Database Users

Android keyboard swipe down to hide

So I normally use the HTC_ime but until a new one comes out with speech I'm using the stock keyboard.
This is totally stupid so if you all know don't bash me- but swiping down from the "t" to the spacebar will close the keyboard, just like better keyboard does. Beats the back key any day.
I've had android since the day it came out and didn't know that.

Yes and swipe left to right brings up the voice command.

Wow you guys are geniuses! I didn't know both of these commands xD. Thanks!

thanks for that T down swipe, I didn't know that and it's been bugging me bad

Nice! Didn't know either of these as well. Definitely useful.

Thanks the for T swipe down. I used to love to be able to hide my keyboard on the hero, so it's handy to know I can do it with the stock keyboard.

Haha, wow, was this always true? Ive had android also since before it came out(although there was no soft keyboard then) and I usually use better keyboard but I never knew, now I wanna know how long that its worked for.

Not sure how long that's been available. Since I had to use the stock keyboard I also learned that to save words to the custom dictionary you long press the word to save. Simple but with the HTC its just a simple press. Weird it took me so long o realize that. I can actually live win using the default android keyboard. And even better, with manups nextheme its the best looking one too.

djnutz said:
Not sure how long that's been available. Since I had to use the stock keyboard I also learned that to save words to the custom dictionary you long press the word to save. Simple but with the HTC its just a simple press. Weird it took me so long o realize that. I can actually live win using the default android keyboard. And even better, with manups nextheme its the best looking one too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just tried on my hero and Dream the KB goes down with swipe.

Doesnt matter where you swipe down from as long as its on the keyboard "dosent have to be T"

yep, swipe down it works anywhere.

I didnt know either of those...either, Very cool thank you. Since swiping can bring up voice how can I get my comma button back? The microphone button (formerly MY comma button) now seems redundant...

Amazing, I would have never known!

The swipe across was in the manual, but I was wondering if it would work with the HTC_ime?

I would LOVE to get the comma back. Its a simple little thing but bothers me everytime I have to make a list or actually send an email (or more writing than a simple text).

Either disable the voice input in the kb settings (replaces the 'mic' key with the comma again) or long press dot.....

wow, I've used android for as long as it's been available and never knew this.

sixstring said:
Either disable the voice input in the kb settings (replaces the 'mic' key with the comma again) or long press dot.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only problem with this that it is it switches it off completeley - would be useful to have swipe for voice input AND the comma key

Yeah, comma on the keyboard and swipe to activate voice would be ideal.............

Redant said:
Only problem with this that it is it switches it off completeley - would be useful to have swipe for voice input AND the comma key
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are right, of course. I got used to long pressing dot and selecting comma from the pop up....

auto contact recognition in dialer

One thing I miss from my windows phone was the ability to open the dialer and start typing a contacts name using the dialer keypad and having it auto sort for the contact. are there any apps that add this feature?
I want to just hit the phone button then start typing the contact on the keypad and have it bring them up rather than going to contacts, then searching then choosing the contact, then choosing to call them,..

When you open contacts, you can hold the menu key down for a couple seconds, which brings up the keyboard. Then you can start typing a contacts name, and it starts narrowing down the list.

That's a start thanks. I am only two day into android and have many tricks to learn. Would still love to see it work in the dialer as well though.

zjchaser said:
That's a start thanks. I am only two day into android and have many tricks to learn. Would still love to see it work in the dialer as well though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What you're hoping for only works in SenseUI. Being new to Android, you just need to remember that different OS' do things differently. You'll get used to it soon, and it'll become second nature for you.

That was a bummer for me too, so I've opened a thread yesterday on this ... the best solution I found was using aContacts from marketplace.. it's very good and configurable.
It wont work keeping the menu pressed for showing the keyboard and looking for a contact in the Dialer screen. @uansari1, have you tried that? or are you speaking just by "knowledge" ?

uansari1 said:
When you open contacts, you can hold the menu key down for a couple seconds, which brings up the keyboard. Then you can start typing a contacts name, and it starts narrowing down the list.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can actually use a similar trick, in any app, including right on the home screen. Just press the search key, and start typing the contacts name. No need to open Contacts first.
zjchaser said:
Would still love to see it work in the dialer as well though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why do you need it to work in the dialer? What's the difference?

