Database Users

Will people need keyboards on large screens with options like shapewriter/swype ?

Hi Guys,
I'm back on XDA Forums again after straying over to maemo.org (Nokia N810 internet tablet) for a year or so. Great hardware, but software just wasn't there yet (for me) so it went to ebay as soon as I read about the HD.
Anyway, I was wondering. Given these large sensitive screens and new input methods like shapewriter & swype on the way (if they ever get round to releasing them), do you really think a real qwery keyboard will still be a requirement for most people.
I'm an ex Universal owner (still got it, but needs fixing). But having seen the demo's of shapewriter etc. and having played around with a couple of examples on my Tablet PC, I'm really excited about these sliding based input options. I reckon 50+ words a minute looks quite manageable with very little training.
I don't think I will miss the qwerty input except when entering very technical stuff (things that would not be recognised by the dictionary).
What do you guys think ?
If you don't know what shapewriter or swype are, take a look at :
www.shapewriter.com
www.swypeinc.com
Zuber

Zuber said:
Hi Guys,
I'm back on XDA Forums again after straying over to maemo.org (Nokia N810 internet tablet) for a year or so. Great hardware, but software just wasn't there yet (for me) so it went to ebay as soon as I read about the HD.
Anyway, I was wondering. Given these large sensitive screens and new input methods like shapewriter & swype on the way (if they ever get round to releasing them), do you really think a real qwery keyboard will still be a requirement for most people.
I'm an ex Universal owner (still got it, but needs fixing). But having seen the demo's of shapewriter etc. and having played around with a couple of examples on my Tablet PC, I'm really excited about these sliding based input options. I reckon 50+ words a minute looks quite manageable with very little training.
I don't think I will miss the qwerty input except when entering very technical stuff (things that would not be recognised by the dictionary).
What do you guys think ?
If you don't know what shapewriter or swype are, take a look at :
www.shapewriter.com
www.swypeinc.com
Zuber
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Typing faster and more confortable than in a real keyboard won´t be as easy to achieve as it seems, at least for today technology on KB on screen, we are far away...

need a real keyboard?
...just add it!
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/keyboards/keyboard/devices/3848&cl=US,EN

pzucchel said:
...just add it!
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/keyboards/keyboard/devices/3848&cl=US,EN
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've got one of these. I'm not sure how you think it's supposed to work with an HD.

Zuber said:
Hi Guys,
I'm back on XDA Forums again after straying over to maemo.org (Nokia N810 internet tablet) for a year or so. Great hardware, but software just wasn't there yet (for me) so it went to ebay as soon as I read about the HD.
Anyway, I was wondering. Given these large sensitive screens and new input methods like shapewriter & swype on the way (if they ever get round to releasing them), do you really think a real qwery keyboard will still be a requirement for most people.
I'm an ex Universal owner (still got it, but needs fixing). But having seen the demo's of shapewriter etc. and having played around with a couple of examples on my Tablet PC, I'm really excited about these sliding based input options. I reckon 50+ words a minute looks quite manageable with very little training.
I don't think I will miss the qwerty input except when entering very technical stuff (things that would not be recognised by the dictionary).
What do you guys think ?
If you don't know what shapewriter or swype are, take a look at :
www.shapewriter.com
www.swypeinc.com
Zuber
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I must say that the videos are very impressive and at this moment, it seems to be a very good alternative to a physical keyboard. Looking at those videos I had the urge to test the softwares out but they are not available yet.
Not even betas.
Shapewriter has a free software download but it's on iTunes and it's only for iPhones...

Ruudfood said:
I've got one of these. I'm not sure how you think it's supposed to work with an HD.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, i don't have neither the dinovo mini neither the touch hd . However, if you browse google you can find that various people have succeeded to connect PC bluetooth keyboards to windows mobile, so i think it should be possible.
http://www.windowsmobiletraining.com/connection/forums/p/1045/3357.aspx

Zuber said:
www.shapewriter.com
www.swypeinc.com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Already been done! There's a keyboard that's already been officially that allows you to "draw" from letter to letter. I remember reading about it maybe even 2 months ago. Its been posted in the general forum/subforum.

pzucchel said:
Well, i don't have neither the dinovo mini neither the touch hd . However, if you browse google you can find that various people have succeeded to connect PC bluetooth keyboards to windows mobile, so i think it should be possible.
http://www.windowsmobiletraining.com/connection/forums/p/1045/3357.aspx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well in that case...
I have to say though that the keys on the DiNovo Mini are quite small even though the device itself is quite big (it's bigger than an HD) so not something you'd want to carry round with you or type large amounts of text with. Handy for occasional use, but then again if you're only using it occasionally you might as well stick with the various software keyboards that are available.

pzucchel said:
...just add it!
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/keyboards/keyboard/devices/3848&cl=US,EN
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mercí
I was not aware of that product!
I´ll get one once I recieve my HD!!

