." The other version just has English.
[Original Post:]
Ready for a screen keyboard that's easier to type on? This is a reconfiguration of the fabulous FingerKeyboard 2.1, so all respect to Exidler and Rozenthal. I have maximized the size of the keys as much as possible, focusing on keeping the edge keys further in given that protective cases may make these inaccessible. I also made the symbol keys much more standard (no longer 10 types of smiley faces!!! ) Moving the p and q up is a bit unorthodox, but I think you'll be pleased with the result.
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING BEFORE INSTALLING:
- You must have FingerKeyboard 2.1 installed for this to work
- FingerKeyboard must be installed on your device, NOT on the card
- The file that does not say "multilanguage" is is only for ENGLISH
- You can close MaxKey by pressing and holding the spacebar
- The attached cab also installs the X1 SoftTouch tweak to maximize your screens responsiveness, for best keyboard performance
- At the moment, uninstalling this requires a few steps that are relatively simple:
- - - Uninstall "Paco SoftTouch MaxKey 0.1" under Settings/System/Remove Programs
- - - Rename /Program Files/FingerKeyb/skin-02-wvga-port-01-eng-bak.txt to skin-02-wvga-port-01-eng.txt
- - - Move skin-02-wvga-port-01-eng.txt to /Program Files/FingerKeyb/Skins
- - - Next time you RE-select FingerKeyb in the SIP selector, the regular key configuration should be back
Install directions:
1. Install FingerKeyboard 2.1 to your device (not card!)
2. Download and install the SoftTouch MaxKey cab that is attached at the bottom of this post
3. Open the SIP selector which is the tiny triangle to the right of the keyboard selector in the middle of the bottom menu bar
4. Select FingerKeyb, and the MaxKey keyboard configuration should appear
5. To unistall, see above
If there is interest in this, I can try to keep developing for other languages and to make improvements based on suggestions. Donations would be highly appreciated.
Donate
Credits:
Exidler and Rozenthal for FingerKeyboard
Fards for teaching me how to make cabs
ChangeLog:
0.1 - First release
0.2 - Fixed the " and ? keys; slight tweak to symbols layout
nice, can you modify one to be a compact qwerty
c_legaspi said:
nice, can you modify one to be a compact qwerty
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, what do you mean by "compact qwerty?" Do you mean fewer rows of keys, like 4 rows instead of 5?
finger keyboard does not support compact qwerty(yet at least)
thats great ring-bearer....i ll give it a shot
btw from where u got that cool battery icon on top?
Compact qwerty would be nice, but I think it would probably conflict with the FingerKeyboard2 keymap, since a compact qwerty only has 12 buttons.
If you don't know how a compact qwerty looks like, take a look at an old mobile phone without touch screen or hardware keyboard and notice that the function of every key carries a number of letters, that you get by pressing various numbers of times. For example; I want to write "C". I press the number 2 three times, and the C appears.
I think it would be possible for someone to make a compact qwerty, since there is one in the new Touch Pro 2's and Diamond 2's. Also, if you look at the Xperia default dialer (or any dialer for that matter), there are 3 to 4 letters on every key - there's your ready made compact qwerty. Of course I don't know anything about making this myself, I'm just looking at the posibilities of someone making it.
Regards
/Felix
Nocturnal310 said:
thats great ring-bearer....i ll give it a shot
btw from where u got that cool battery icon on top?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hope you like it! I do think it has made a moderate difference in ease of text entry.
The great set of icons is from one of gtrabs' collections. I think it's the "X Series"
Spanish version?
Thanks, thanks, thanks!!! Finally keyboard that suites me...
p.s. key for ? doesn't work...
c_legaspi said:
nice, can you modify one to be a compact qwerty
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you mean a keyboard where there are two letters on each key, there is a Touch IT compact qwerty that I believe Itje has made available.
xperiatomaja said:
Spanish version?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure, I can put together a Spanish version.