alithenake said:
That was a bummer for me too, so I've opened a thread yesterday on this ... the best solution I found was using aContacts from marketplace.. it's very good and configurable.
It wont work keeping the menu pressed for showing the keyboard and looking for a contact in the Dialer screen. @uansari1, have you tried that? or are you speaking just by "knowledge" ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have only tried using the keyboard in the Contacts screen, not the Dialer screen. I have my most frequently called contacts set as favorites, and calling non-favorites from time to time isn't a big deal for me.

uansari1 said:
I have only tried using the keyboard in the Contacts screen, not the Dialer screen. I have my most frequently called contacts set as favorites, and calling non-favorites from time to time isn't a big deal for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Holding menu won't work, but pressing search will (on the dialer screen)

SpyderMS said:
Holding menu won't work, but pressing search will (on the dialer screen)
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Click to collapse
Ok... all I said was holding menu will work in CONTACTS. I don't use the dialer screen unless I'm calling a number that's not in my Contacts.

zjchaser said:
I want to just hit the phone button then start typing the contact on the keypad and have it bring them up rather than going to contacts, then searching then choosing the contact, then choosing to call them,..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can try aContacts (free) from the market. It has this T9 dialpad that search the contacts and you can set it up to open this T9 when open the app. You can also customize the T9 a lot, check the settings in aContacts.

SpyderMS said:
You can actually use a similar trick, in any app, including right on the home screen. Just press the search key, and start typing the contacts name. No need to open Contacts first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 This is a great feature, I can dial from any home screen (essentially)

Alternatively.
Long click on the search even on the home screen and it starts voice recognition.
Just say your contacts name or something like "Directions to Castle Street"
God this phone never ceases to amaze..

ok a couple things. I tried out acontacts, cool idea but it doesn't work with exchange contacts so it it doesn't do anything for me, hopefully later it will handle all phone contacts.
holding menu to bring up the keypad in contacts works well but its annoying that it doesn't clear the text input after you select the person because the next time you go into contacts you then have to bring up the keyboard and delete the text you typed in.

A Few Questions...

1) How do I put a shortcut on my Homescreen which links to the combined mail box? I can only see how I link to one mailbox (Also, can I have gmail in the combined mail box?)
2) Is there no vibration mode? I hold down power on my Hero I could flick it into vibration only. The N1 just has silent?
3) Has anyone ported over the 'people widget' from SenseUI? I used to love having them on my homescreen. Maybe there's a suitable replacement on the market?
4) Does no-one else use comma when texting?!?! Why do I have to go to additional characters to use a comma. I must use 2 or 3 each text!
5) In the news widget, how do the custom topics work? I would love US sports news (I'm in the UK) or more specifically NFL news. How can I set that up?
6) Does the N1 have no support for Groups in Contacts? If I create a contact I can't seem to assign it to a group? Also, I can't view or text people in a group Again, maybe there's an 'app for that' on the market?

AndyCr15 said:
2) Is there no vibration mode? I hold down power on my Hero I could flick it into vibration only. The N1 just has silent?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With the phone unlocked lower the volume to the mininum and voila, vibration mode
If you press the volume down again in vibration mode, you silence the phone.
AndyCr15 said:
4) Does no-one else use comma when texting?!?! Why do I have to go to additional characters to use a comma. I must use 2 or 3 each text!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try to install Smart Keyboard, the comma is a stand-alone key in that keyboard.

AndyCr15 said:
4) Does no-one else use comma when texting?!?! Why do I have to go to additional characters to use a comma. I must use 2 or 3 each text!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you don't use the voice input stuff, disable it, and you will see the comma where the mic icon was on the default keyboard view/layout.
AndyCr15 said:
6) Does the N1 have no support for Groups in Contacts? If I create a contact I can't seem to assign it to a group? Also, I can't view or text people in a group Again, maybe there's an 'app for that' on the market?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Technically, you can organize your contacts into groups and this is done via your gmail account. The phone however displays them only alphabetically, though you can choose which groups to include. They are searchable though.

