i was told of 8pen the day before its release and, after watching the video on their website, i was blown away by the concept. it was truly a novel idea, with noble, far-reaching goals. however, i think it may have bitten off more than it could chew. here are my thoughts after using it quite exclusively over the last few days...
i'm a heavy swype user, so i thought it'd be easier for me to pick up 8pen's interface. well, i used it since its release and found that it almost was as fast as swype, but never able to surpass it in speed. the fact that the thumb hides the letters threw me off quite a bit. i'd get lost finding 'b'. not only that, "typing" out unknown words was quite a bit of a hassle.
however, it wasn't completely doom and gloom. being a bit of a stickler with spelling and grammar, 8pen forced me to focus on proper spelling, which is a plus in my book. also, the word prediction is topnotch. the interface is definitely intuitive and a novel concept.
in short, i just think it's too much of a drastic jump from qwerty-based keyboards to be accepted widely. i'm keeping 8pen installed, and use it from time to time for fun (yes, i'm weird like that). however, to whip one out quickly, i just go to swype. i can't wait to see 8pen updated or modified slightly. i personally think it has an amazing potential at being the next mobile keyboard interface design. it's clean, intuitive, and different. anytime a developer thinks outside the box, it's to be commended. 8pen is just that, an outside-the-box idea that needs some polish, but has the ability to be the next big thing in mobile software.
just my 2 cents.
Use ultra keyboard it does swype with a compact keyboard at the same time , talk about speed thats the fastest I have ever been on a keyboard.
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk
I like 8pen in a sick strange way..
8pen from my supersonic yea....
david279 said:
I like 8pen in a sick strange way..
8pen from my supersonic yea....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how does it compare to swype (or your previous keyboard preference) for you, in terms of speed?
shift_ said:
how does it compare to swype (or your previous keyboard preference) for you, in terms of speed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
never used swype
I like 8pen, but I am much faster swyping... 8pen stays in my phone for texting and driving though
i like the idea. we really need a new text input UI. the very fact that we are still using qwerty is kinda sad.
i look forward to more ideas like this.
shift_ said:
how does it compare to swype (or your previous keyboard preference) for you, in terms of speed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
for me its a hell of a lot slower...swype for me is the fastest keyboard but im not that great with it, tons of mistakes.
ms79723 said:
for me its a hell of a lot slower...swype for me is the fastest keyboard but im not that great with it, tons of mistakes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
8pen is theoretically faster since there are ~26 letter + few more gestures to remember. You have to watch watch your screen when using swype.
I've been practicing 8pen
jerryparid said:
8pen is theoretically faster since there are ~26 letter + few more gestures to remember. You have to watch watch your screen when using swype.
I've been practicing 8pen
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True statement. I just dont have the patience right now to memorize the placement of letters.
Its like learning how to right in a new way. Its interesting.
8pen from my supersonic yea....
Memorization is everything. If I had been using 8 pen since I was 6 years old like the qwerty layout then I am sure I would be incredibly fast on it. I type around [email protected]% accuracy on full size qwerty keyboards including symbols and numbers. I wish i had the time to memorize 8pen, that would be insanely fast for mobile if I could actually train myself to know where all the char's are without thinking like on qwerty. I literally type faster than I can spell words out in my head
jerryparid said:
8pen is theoretically faster since there are ~26 letter + few more gestures to remember. You have to watch watch your screen when using swype.
I've been practicing 8pen
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How? You could complete a 3-4 letter word in Swype within the same amount of motion that it'd possibly require to do a single letter in 8pen.
I personally just use Smart Keyboard Pro (reg. QWERTY multi-touch).
It's simply too slow for daily use and I don't have time to learn it. I prefer either swype or the droid x kb.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
I think when you use it when you want type everything, it going faster from Day to Day ......
send from my Alex-v ROM loaded HTC Desire with 8pen
I saw 8pen, but it costs money so I didn't bother. I'm happy with SwiftKey keyboard predicting my entire sentence. It's not necessarily faster than Swype, but I like not having to type each word.