Adios
thanks for your lovely work.i am having small issue with question mark.dot is working but when i long press question mark does not work.any solution for this.thanks in advance.
ring-bearer said:
If you mean a keyboard where there are two letters on each key, there is a Touch IT compact qwerty that I believe Itje has made available.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes that program is good as well but it makes my au key useless. im using fingerkeyb but i would like to get some bigger keys in portrait mode.
human75 said:
thanks for your lovely work.i am having small issue with question mark.dot is working but when i long press question mark does not work.any solution for this.thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good pickup - thanks a lot. I have uploaded a fixed version to the first post:
SoftTouch_MaxKey_0.2
Ah, looks like I was confused about the names - what I meant before was ''Phone Keypad'' and you can get this with EzInput so nevermind
Anyways, is it possible to get swedish? The only difference is that long press on J gets an Å, long press K gets you an Ä and L gets you Ö. That would be great!
this is most amazing keypad out there!
keypad vey responsive!
can i request something?
is it possible to remove the page up down etc.
on "EN" coz' you know in xperia they have some sort of a mouse to scroll
so that there will be more space for a key! very usefull if there will more space to press a single key.
and some character in the third row and so fort have minimal spacing
maybe it can help if you can try to edit this?
but you know this proram works well for me is just maybe you can do
enhance it for x1 users? thank you in advance!!! nice work
jhrenz said:
this is most amazing keypad out there!
keypad vey responsive!
can i request something?
is it possible to remove the page up down etc.
on "EN" coz' you know in xperia they have some sort of a mouse to scroll
so that there will be more space for a key! very usefull if there will more space to press a single key.
and some character in the third row and so fort have minimal spacing
maybe it can help if you can try to edit this?
but you know this proram works well for me is just maybe you can do
enhance it for x1 users? thank you in advance!!! nice work
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I can try to do something like that. I also want to work on the placement of the 'enter' and 'backspace' keys because they aren't optimal right now. But the main problem for me was the size of the qwerty keys, and those are now as big as they can get without inventing a whole new layout. But I agree that those directional buttons are not highly needed. I also still want to develop for the other languages people requested, but it may be a couple of months because real life is crazy busy for a while.
I could also try to make a SIP much more tailored to the X1 from the ground up. My C++ skills aren't great though but if anyone wants to PM me the 'dvoraksip.sln' code that comes with the Windows Mobile Version 5.0 SDK, I could probably modify that. I just don't have the SDK or the example code that comes with it. Anyone?
Thnx for the keyboard.. Its just made my XPERIA perfect!
But I have a question.. When I open the keyboard on my phone, the bottom bar dissappears.. Is this something you programmed it to do, to maybe give larger screen above the keyboard, or it something wrong with my config?
This layout isn't very nice. I prefer a normal qwerty layout.
banni89 said:
Thnx for the keyboard.. Its just made my XPERIA perfect!
But I have a question.. When I open the keyboard on my phone, the bottom bar dissappears.. Is this something you programmed it to do, to maybe give larger screen above the keyboard, or it something wrong with my config?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, thanks for the feedback. To answer your question:
No, I didn't program that feature in. That is a changeable feature of FingerKeyboard. Just go to programs/fingerkeyboard/options then change Portrait from "Hide bar" to "Show bar."
You'll be all set!

What keyboard software do you use?

Hi, is there a keyboard with 5 rows (numbers visible) that you can still accuratly press keys with your fingers? Because my passwords contain both numbers and letters and i have to enter them a lot :-( Thanks.
mdalacu said:
Hi, is there a keyboard with 5 rows (numbers visible) that you can still accuratly press keys with your fingers? Because my passwords contain both numbers and letters and i have to enter them a lot :-( Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I recommend Fingerkeyboard. It is free, highly customizable and does a great job. See my signature for the link. You can create your own layout if you want. I think other users have already made a layout with 5 rows, but if not, you can make your own. It is pretty easy. You can also see my signature for a basic tutorial on editing layouts. You decide what keys you wnat, where you want them, and what characters you want each key to type. If you have questions, you can post them in the Fingerkeyboard 2.1 thread here.
Another good keyboard if you prefer sliding instead of typing is SlideIT by Dasur. It costs $15 and does a great job. You can type (i.e. slide) really fast with it. It also supports many languages. You can view their homepage here.
Thank you!
Chris Cross said:
I recommend Fingerkeyboard. It is free, highly customizable and does a great job. See my signature for the link. You can create your own layout if you want. I think other users have already made a layout with 5 rows, but if not, you can make your own. It is pretty easy. You can also see my signature for a basic tutorial on editing layouts. You decide what keys you wnat, where you want them, and what characters you want each key to type. If you have questions, you can post them in the Fingerkeyboard 2.1 thread here.