Great demo video on swype
Found a good youtube video on swtpe that goes into a little more detail rather than the basic promo stuff.
It doesn't have the nice graphics, but the technology looks good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anYvTSnXWbk
Zuber

I am glad you all liked the concept you have seen. Because unlike Swype and which is only an idea for now, and Shapewriter which isn't much of a use in the ihone, there is a company who also manifested this idea and it is available for the public allready. I found it in some forum a few weeks ago, and since then I am simply amazed.
It's called SlideIT, has free demos.
Here is a video for it if you like to see it in action first:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkFSGfe2NEQ
Check it out then: http://www.mobiletextinput.com/Product/SlideIT/SlideIT.php

Jim Me said:
I am glad you all liked the concept you have seen. Because unlike Swype and which is only an idea for now, and Shapewriter which isn't much of a use in the ihone, there is a company who also manifested this idea and it is available for the public allready. I found it in some forum a few weeks ago, and since then I am simply amazed.
It's called SlideIT, has free demos.
Here is a video for it if you like to see it in action first:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkFSGfe2NEQ
Check it out then: http://www.mobiletextinput.com/Product/SlideIT/SlideIT.php
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just saw the youtube video.
I'm not sure I like the layout of the keyboard. what's up with that "pizza pie" format?
That's a bit weird.
The added graffiti recognition feature is pretty cool.

I owned an HTC Universal too, but to be honest, hardly use the keyboard.

HI, following your comments i started evaluating the demo version of slideIT for curiosity...simply amazing, i am tempted to buy it but i will wait for the HD to make sure it works OK on 800x480. I make much fewer errors than with normal soft keyboards, and in a few trials i realized i am equally fast...i couldn't believe it myself.
Indeed, the pen is mandatory...but so what?
...anybody which had tried swype? as far as i understand, the software doesn't exist yet...

pzucchel said:
HI, following your comments i started evaluating the demo version of slideIT for curiosity...simply amazing, i am tempted to buy it but i will wait for the HD to make sure it works OK on 800x480. I make much fewer errors than with normal soft keyboards, and in a few trials i realized i am equally fast...i couldn't believe it myself.
Indeed, the pen is mandatory...but so what?
...anybody which had tried swype? as far as i understand, the software doesn't exist yet...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, both shapewriter and swype don't exist for WM yet. If you own an iPhone you could get a free copy of shapewriter on iTunes.
I'm wondering what is swype waiting for. We've all seen the software being used on videos on youtube. So what's with the delay of the release?

meckah said:
Nope, both shapewriter and swype don't exist for WM yet. If you own an iPhone you could get a free copy of shapewriter on iTunes.
I'm wondering what is swype waiting for. We've all seen the software being used on videos on youtube. So what's with the delay of the release?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I find it really frustrating. I've had a tablet pc for several months now and the only thing I find problematic is data input.
Shark was around years ago, but they pulled it to go commercial with ShapeWriter (you can't get hold of the old Shark beta software anymore).
Swype has obviously been around in beta for quite some time as well, but again not for the public. In the demos, I'm sure I've seen it running on windows mobile.
I took a quick look at slide it, but personally, I'm only interested in the slide input and SlideIt seams to have put too much effort into the "three input methods". I'm more interested in the realestate being dedicated to a single input method with large buttons.
Also I get the feeling that swype/shapewriter have better algorithms for "sloppy" input.
Finally, SlideIT is Windows Mobile only. I want a common input method on my tablet and my PDA.
I do wonder if both camps are holding back while thier legal teams sort out where they stand on patents etc.
Just my thoughts...
Zuber

pzucchel said:
...just add it!
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/keyboards/keyboard/devices/3848&cl=US,EN
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you manage to get Divo Mini Logitech keyboard to work with the HD?
If it does that wiould be the perfect combination for me. Hopefully you can balance the HD on the cover as well.
Comments would be greatly appreciated!
CAlli

pzucchel said:
...just add it!
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/keyboards/keyboard/devices/3848&cl=US,EN
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you manage to get Divo Mini Logitech keyboard to work with the HD?
If it does that wiould be the perfect combination for me. Hopefully you can balance the HD on the cover as well.
Comments would be greatly appreciated!
CAlli

calli said:
Did you manage to get Divo Mini Logitech keyboard to work with the HD?
If it does that wiould be the perfect combination for me. Hopefully you can balance the HD on the cover as well.
Comments would be greatly appreciated!
CAlli
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Calli, the comment is very simple: nobody here has a touch HD yet!
...anybody who has tried the dinovo mini on a diamond to comment? i am sure it could be a good proxy...

