Database Users

Gyrator 2 - But keyboard doesn't get bigger?

All:
I have been using Gyrator 2. So far so good. But if the keyboard doesn't increase in size when you rotate the screen I don't see a huge advantage other than reading text or email on wider screen.
With the iPhone, yes I said the bad word, when you rotate the screen your keyboard changes making it easier to type on. That's what I'm really looking for. Something that will change the keyboard to a more finger friendly keyboard when rotated to landscape. Anything out there that can do that?
Also, any way to shrink those huge black bars when you rotate the screen at the top and bottom? I was noticing the top title bar (black bar 1) and the bottom soft menu bar (black bar 2) are HUGE in landscape mode and take up way too much real estate. It would be nice if those screen disolved and only appeared if you tapped the header/footer in a screen. I hope that made sense. Anythign apps than can do that? Or am I wishing on star.

Make sure you're using the default HTC keyboard, not the WM original one. The HTC keyboard (called full QWERTY in the input picker) does change and fill the entire screen widthwise when the screen is rotated.

shueflie, I am. And you're right. It does fit the entire screen but for some reason it sure doesn't seem bigger. Maybe it's just me. I guess it has to be getting bigger...but for some reason it still seems like too many keys squeezed in.
Are there any replacement keyboards, say something like a standard letter only keyboard, and then you press something for numbers only, and then something for special characters only? My fingers are too big.

Try the phone keypad in portrait mode (either with or without T9) and see if that suits you better. There are other keyboards available but I haven't tired any of them

Will give it a shot. If you can direct me to a link with more keyboards I'd appreciate it, in the meantime I'll use the almighty search and see what I can dig up.

derrickonline said:
Will give it a shot. If you can direct me to a link with more keyboards I'd appreciate it, in the meantime I'll use the almighty search and see what I can dig up.
Click to expand...
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Plenty of keyboards out there. Do a quick search in Themes, Applications and Software and you'll find what your looking for!!!
EDIT:
May also want to check Wiki to ensure keyboard software works ok, Programs/Utilites & Games working on the Touch HD (1 - M) & Programs/Utilites working on the Touch HD (N - Z)

Wow an entire wiki, that's what I'm talkin' about. Thanks!

derrickonline said:
Wow an entire wiki, that's what I'm talkin' about. Thanks!
Click to expand...
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Not all software is shown on these lists. Best option is to do a search for keyboard in Themes, Applications and Software.
If your unsure about anything, refer to this and it should answer most questions you have!

Samsung secret features D-Pad and Screen

I just wanted to point a few things about the Samsung Vibrant everyone is complaining about how this phone does not have a D-Pad and i just wanted to clear this up.
In fact this phone has a d-pad, select the samsung keyboard if not already in use hold down the key on the keyboard that is use to select numbers and symbols you will see a d-pad appear with copy, past select text options.
Also to easily dim your screen or to brighten your screen, slide your finger across the top of the screen where the notification bar is and you will notice your screen brighten or darken according to which way you slide your finger. (Note you may need to disable auto brightness for this function to be activated.

Heres a pic of the dpad

The Swype keyboard also has a really nice d-pad. Just swype from the tutorial icon right to the SYM key and it will show up.
Sent from my Vibrant, using the XDA app.

Thank you very much for the brightness slide tip!!!

Anyone else accidentally changing the brightness a lot? I swipe the bar with my left thumb, and if it's too angled of a swipe, my screen brightness goes to 11. I never thought I'd complain about a screen being too bright, lol.

can we activate the d-pad when not in a text entry field? I used the trackball on my G1 to select html anchors to get at small links or hovering elements

Wow I did not know this thanks for the info.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

cbisquit said:
can we activate the d-pad when not in a text entry field? I used the trackball on my G1 to select html anchors to get at small links or hovering elements
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It can be used on a web page, but I've only gotten it to come up by hitting a text box first. For that, even the addresses bar works.
-bZj
_____
-sent from my Samsung Vibrant via XDAapp

Awesome. Thanks for sharing this info.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

keyboard almost always pulls up with a long press on menu. but in the browser this also pulls up the URL bar so no can do. also what is 'keyboard sweeping' in the samsung keyboad options?

cbisquit said:
can we activate the d-pad when not in a text entry field? I used the trackball on my G1 to select html anchors to get at small links or hovering elements
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes all you have to do is hold down the menu key they keyboard will pop up and then you just have to do the process up top..