Sent from my EVO rockin' MikFroYo!
I enjoy it been using it since it came out
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
The jury is still out for me. That being said; the 24 hour period from the market is too short to evaluate this keyboard IMO.
Sent on the go from my HTC EVO
I used it for about a day, and uninstalled it. I got the same impression as when I tried one of those non-qwerty keyboards for the first time, you know the ones where all of the letters are in different places, so its supposedly easier to hit the more common letters. Definitely innovative, and it will make things easier for some people, and allow them to type faster and more accurately. And for that subset of people, it really is a great product. But it will never catch on with the mainstream smartphone user who doesn't have the patience to relearn how to type.
Sent from my blah blah blah blah
Shauli20 said:
I saw 8pen, but it costs money so I didn't bother. I'm happy with SwiftKey keyboard predicting my entire sentence. It's not necessarily faster than Swype, but I like not having to type each word.
Sent from my EVO rockin' MikFroYo!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
U broke? It's only like 2bucks
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
Related
Just an observation but the predicitive text on android is a lot less accurate, i lot less !!!!
Just wonding why that is ???
ipguy said:
Just an observation but the predicitive text on android is a lot less accurate, i lot less !!!!
Just wonding why that is ???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
as you already said. Just and observation.
ipguy said:
Just an observation but the predicitive text on android is a lot less accurate, i lot less !!!!
Just wonding why that is ???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use a different keyboard if you don't find stock predictions good enough. I would count among the best, Swype, Ultra Keyboard, Smart Keyboard, Swift Key. There are several others I have not tried.
Of course tyranny of choice applies - you will have to spend time trying out the new keyboards whereas iOS there is no choice of what keyboard to use AFAIK.
miker71 said:
Use a different keyboard if you don't find stock predictions good enough. I would count among the best, Swype, Ultra Keyboard, Smart Keyboard, Swift Key. There are several others I have not tried.
Of course tyranny of choice applies - you will have to spend time trying out the new keyboards whereas iOS there is no choice of what keyboard to use AFAIK.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure that i understand, the actual keyboard is tied to the predicitive text engine ?
blindtype is the solution to the problem i'm referring to, unfortunately won't be available until gingerbread.
shame
I constantly see online people using predictive text that create HORRIBLE sentences that are iPhones so it's predictive text isn't so hot either. Plus, don't both iphone and android start with horrible predictive text that gets better with usage?
Sent from my Dell Streak using XDA App
xilpaxim said:
I constantly see online people using predictive text that create HORRIBLE sentences that are iPhones so it's predictive text isn't so hot either. Plus, don't both iphone and android start with horrible predictive text that gets better with usage?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i simply don't buy that i'm sorry
i've been a long standing iphone user who only recently switch to android and the first thing that stood out was the poor predicative text as opposed to iOS devices.
Buy it or not, but it's a fact. Try going on a website like Yelp, where it actually tells you "posted from my iphone" and you will CONSTANTLY see horrible writing and just completely random words. CONSTANTLY. Actually that is mostly where I see it because I don't really know to many folks with iPhones.
And personally, I hate predictive text, but I used to do data entry and like to type things out. For me it is easier to just type out exactly what I want instead of using that stuff.
xilpaxim said:
Buy it or not, but it's a fact. Try going on a website like Yelp, where it actually tells you "posted from my iphone" and you will CONSTANTLY see horrible writing and just completely random words. CONSTANTLY. Actually that is mostly where I see it because I don't really know to many folks with iPhones.
And personally, I hate predictive text, but I used to do data entry and like to type things out. For me it is easier to just type out exactly what I want instead of using that stuff.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
for the sake of not getting into an arguement, i'll just leave it at that...
having said that, i'm very excited about blindtype
I was an iPhone user before and I can definitely tell you that off the bat, iPhone Keyboard\predictive text is alot better than Android. HANDS DOWN.