Good point. Got carried away in anticipation!
Calli

[REQ] Swype's new keyboard technology

is there anyone knows where can i get this superb technology to install it to my touch pro as shown in the video?
http://cnettv.cnet.com/swype-new-keyboard-technology/9742-1_53-50003669.html

wow i wonder if it really works like that or its just for the interview
i wanted! lol

dude i had this keyboard before and it was so confusing.
i hated it so i uninstalled

bstylz911 said:
dude i had this keyboard before and it was so confusing.
i hated it so i uninstalled
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mind share with us the download link, so we could test it out?

yes yes download link

SlideIT and www.shapewriter.com
I haven't tried SlideIT, but I have been using shapewriter for awhile. Only downside is that shapewriter isn't recognized when using a few 1 or 2 apps.

SlideIt
I tried the Shapewriter beta when it came out for WM. I went and bought Slideit as it is much better. It has a mini graffiti and it easily learns words and you can turn off the recognition mode for passwords and other spcecial needs. I am running this on a Kaiser and use the KB all the time and now I rarely use it. Not sure I would even worry about a qwerty kb again with this app.

OK I TAKE MY COMMENT ABOUT SHAPEWRITER BACK
i reinstalled it into my phone and WOW lol
its really easy to use.
i think everything should try it out

any free software available?

Awesome
I am the slowest typer/texter ever. So I just purchased the ShapeWriter and it is worth every penny.
I think this is the second best thing ever created, next to toilet paper.

It's nice, but unusable for me, because I usually write in Czech!

new version should support xT9 and I've found ShapeWriter with czech t9 from sunny soft -> PM

Yeah... English, but how the **** will they port it to other languages? Import whole dictionaries or what... lol.

kiay said:
is there anyone knows where can i get this superb technology to install it to my touch pro as shown in the video?
http://cnettv.cnet.com/swype-new-keyboard-technology/9742-1_53-50003669.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this software isnt out yet. if you go to their website you can read all about it.

I'm really interested to see how swype will work... I've signed up so I get notification when its out

I downloaded ShapeWriter and its working on my unlocked Fuze. I paid $19.99 for it.

[Q] Swype on the Xoom?

Anyone hear if the Xoom will have Swype? Or if it doesn't use Swype, can it be installed?

Botero said:
Anyone hear if the Xoom will have Swype? Or if it doesn't use Swype, can it be installed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I buy it on launch day (leaning towards I will, but holding out on whether the bootloader is locked or not) I will let you know. I'm in the Swype beta program, so I'll try the apk and see what I get.

I'm in the Beta as well. I doubt the version that runs on our phones would port over. I certainly hope they're working on a Honeycomb version.

$10 the XOOM won't ship with Swype (since it has a clean Honeycomb install). That said, I wouldn't be surprised to see:
a.) Somebody port Swype over to the XOOM.
b.) Swype create a tablet-friendly version of its keyboard that XOOM users will be able to install.
I'm none too excited about Swype on the XOOM, however - the Honeycomb keyboard looks great, and if the Galaxy Tab was any indication, Swype just wasn't meant for tablets (at least not in its current iteration - see option b).

Motorola and Google, I'm sure, will offer the Swype dev team some decent incentives to push for a Honeycomb friendly version.

I though about that but even if this doesn't have swype I think id still be fairly satisfied with the on screen keyboard. The gingerbread keyboard is awesome, I'm sure the honeycomb will be even better.

I think Swype will be going out of business on tablet platform with the new Swift Key keyboard that was launched yesterday at the Honeycomb event by Google. No way can typing with two thumbs be beaten using the current approach that Swype has.
That said, I absolutely totally love Swype on my Samsung Vibrant and wish they come up with something just as convenient for tablets...

I tried emailing Swype to see if they would respond, but I don't expect to hear back from them. Maybe they'll show up at MWC and wow us??

nope
No Swype

Swype is not working on xoom yet, hope it will be available soon.

sarashah said:
Swype is not working on xoom yet, hope it will be available soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried the official beta myself and some not so official ones...no good

Doesn't swift key have a tablet version ready?

colourfuze said:
Doesn't swift key have a tablet version ready?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have swype on my galaxy tab. not as big a form factor as the xoom, but it works fine there. I am picking up a xoom today and will see if i can copy over the version i have on my gtab and get it to work.