AndyCr15 said:
1) How do I put a shortcut on my Homescreen which links to the combined mail box? I can only see how I link to one mailbox (Also, can I have gmail in the combined mail box?)
2) Is there no vibration mode? I hold down power on my Hero I could flick it into vibration only. The N1 just has silent?
3) Has anyone ported over the 'people widget' from SenseUI? I used to love having them on my homescreen. Maybe there's a suitable replacement on the market?
4) Does no-one else use comma when texting?!?! Why do I have to go to additional characters to use a comma. I must use 2 or 3 each text!
5) In the news widget, how do the custom topics work? I would love US sports news (I'm in the UK) or more specifically NFL news. How can I set that up?
6) Does the N1 have no support for Groups in Contacts? If I create a contact I can't seem to assign it to a group? Also, I can't view or text people in a group Again, maybe there's an 'app for that' on the market?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
2) Once in silent mode, hit volume up once. There's also a couple i click wigets on the market to turn on vibrate mode.
4) press and hold the . key, it'll bring upa popup with common symbols.

If you don't use voice input (i don't) then disabled it in the keyboard settings. You'll get a comma instead of the microphone

AndyCr15 said:
4) Does no-one else use comma when texting?!?! Why do I have to go to additional characters to use a comma. I must use 2 or 3 each text!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can long-press the period and other punctuation will popup, including the comma.

AndyCr15 said:
5) In the news widget, how do the custom topics work? I would love US sports news (I'm in the UK) or more specifically NFL news. How can I set that up?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tap on the news widget to bring up the news "app". Then tap on menu, settings, news settings, select news topics, custom topic and enter your own search string. While you are there, uncheck any news topics you don't need or want.

Ahh, cool. I didn't know that was an actual search term, I thought it was just a title. I've added NFL and also Android and it works awesome, thanks.

Good idea on Android as a search term. I also added "Nexus One" and that has been helpful, though often it is "old news" compared to what I read on this forum by the time I get around to browsing it on my phone...

what about editing the lock screen so that when you slide the bar on the right, instead of going into silent, it goes into vibrate?

android keyboard

I must have done something wrong. I can not find the way to switch from the standard keyboard to the android keyboard anymore when making text messages. Could I have incidentally uninstalled something? If so, how to reinstall ??
Any suggestions?
Thank you !

Go into Messages... as if you are gonna type a a new message...
Where you normally type press your finger down and hold for few moments and it should bring up a menu to change keyboard types...

[Q] google keyboard question

Hi, does anyone know how to advance to a new line using the google virtual keyboard? I think it's call "carriage return" and skips to a new line for continued typing.
I figured out on the slide out key board that holding the ALT and hitting Enter, skips to the next line without sending the text. But, can't see a feature on the touch keyboard.

It seemed to work fine by just pressing enter. BUT i'm using this keyboard.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=624416
To get it just download the Froyo 2.2 edition, unzip the files, and install both apk files onto your device using the astro or whatevery file manager you want. Then in setting change the keyboard.

ddgarcia05 said:
It seemed to work fine by just pressing enter. BUT i'm using this keyboard.
To get it just download the Froyo 2.2 edition, unzip the files, and install both apk files onto your device using the astro or whatevery file manager you want. Then in setting change the keyboard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I agree, on the Keyboard hitting <enter>, while composing an email, will advance to a new line, but hitting <enter> while composing an SMS will send, unless you hold <alt> first then hit <enter>.
Just wondering if you can line advance while using the touch-keypad as there is no <enter> button. It gets replaced by the smiley face when in the messaging app.

ddgarcia05 said:
It seemed to work fine by just pressing enter. BUT i'm using this keyboard.
To get it just download the Froyo 2.2 edition, unzip the files, and install both apk files onto your device using the astro or whatevery file manager you want. Then in setting change the keyboard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, ddgarcia05, misread your reply. I thought you said "the" keyboard, not "this" keyboard. i'll check it out. Thanks for the info.

Tiger you mean the stock keyboard or is there a "google" keyboard? I just composed a text message with both the stock and physical keyboard. When I pressed the <enter> key on both the physical and softkey it jumped to new line. It did not send the text.

my stock soft keyboard (the one with swype) Where the <enter> key is in the messaging app, there's a < > in its place - there is no <enter>. Do you have the swype active. Maybe that's it.
I took pictures of the keyboard in email and messaging. You see the difference on the same key from app to app.

I find that in the Messenger app Swype does not have an enter key or return key. Upon using the Handcent app I find that it does have a return key which will advance you one line at a time. I don't know why but on the market app Handcent Swype works differently than on the stock messaging. I like Handcent much better than the stock app. Hope this helps.

Thanks tenbeau. Lots of people seem to be recommending Handcent for texting.