What about when you need to see text in a menu selection that is truncated to the side?
For example, if you go to Market -> Apps, under Finance and Health, you can see there are text that runs off to the right edge you can't read. In my old phone MyTouch, if I highlight Finance, the text will scroll across so I can read the rest of the line. Can't do this right now with the Vibrant.

jkcheng122 said:
What about when you need to see text in a menu selection that is truncated to the side?
For example, if you go to Market -> Apps, under Finance and Health, you can see there are text that runs off to the right edge you can't read. In my old phone MyTouch, if I highlight Finance, the text will scroll across so I can read the rest of the line. Can't do this right now with the Vibrant.
Click to expand...
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i havent ran across this problem. i am pretty sure when 2.2 comes out it will fix alot of the small issues, like on my nexus

soklean said:
yes all you have to do is hold down the menu key they keyboard will pop up and then you just have to do the process up top..
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I'm not seeing that option since holding down menu opens the url bar which can't be closed independently of the keyboard.
Sent from my Vibrant using XDA app

Awesome post, thanks.
Anyone figure out a better way to auto-fit text on the browser? I find tilting my phone to change the orientation and tilting it back makes it auto-fit. Phones like the Incredible do it as you're doing pinch to zoom--no need to flip the phone around.

blueman9 said:
The Swype keyboard also has a really nice d-pad. Just swype from the tutorial icon right to the SYM key and it will show up.
Sent from my Vibrant, using the XDA app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
excellent! I didn't realize that was a d pad lol.. i always thought of a d pad being like a trackball or flat button like on the blackberry bold 9700
thanks to you and the original poster for the tip. I found out about the swipe for screen brightness by John on droiddog dot com

very nice but in swype you can do the same thing just swype from the swype key at the bottom left to the SYM key right beside it and you get arrows and some other goodies.

Oh wow! This was my biggest complaint about the Vibrant. Thank you very much.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

For those saying "o wow", check the sticky. Surely some other things you've missed.

Dougefresh91 said:
Awesome post, thanks.
Anyone figure out a better way to auto-fit text on the browser? I find tilting my phone to change the orientation and tilting it back makes it auto-fit. Phones like the Incredible do it as you're doing pinch to zoom--no need to flip the phone around.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hit the - or + buttons back and forth to get the text to wrap, yeah it's a bummer they don't wrap using the pinch zoom. Also you can double tap the screen to initiate zoom, that method also auto-fits the text.

could someone put up pictures of swype on streak in both portrait and landscape?

please. and review it briefly

ill post screen shots later ....
but simply its perfect ...
lack of a trackball or anything on streak can be a real pain if you make a mistake tho.... could do with a keyboard with arrow keys.

thanks dude

In my review
I posted some keyboard comparison pictures.
I can't post any links but it's the most recent post on YourTechMinds . com

JDouce said:
ill post screen shots later ....
but simply its perfect ...
lack of a trackball or anything on streak can be a real pain if you make a mistake tho.... could do with a keyboard with arrow keys.
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Have a go with SLIDE IT i have been using it for a few days now and its very good same as swype or you can disable the swype part, has a lot of features including ARROW KEYS !!!!!!

ive installed swype but i can see the config page but cant get it to replace the standard keyboard...come to think of it i could never get it working on the HD2 either....must be me....

ComfySofa said:
ive installed swype but i can see the config page but cant get it to replace the standard keyboard...come to think of it i could never get it working on the HD2 either....must be me....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Open a browser page and hold down on the browser Address and a box will pop up to give you the option to change keyboard

lufc said:
Open a browser page and hold down on the browser Address and a box will pop up to give you the option to change keyboard
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice one lufc, I couldn't work it out on the Dell but knew how to do it on the HD2
Does anyone know why the when using swype in landscape mode, the text area becomes massive, shifting previous texts off screen....there's about 8 or 9 lines available and almost the whole length of the screen....is there anyway to reduce this box so it expands when filled like in portrait mode?
Thanks

editing text in an input field

I am new to Android and loving my Aria so far. The only thing that is really bugging me is the text input. I am having a little separation anxiety from my keyboard and it seems like I must be missing something. First I am using the swype keyboard but I don't think that is related to my question.
When you enter text into any input, say the body of an email in the gmail app, is there an easy way to go back and edit that text? I often find myself tapping 5 or 6 times to try to get the cursor back to the exact place that I need to edit and it gets really frustrating? On the iPhone when you want to edit text a search window pops up where your finger is and you can slide it back and forth to find the exact spot that you are looking for. Is there anything like this for Android?
Thanks for any feedback.
cj

Slide your finger over the little track pad between the menu and back button at the bottom of the phone. (Its the small silver circle). I think some people think that is the microphone but its not.

Ki77erB said:
Slide your finger over the little track pad between the menu and back button at the bottom of the phone. (Its the small silver circle). I think some people think that is the microphone but its not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Aaah. I did know that was an optical input but I did not even think of it. I rarely use it since scrolling and selecting is so easy.
Thanks,
cj

chrisjaffe said:
I am new to Android and loving my Aria so far. The only thing that is really bugging me is the text input. I am having a little separation anxiety from my keyboard and it seems like I must be missing something. First I am using the swype keyboard but I don't think that is related to my question.
When you enter text into any input, say the body of an email in the gmail app, is there an easy way to go back and edit that text? I often find myself tapping 5 or 6 times to try to get the cursor back to the exact place that I need to edit and it gets really frustrating? On the iPhone when you want to edit text a search window pops up where your finger is and you can slide it back and forth to find the exact spot that you are looking for. Is there anything like this for Android?
Thanks for any feedback.
cj
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes i hate trying to get the cursor back to edit a word glad someone asked
never thought about using the trackball sure makes things lot easier

Optical TrackPad FTW!
Sent from my Liberty using XDA App

Even better than the optical trackpad, Smart Keyboard has an arrow layout option that let's you navigate text way faster. The board is real nice too.