HOWEVER, however, however.... thats comparing Stock to Stock.
Since using, SmartKeyboard, Better Keyboard... and better yet... DroidX multi-touch keyboard on both 2.1 and Froyo builds, the experience is now 'comparable'. Not quite there, but I can type as fast on an iPhone as I can on my Dell Streak with 1 hand.
cue_32 said:
I was an iPhone user before and I can definitely tell you that off the bat, iPhone Keyboard\predictive text is alot better than Android. HANDS DOWN.
HOWEVER, however, however.... thats comparing Stock to Stock.
Since using, SmartKeyboard, Better Keyboard... and better yet... DroidX multi-touch keyboard on both 2.1 and Froyo builds, the experience is now 'comparable'. Not quite there, but I can type as fast on an iPhone as I can on my Dell Streak with 1 hand.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
His does betterkeyboard do a. Etter job with preduciti e text?
As you, as you can see from the above sentance, its not better at all....
How does a different keyboard improve predictive text? I just do t get it.
ipguy said:
His does betterkeyboard do a. Etter job with preduciti e text?
As you, as you can see from the above sentance, its not better at all....
How does a different keyboard improve predictive text? I just do t get it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So your biggest different is only the predictive text. Ok let's say iso has better predictive text but its not as if android is really that bad, you can install 3rd party keyboard to improve it. Does it really bothers you that much.
Freakernoid said:
So your biggest different is only the predictive text. Ok let's say iso has better predictive text but its not as if android is really that bad, you can install 3rd party keyboard to improve it. Does it really bothers you that much.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How does a third party key lard improve it?
Just asking Cox I'm totally stumped with this assumption.
ipguy said:
How does a third party key lard improve it?
Just asking Cox I'm totally stumped with this assumption.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not the keyboard but the predictive software that comes with it. Personally, when the time comes that I need a phone or computer to spell for me or tell me what I want to say I'll go back to reading books carved on rock slabs.
ipguy said:
How does a third party key lard improve it?
Just asking Cox I'm totally stumped with this assumption.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok it really bothers you. btw what is key lard?Have you try installing other keyboard on your android phone yet.....and give it a try....
You say "you have been a long standing iphone user who only recently switch to android and the first thing that stood out was the poor predicative text as opposed to iOS devices."
I still say if this really bothers you that much i guess android phone is not for you.You might want to go back to something you think so highly of.
Freakernoid said:
Ok it really bothers you. btw what is key lard?Have you try installing other keyboard on your android phone yet.....and give it a try....
You say "you have been a long standing iphone user who only recently switch to android and the first thing that stood out was the poor predicative text as opposed to iOS devices."
I still say if this really bothers you that much i guess android phone is not for you.You might want to go back to something you think so highly of.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm simply asking a question for the sake of understanding, why are you getting so annoyed ? Its a sincere question.
Typing this up on betterkeyboard (no, it hasn't improved the predictive text)
I'm simply trying to understand, on a technical level, how a different keyboard will help ?
Troute said:
It's not the keyboard but the predictive software that comes with it. Personally, when the time comes that I need a phone or computer to spell for me or tell me what I want to say I'll go back to reading books carved on rock slabs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh I see, they come with there own predictive text, cool, what's the current best?
No idea m8, as I said I have no problem spelling off my own bat
Troute said:
No idea m8, as I said I have no problem spelling off my own bat
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You just dont get it.
From Stock Android to Better Keyboard, its an improvement. So far the closest I can get to the iPhone keyboard (responsiveness and predictive text) is the Multi-touch keyboard from DroidX. I know what you mean about the iPhone keyboard and I can still say, nothing so far, beats it. All I'm saying is the DroidX keyboard is the closest I got.... so far.
8pen has just been released in the Market, I have just installed it and typing this with it, it is strange but I think it could be OK once I get used to it.