I Got Swype Modified for G Tablet that works Great. Flawless for me. Maybe it works on other Tegra Tabs. It was in the apps Section in the G Tablet forums of XDA. you guys can try that

i downloaded slideIt and it seems to be working. i prefer swype, but until they get it working, this is better than nothing.
my observations so far:
1. it's a lot easier to type in portrait - the keyboard is just too wide in landscape.
2. i bought a stylus for the xoom, and i love how that works in general, but especially with the sywpe/slideit keyboards. text entry is so fast. added bonus - no fingerprints!

lanternca said:
i downloaded slideIt and it seems to be working. i prefer swype, but until they get it working, this is better than nothing.
my observations so far:
1. it's a lot easier to type in portrait - the keyboard is just too wide in landscape.
2. i bought a stylus for the xoom, and i love how that works in general, but especially with the sywpe/slideit keyboards. text entry is so fast. added bonus - no fingerprints!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What stylus did you buy? How's the Xoom responding to it? I've been thinking of buying a stylus when I get a Xoom, but don't know which one I should get, haha. Thanks!

HorsexD said:
I Got Swype Modified for G Tablet that works Great. Flawless for me. Maybe it works on other Tegra Tabs. It was in the apps Section in the G Tablet forums of XDA. you guys can try that
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesn't work ty for the idea though.

I'm not sure about sype... But Swiftkey is supposed to have a swipe keyboard for Xoom by April I believe... I believe there is a YouTube video of them demo'ing the keyboard.

I'm also interested to hear what stylus you use. I had one with my ipad that was borderline terrible.
Typed this with SlideIT, works great.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App

I bought it at best buy...
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Targus+...504600&skuId=1151337&st=ipad stylus&cp=1&lp=2
As for the stylus, I think it works pretty well. for whatever reason, sometimes it doesn't recognize a soft key press, but otherwise, it works well. It works really well with slideIT in portrait mode. I think the soft rubbery tip really helps (as opposed to the some styluses (styli??) that have a harder tip.
Also, this is where I really appreciate android's double-tap to zoom in. works well in browser and maps so i dont have to use double fingers to zoom.

Mouse support

Is there ANY way to get a mouse working with the xoom?
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA Premium App

Dont Believe so. I hope they figure it out

I'm sure there will be, froyo has it for goodness sake!!!
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App

Have a look thru the kernel config and see if it was built with that option.. I must be losin my memory thru lack of sleep or something.. can't remember the name..
CONFIG_INPUT_MOUSE=y
Some other stuff might be needed as well. But as you can tell, that one is the 'biggie'

bluetooth mice worked no problem on galaxy s with froyo - would have thought it'd be easy to get mouse support on a xoom?

Lothaen said:
bluetooth mice worked no problem on galaxy s with froyo - would have thought it'd be easy to get mouse support on a xoom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So does it actually give you a typical mouse arrow?

Yeah I think so.. You can usually see the mouse cursor when choosing to select text in the browser. But that's on gingerbread... so.. I don't know. I think one of the problems I've had both on my grab and a touchsmart tx2 running ubuntu is that screen rotation makes the mouse position -> screen position a little crazy! Up is left and down is right and so on.

Lothaen said:
bluetooth mice worked no problem on galaxy s with froyo - would have thought it'd be easy to get mouse support on a xoom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think thats a feature of touchwiz not Android.

Paradox5582 said:
So does it actually give you a typical mouse arrow?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes it does.
it was on a custom rom too - Darky if I am not mistaken - so not sure if its a feature of touchwiz or that rom.......

[DISCUSS] Best software keyboard

Hey guys, i came from the Motorola Milestone, and the only thing i miss about it is the hardware keyboard, and its taking me a bit to get used to the software keyboard on the play.
I was wondering if anyone could suggest a better software keyboard from the market i could download?
Thanks

jlukek89 said:
Hey guys, i came from the Motorola Milestone, and the only thing i miss about it is the hardware keyboard, and its taking me a bit to get used to the software keyboard on the play.
I was wondering if anyone could suggest a better software keyboard from the market i could download?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Get in on the Swype beta.

i have always struggled with android keyboards so much so i hate texting now.
that's from about 5 android devices, the iphone one was fine but android sux for keyboard.

Swype my friend, Swype.

+1 for Swype.

I'm a little on the fence with swype.
I do a lot of swapping between that and swift.
I think after using swype for a day or two I miss typing the old fashioned way !
If you try swype & don't get on with it then give swift a try, it learns prediction really well & is probably fastest keyboard I've used for typing on Android.

Tried loads, always come back to Swype.
The only reservation is that it is in the longest Beta phase that I have ever experienced and so is not properly licensed. That means that you have to keep re-installing it when the temporary Beta license expires.

Swype all the way.
Sent from my R800i using XDA App

DeadlyDazza said:
I'm a little on the fence with swype.
I do a lot of swapping between that and swift.
I think after using swype for a day or two I miss typing the old fashioned way !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can still type the old fashioned way with Swype as well.