Another good keyboard if you prefer sliding instead of typing is SlideIT by Dasur. It costs $15 and does a great job. You can type (i.e. slide) really fast with it. It also supports many languages. You can view their homepage here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I ready that fingerkeyboard had problems with the HD2, can you confirm that it works well, and what version are u using?
Today i tried TouchPal. it is the BEST keyboard for the HD2 (at least for me).
It is so east to type accurately now.
i agree with Touch Pal i can write extremly fast plus a lower sensitive cab installation is just perfect - at least for me.
Zoomboard from vito
halling said:
I ready that fingerkeyboard had problems with the HD2, can you confirm that it works well, and what version are u using?
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one of the reasons that FK had problems with the HD2 is the speed of the capacitive screen. Some people correct that with the lesss sensitive Cab on this site. With FK go to options and delay the two hold times. I've set the left one to 400 instead of 250 and the right one to 250. Now FB works well on the HD2.
Chriss: can you confirm this and also tell us what the left and right one are for???
I installed TouchPal and thought it was pretty naff compared to the standard HTC keyboard, to be honest. I can type faster and mode accurately using the standard keyboard. In fact, this post was written using it!
kuzibri said:
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Chriss: can you confirm this and also tell us what the left and right one are for???
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Sorry guys. I got mixed up. No, I have not tested it on the Leo (I'm still looking into getting one ). I have only read the same reports that you have all mentioned here.
And @kuzibri: what do you mean with "what the left and right one are for"?
Chris Cross said:
Sorry guys. I got mixed up. No, I have not tested it on the Leo (I'm still looking into getting one ). I have only read the same reports that you have all mentioned here.
And @kuzibri: what do you mean with "what the left and right one are for"?
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in the options tab there are two response time possibilities, eg left and right one.
I've tried a few of the others now, but still easily prefer the HTC supplied keyboard. I just wish it had the same gesture support as the WM default keyboard.
just another suggestion for a good keyboard for HD2: Cliquick. This also rotates the screen to landscape when pressing the .,123 key in whichever program you're in. You can find it here: http://cliquick.com/
edit: you can also set it to be your default SIP in the option settings.
Anyone happen to try SlideIt (http://www.dasur.co.il/Product/SlideIT/SlideIT.php) on the HD2? If not, anyone feel like trying the demo & letting me know how it works?
polstein said:
Anyone happen to try SlideIt (http://www.dasur.co.il/Product/SlideIT/SlideIT.php) on the HD2? If not, anyone feel like trying the demo & letting me know how it works?
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yes, I tried it. Its awesome in terms of speed and ease of use, but cannot switch to landscape mode. When you switch to landscape, e.g. in Opera, the screen gets messed up with this keyboard and a soft reset is needed. If I only was to use portrait mode, this would be the keyboard of choice.
Now that has become Cliquick. This even switches Word Mobile to landscape when you press the ",.123" key without using a third party sensor app like Gyrator or ChangeScreen. It comes with a 60 day trial and, if you do not want to buy it therafter, you can still use it for a max of 100 chars a day.
Let me throw ShapeWriter into the mix also.
Takes some getting used to but unce you've got it, it's much faster than a regular keypad (imo)
richard.ian.brown said:
Let me throw ShapeWriter into the mix also.
Takes some getting used to but unce you've got it, it's much faster than a regular keypad (imo)
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It's a pitty that this is only in English si I canot use it. BTW, it has great resemblance with Dasur's SlideIT. That one is blazing fast and easy to use (and supports several languages), but its main flaw is that it does not support landcsape. In this orientation it messes up the screen and a soft reset is needed. Otherwise this would be my nr 1 keyboard. Now that is Cliquick.
kuzibri said:
yes, I tried it. Its awesome in terms of speed and ease of use, but cannot switch to landscape mode. When you switch to landscape, e.g. in Opera, the screen gets messed up with this keyboard and a soft reset is needed. If I only was to use portrait mode, this would be the keyboard of choice.
Now that has become Cliquick. This even switches Word Mobile to landscape when you press the ",.123" key without using a third party sensor app like Gyrator or ChangeScreen. It comes with a 60 day trial and, if you do not want to buy it therafter, you can still use it for a max of 100 chars a day.