Its 99p in the market, I am going to try it for 24 hours and see how I get on with it!
Sent from my Amiga 500 using Workbench
Thought I would post a YouTube video since I didn't explain it very well (took me long enough to type the above message ha ha)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3OuCR0EpGo
wow, i still don't understand after watching the video.
Surely everyone uses their thumbs to type so the videos all wrong.
In south Africa. No paid apps in the market. Downloaded mymarket. Can find 8pen but when I click install nothing happens. Mymarket works perfectly for free apps. I am willing to pay for 8pen. Any advice?
Wow that looks just terrible. Typing a single letter with that takes like 10 times more time compared to a qwerty keyboard. It might be less error prone when you get used to it but it's still slow as hell.
silbi30 said:
In south Africa. No paid apps in the market...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Suggest you email dev and he may allow you to purchase via PayPal and send you the app. Problem with that is you always have to check his official app site and remind him to email you any update released. I purchased a To Do app called DueToday like that, oh, and also Tasker in a similar manner. Sucks but what can we do?
BlindType looked so promising and I was waiting for it to get released. Then Google bought the company out! So you'll definitely most likely see BlindType as default keyboard on Gingerbread (Android 3.0)...conjecture...
bradputt said:
wow, i still don't understand after watching the video.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The same here, I think it will take a very long time to learn this. I use swype at the moment, but I will give it a try.
I will post my findings.
Thanks! They are not coping with their response so that wont happen soon.
I like the idea of an inputmethod that does not involve pressing small keys, but what about lanscape mode? i've got swype and it works great, and if i want to type even faster, i can just go to landscape mode, and i bet landscape mode isn't gonna be easy to use on the 8pen keyboard, which makes it difficult when typing long texts, i don't think this little program is going to have a promising future...
I am using it now and it is very difficult. Swype is much faster.
It is horrible, try it yourself!
I tried it and although I was excited about it at first, it's not a very pleasant experience. It takes too long to spell words and you have to learn a keyboard all over again. Layout could have been better I think. I am not fan of swype, but I think that is a much better experience. This is better than the WinMo6 small keyboards, but nothing compared to the keyboards found in any Android, WP7 and iOS device.
Tried it, wanted to like it, didn't like it.
Uninstalled and refunded.
Sent from my Amiga 500 using Workbench
i have sweaty palm and i live in humid and hot climate. dragging finger across the screen is just nightmare for me any type of input similar to 8pen or swype never work since sweaty finger just create enough drag to really make the finger almost stuck. Normal input work much better.
Same principal as in "letter board" for people who lost their speech like stroke patients
20:50 First forum post using 8pen.
I have always struggled with a qwerty keyboard & I can't find swype on the android market.
perhaps I can get use to this.
I will see how it goes.
21:01
Hi! Is it just me or has swype become almost unuseable since a few ROMs back when it went from popping a box up to horizontal suggestions above the keyboard.
I'm not talking about the aesthetics, it seems as though the dictionary selection, accuracy and changing of half typed and corrected words is just terrible.
Prior to the update I used to breeze through, now I'm lucky to swype in a few words without an epic correction struggle against its will to correct and change.
Swype, once a selling point and a joy to use now just plain sucks for me, and the thought of using it turns me off productive tasks.
Just me? Bad settings? I look forward to peoples input. I can't exactly remember when the change occurred, it was when it went horizontal instead of pop up.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
no problem here, actually I feel Swype 3 to be better than 2, fast, accurate and reliable.
Feel the same, maybe I swipe too fast, had to correct three times inn the first eight words
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
I don't intend to hijack, but I couldn't have an android phone without Swiftkey X on it... only complaint is that I have to use the gmail app for my email instead of the Samsung email one because it is very buggy on the Samsung one....
Same here. Old swype was more accurate.