[Q] Moving Android Keyboard Cursor

Does anyone know how to move the cursor when using the keyboard, needing to add/delete a characters in the middle of a msg or text and repeated stabbing on my screen to get it in the right place is extremely frustrating anyone know a better way

I'm glad it's not just me, it must be hell on one of the lower end small screen devices. I have enough trouble on the X5!

btw langers, a little off topic but... have u tried 2degrees free facebook "zero" service??? when i try i get an error saying its not available from my carrier?? Just wondering whether its cos i'm not using my original stock rom

Facebook 0 works for me so you could be right

k thanks for that

Hey guys,
The reason you cant get onto FB 0 service is because you are using the APN internet.
This does not require a proxy and therefore o.facebook cant parse your mobile number to confirm you are indeed with 2degrees.
Try editing you APN and throwing 118.148.001.118 in the proxy and 8080 in the port.
If that doesn't work activate your WAP profile (it'll be called '2degrees') and see if that works.
If youre still having trouble give 2deg a call on 0800 022 022 and they'll sort you.
hope this helps

I'm using internet API and it works fine with no intervention/editing from me

YES!!!
cheers for that, worked a treat, didnt even realise those settings were even there, lol fairly new to the smartphone thing!!
i was using the internet apn as you said and once i switched it to 2deg all was good

Aren't we talking keyboard cursor?
I have been seeking for an app to have the little arrow text selector in our vanilla froyo, I mean that selector in gingerbread and HTC and Samsung machines.
Anyone know if there's such an app?

simplistian said:
Aren't we talking keyboard cursor?
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ahhmmm yeh...i did say it was a little off topic, lol...finding other kiwis on here was just too good of an opportunity to miss...sorry bout that....

dibb_nz said:
ahhmmm yeh...i did say it was a little off topic, lol...finding other kiwis on here was just too good of an opportunity to miss...sorry bout that....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No it's not a complaint
Just too eager for a solution of the keyboard cursor mover

Well the good news is, after hours of searching finally found a solution of sorts...the bad news is, it ain't free $3.75. BUT there is a free trial version, with nag screen. I'm using it now and have only been nagged once.
The cursor can be moved via arrow keys which are enabled thru the extensive settings menu.
The arrow keys up, down, left, right sit at the bottom of the keyboard and make editing easy peasy. As u can imagine it does take up a fair bit of yr screen and the keys are slightly smaller but I think there is a calibration setting 4 that.
What I do like is upper case numbers and symbols, so no need to change screens.
Prediction works really, really well 2.
A heap of languages are also supported.
All in all not a bad little k/b, so head 2 the market an check it out. Smart Keyboard Trial.
Oh, btw swype also has arrow keys 4 cursor control if that spins ye wheels!
Sent from my IDEOS X5 using XDA Premium App

Smart Keyboard Pro has arrow keys and it can be configured to use the volume buttons to move the cursor.
e. lol a minute late

No luck for me as I have to stick with Chinese keyboards. I am looking for another app which adds a slider for text selection like how gingerbread implemented.

@pezzku - hehehe yeh, after I submittted the post i checked my email and saw your post and thort why didnt i check earlier!!! never saw the time u posted it tho...great minds...
@simplistian - oh thats a real bummer m8 maybe u could start a new thread and hopefully someone out there may be able to help out?

Test this keyboard https://market.android.com/details?id=com.moo.android.inputmethod.latin.free
It has several seperate language packs and you access the arrows by sliding the space button up.

dibb_nz said:
Oh, btw swype also has arrow keys 4 cursor control if that spins ye wheels
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Where? I use Swype but have never seen arrow keys
Also from NZ

mejobloggs said:
Where? I use Swype but have never seen arrow keys
Also from NZ
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Kiaora mejobloggs good 2have u on board!
swipe the bottom left 2 keys from memory the onewith the blue s thingy on it and 123 key.
Couldn't get my head round swipe tho I like the concept. I gotta say tho the more I use smart keyboard the more I'm liking it .com key alwaysshowing an longpress auto enters uppercase symbols/numbers, no screen switching at all lottsa options, skins and well supported,,forum,wot morecould u want ???

mejobloggs said:
Where? I use Swype but have never seen arrow keys
Also from NZ
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To get arrow keys in swype...
swype from uppercase key to the swype key and then SYM key.

This is what we want, guys:
padkite
Please google, as I'm not allowed to post links, new user and all. For use in browsers only, at this stage, and in development, so not yet in the marketplace.
Please post your experiences!