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Sounds like the exact problem I have on my Advantage (the rotation issue). I've been the only one to report it, so I'm forwarding your note here as well.
I'll have to try Cliquick. Is this the one where you have to hit the same key several times to get different letters (like hit ab to get "a" and hit it again to get "b" ? Guess I'll find out.
Glad to hear the SlideIT works well except for the rotation issue, so if they can fix it, I'll be very happy.
I have noticed the latest version of Fingerkeyboard refusing to open when my HD2 (Leo) has come out of standby - can't recall what was running just prior so haven't raised it with the creator yet. I couldn't open another keyboard so had to take the battery out on the two occassions it happened.
A keyboard I have been using of late, as it worked well on my Touch HD is Zoomboard
I have tried both slideit and shapewriter and on the HD2 I much prefer slide it, its mainly due to how it handles the irratic behaviour of the capacitive screen, I mean HTC need to fix up its response, in shapewriter the line drawn with your finger tends to be scribbled everywhere missing letters, to much lesser extent on slidit, the keys are much easier to hit in slideit imo. the finger sliding keyboards are the way to go either way, I can type so much faster with slidit and takes only little parctice to get a real knack of it ... slideIT is fantastic

Alternative Keyboards?

Are there GOOD alternative keyboards for the HD2 without the arrows to the right of the keyboard, I really hate them?
use SWYPE. I love that . . .
I have tried Various Keyboards and i keep going back to Swype. Once you use it for a bit i think you will agree it's probably the best Keyboard out right now.
I don't really like Swype, I much prefer to actually press and not drag. Thanks though but anymore suggestions?
Take a look at FingerKeyboard2, it's really a good one.
i've used fingerbeyboard2 for a while, the options and customisation of it is great, plus if you change fonts on your HD2 this keyboard font changes too..
Really cool highly recommended,
yeah swype is still amazing...
badly, it doesnt save any pw's for me....
only help was performing a hard reset....
DN41
Thanks guys I'll check it out.
anyone know where i can get the old style keyboard that has ctrl, alt, tab and caps buttons?
i kinda liked using the keyboard shortcuts
i cannot get fingerkeyboard to install on my stock 1.66 hd2. receive error message after cab install to main memory "unzuccessful". any ideas?
fingerKeyboard isnt so good on HD2. It has some known bugs, also it is VERY slow on HD2.
If You are used to fast writing then You will have a lot of problems with it .
Thats why im actually on stock keyboard, it is not so bad in fact
raqs said:
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True, but the original keyboard does not support enough languages. So, if you need some specific layout, you don't have many choices and FingerKeyboard does the job.
martoto said:
True, but the original keyboard does not support enough languages. So, if you need some specific layout, you don't have many choices and FingerKeyboard does the job.
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yep, right, but as i said, fingerKeybord is buggy on HD2, sad but true.
im using it only when i have to use CTRL + C, V, X, and so on
normally im using stock keyboard.
Thanks you answered my main question : why the hell did they remove ctrl, alt and other useful keys like Esc ?
I'll give a try to Fingerkeyboard
WOULD ANY1 HAPPEN TO KNOW HOW TO MAKE CAPS STAY CAPS WHEN I PRESS THE UP ARROW? I STAYS FOR 1 LETTER AND GOES BACK..VERY *(&%
oh well theres a example of how it should be when i press caps on accident haha
lunaticz0r said:
WOULD ANY1 HAPPEN TO KNOW HOW TO MAKE CAPS STAY CAPS WHEN I PRESS THE UP ARROW? I STAYS FOR 1 LETTER AND GOES BACK..VERY *(&%
oh well theres a example of how it should be when i press caps on accident haha
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press the up arrow twice
Just installed fingerkeyboard 2.1 and works like a charm much less typos than original keyboard I must say, but it seems there's no option for full screen keyboard like Spb Keyboard or does it? Anyhow each one (HTC/Finger/Spb) has it's own benefit for different applications.
I like Swype and SlideIT (most dont like it at first but with practice, its by far faster as its becoming stock software for many phones like Omnia now etc).
Anyway if your a pressing vs sliding person, i prefer Touchpal. Works like a charm, many nice skins for it, very easy to type with, accurate blah blah. Ive tried many pressing keyboards and found this the best, v4.0 is for the HD2, not 3.5

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