I did two things:
1) Remove swype that comes with the rom, install the beta from swype.com (its newer)
2) Disable autocorrect
I absolutely love the new one. Much better than before and just as accurate.
The new Swype rocks! Especially with the horizontal word choice window. I can't even consider going back to 2.7. No problems with accuracy whatsoever with the new version on my phone.
It's not just me! Latest Cognition 1.50 just released and Swype has been reverted to 2.x, Designgears said the following:
"I think the new versions suck too, it is no even usable anymore, I can type my message 3x faster with the stock samsung keyboard."
/dance!!!
ironslave said:
I don't intend to hijack, but I couldn't have an android phone without Swiftkey X on it... only complaint is that I have to use the gmail app for my email instead of the Samsung email one because it is very buggy on the Samsung one....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Quit the bull - if you didn't mean to hijack, why are you doing it? Is this an accidental hijack? Jerk.
On topic - never been a huge Swype fan, but been playing with it a bit this weekend - and I concur with those that say the new version is hopeless.
Still a noob with it, but my accuracy was much, much better on the old version.
Not sure I'll stay with Swype anyway - old dog, new tricks....
Make sure you check your Swype accuracy settings. I put mine closer towards the error tolerance end now. Still works fine.
B3311 said:
Quit the bull - if you didn't mean to hijack, why are you doing it? Is this an accidental hijack? Jerk.
....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha i rofld
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk
I don't like it that much, have to swipe twice/thrice for a simple word like 'or'. I used T9 Trace on my S8500 before and it never had any problem, even if I swiped on some wrong letters it ultimately gave me the right word.
I am on 2.72 version, at default setting.
Regards.
Yep same here. Spent more time struggling with auto-correction than actually swyping.
I use TouchPal's keyboard now. Surprisingly accurate even when you mash the wrong buttons, high degree of customisability (you can even use the classic numpad keyboard), and they will also be implementing the swyping functionality in the next major release (hopefully more usable than the current version of Swype).
I've found, disabling auto correction helps a million.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
I removed Swype and bought Big Buttons .
jje
asgard said:
Hi! Is it just me or has swype become almost unuseable since a few ROMs back when it went from popping a box up to horizontal suggestions above the keyboard.
I'm not talking about the aesthetics, it seems as though the dictionary selection, accuracy and changing of half typed and corrected words is just terrible.
Prior to the update I used to breeze through, now I'm lucky to swype in a few words without an epic correction struggle against its will to correct and change.
Swype, once a selling point and a joy to use now just plain sucks for me, and the thought of using it turns me off productive tasks.
Just me? Bad settings? I look forward to peoples input. I can't exactly remember when the change occurred, it was when it went horizontal instead of pop up.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I absolutely agree with every word you said. Please if someone can tell me a way of downgrading to an older version, i will be ever grateful. Its terrible now!!
from my perspective.. swype 3 is better than swype 2 .. well the horizontal word suggestions eats up a line, but in exchange it's easier to scroll down (or right ) for the words.. it's true that it's not perfect when selecting words.. but overall.. it's still the best keyboard...
a67543210 said:
I've found, disabling auto correction helps a million.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do you disable Auto Correction? Can't find it in settings!
Swype 3 beta says you can't install it on a phone that was shipped with swype pre installed. Anyway to get the new 3 beta of swype on official firmware?
Is there any way to downgrade though?
Ton of feature rich keyboards I know...but I like this.
Like the huge space bar...less errors. http://www.mediafire.com/?wy2wryijxpvk7q7
Once you've had swype you don't ever go back
straxusii said:
Once you've had swype you don't ever go back
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
BS. Never liked swype and don't use it. The version on the Epic Touch is buggy and slow.
rockky said:
Ton of feature rich keyboards I know...but I like this.
Like the huge space bar...less errors. http://www.mediafire.com/?wy2wryijxpvk7q7
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for sharing. But, I can't find voice recognize. Any idea?
linzgeneral said:
BS. Never liked swype and don't use it. The version on the Epic Touch is buggy and slow.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seriously I never tried it before the note and I find it far quicker and more accurate to type, really impressed.
And definitely wouldnt use another keyboard now that didnt work by tracing out the word.
straxusii said:
Seriously I never tried it before the note and I find it far quicker and more accurate to type, really impressed.
And definitely wouldnt use another keyboard now that didnt work by tracing out the word.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea. I used swype on my HD2.
I mean I could go back, but Swype is so much quicker and easier.
I like Swype!
I've tried Swype a few times but I can't get the feel of it at all so never use it. Trying the ics keyboard now and finding it's a bit better at auto correcting spaces which is handy.
Swype rules.
S-pen toggle ICS keyboard
love this ICS keyboard layout (having such a small space bar on others just pisses me off), but is there any way to add the Pen input for it on the SGN? kinda defeats the purpose of it on this handset if you can't use it.
straxusii said:
Seriously I never tried it before the note and I find it far quicker and more accurate to type, really impressed.
And definitely wouldnt use another keyboard now that didnt work by tracing out the word.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Swype is by far the best. It's so easy and simple and forgiving. I barely even hit my intended letters and it almost always knows what I'm typing. The idea of taping out messages or emails seems archaic now. Especially with the s-pen....it's just such an effortless pleasure.
Takes a day, max. That being said, is love to be able to use Swype on the ics keyboard.
JG
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
rockky said:
Ton of feature rich keyboards I know...but I like this.
Like the huge space bar...less errors. http://www.mediafire.com/?wy2wryijxpvk7q7
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
I tried the keyboad but have no comment as of now. Why? Because it still lags just like the previous other keyboards I've tried, if your a fast texter like myself the phone is slow & cannot catch up which leads to mistakes in EVERY word I write, it's a nightmare...
I hope they fix this issue in the next update.
Currently using ''smart keyboard pro'' which I think is one of the BEST keyboards, also being VERY customizable & comes with several great skins, all of which are great in their own way, even the colours you can change...
I think the note will be FAR superior once it gets the ice cream update and will be even smoother and faster than what it already is.
I found it initially lagged but after turning off most of the features it works OK now aside from occasional lags which I assume is due to some other application slowing it down. Its auto correct can be intermittent but I have it turned down as I don't want it too aggressive
Hey guys, I got to thinking and wondering what the fastest keyboard on the Android market is currently. I currently use SwiftKey and can get around 43 words per minute, which is slow compared to some here...
So, try your hand with your favorite keyboard with an app called WPM Mobile.
I also saw this recently... Looks interesting! Thoughts?
I saw where an IPhone user got around 80wpm with the stock iPhone keyboard! That's incredible.
in_dmand said:
Hey guys, I got to thinking and wondering what the fastest keyboard on the Android market is currently. I currently use SwiftKey and can get around 43 words per minute, which is slow compared to some here...
So, try your hand with your favorite keyboard with an app called WPM Mobile.
I also saw this recently... Looks interesting! Thoughts?
I saw where an IPhone user got around 80wpm with the stock iPhone keyboard! That's incredible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
55 wpm with Thumb Keyboard. Probably could hit 60 but i hate typing in portrait mode.
I just got the Keymonk keyboard and it's sweet!
I'm using the Google keyboard . its fast simple and pretty accurate
Sent from my VS980 4G using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
in_dmand said:
I saw where an IPhone user got around 80wpm with the stock iPhone keyboard! That's incredible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Imagine if they had a phone with a screen larger than a postage stamp...
i've tried numerous and find the prediction superior in swift key and that is generally what saves me the most time when typing; plus their swift-flow (swype version) is pretty decent. So i one-hand it with the swift-flow and when using both hands between typing normally and the word prediction it saves me a lot. Sometimes certain sentences and phrases will be predicted and regardless of keyboard that is what saves you the ultimate amount of time.