Database Develop

Thumb-friendly keyboard (PocketCM alternative)?

PocketCM is good, but I'm looking for something better. Even though PocketCM doesn't require a stylus, I'm still having a horrible time typing with it.
What I'm looking for is a thumb-friendly, on-screen keyboard that'll take advantage of predictive text to allow larger buttons. Something like the Blackberry Pearl keyboard (1 or 2 letters per key), or even the traditional phone pad (with 3-4 letter per key) would be enough.
Anyone have a suggestion?

cootek touchpal is the best i've tried.
its all over these forums should be easy to find

Johnston411 said:
cootek touchpal is the best i've tried.
its all over these forums should be easy to find
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! Searching now.

Here's the link to Cootek Touchpal, its the best http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=334437

Did you spell it right? A search revealed nothing...
**EDIT
Got link, thanks!

Thanks for the recommendation! It works great!
Three questions:
1) Is this free until December, when I'll have to register it?
2) Is there any way to move the space button to the center (and why is it on the left in the first place?)
3) What is "precise" mode supposed to do?

Flapjack said:
Thanks for the recommendation! It works great!
Three questions:
1) Is this free until December, when I'll have to register it?
2) Is there any way to move the space button to the center (and why is it on the left in the first place?)
3) What is "precise" mode supposed to do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hold down the spacebar and drag to the middle and it'll move
precise mode appears to take away predictive text so you have to rely on finger slides to get the right characters.

gadgetluva said:
hold down the spacebar and drag to the middle and it'll move
precise mode appears to take away predictive text so you have to rely on finger slides to get the right characters.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the tip. I tried precise mode after I posted an it was horrendous.
I'm still getting used to the program. There are a few things I don't like about it:
1) It takes up a lot of screen space. I would like to see a smaller key option
2) It doesn't always remove itself from the screen when you leave a text area
3) There is no way to spell words efficiently, for example:
I wanted to type "download". I enter "down", but as soon as I hit the "L" button, the letters "down" change to something else. You have to accept "down" as the word, backspace over the space that is automatically entered, then finish the word. PITA.

It's not for one thumb but Spb Full Screen keyboard is the best I've used. I actully don't use the Kaiser keyboard and type 3 times faster with Spb. Also try Tengo its a one thumb kb with big keys.

Touchpal is nice ive used it before.. Im still waiting for PocketCM to release a newer versions as i had some issues with the current version..
As for another one, I flashed my Tilt to the AKU cooked rom thats floating around the forums and there is actually a SIP that is a phone pad that supports T9 input and I find it very handy and works well for one handed operations!

Touchpal is the best in my opinion. Once you get the feel of it you can really type fast.
Yes a slight reduction in hight would be good. I suggest if they half the height of the top row which contains the various options we could benefit with some more screen real estate.

try to go to the htc asia website and download the official phone pad from HTC! I really find it useful!!

where can i get Spb Full Screen keyboard ?

gimini said:
where can i get Spb Full Screen keyboard ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here;
http://www.pocketgear.com/en_US/htm...Page=searchResults&id=prod5702026&sf=48190044

thank you. you guys are always so fast to help

If you buy the PRO version you can do that
This is the website:
http://www.cootek.com/index.html
srmz said:
Touchpal is the best in my opinion. Once you get the feel of it you can really type fast.
Yes a slight reduction in hight would be good. I suggest if they half the height of the top row which contains the various options we could benefit with some more screen real estate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

What about Resco Keyboard ?

Flapjack said:
Thanks for the tip. I tried precise mode after I posted an it was horrendous.
I'm still getting used to the program. There are a few things I don't like about
1) It takes up a lot of screen space. I would like to see a smaller key option
2) It doesn't always remove itself from the screen when you leave a text area
3) There is no way to spell words efficiently, for example:
I wanted to type "download". I enter "down", but as soon as I hit the "L" button, the letters "down" change to something else. You have to accept "down" as the word, backspace over the space that is automatically entered, then finish the word. PITA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah it is a slight learning curve, but once you get used to it it'll be the best sip out the there! I got the same thing when trying to spell download, but after spelling out by using the sliding function, it showed up everytime when using the predictive mode! it just takes a little getting used to!

Well, now that I've been using it for a while, I have several big problems. I don't know who to blame (M$ or Cootek), but here they are:
1) The program will only work if I use it in conjunction with sipchange. Once I do that, I cannot select any other keyboard. They come up in the choice list, but if I select them, nothing happens. So I'm stuck with it. If I'm using the stylus, I prefer the standard windows keyboard, which is why this is an issue
2) The program does not go down and stay down. Unlike the standard windows keyboard, TouchPal is always popping up in your face. It drives me nuts, as I only seem to actually need it 1/4 of the time it decides to pop up. It seems to take 2-3 times minimizing it for it to finally stay down... and when it does, it can pop up again for absolutely no reason.
3) It may be the most the most intuitive keyboard, but it's still not very "finger-friendly". I don't consider myself to have unusually large hands, but I still cannot reliably hit the right key every time, even when I'm careful. Another thing it will do is detect a capital letter (diagonal motion) when I very clearly touched it without a swipe. Not sure why this is...
I'm still in search of something better....
princeasi said:
yeah it is a slight learning curve, but once you get used to it it'll be the best sip out the there! I got the same thing when trying to spell download, but after spelling out by using the sliding function, it showed up everytime when using the predictive mode! it just takes a little getting used to!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

gabriel31337 said:
What about Resco Keyboard ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm curious about the same thing. I love the Fx mode that the Resco keyboards offer.

How often do you use the qwerty keyboard?

I hear some people almost never use the qwerty keyboard and just use the numkeys with t9 instead.
So, how often do you use your qwerty? Do you use it at all?

I use the keyboard a lot. If I need enter more than one word, I use the qwerty. I write many lines of notes, IM... Now I dont wait until I come to computer and reply to mails imidiately. It's really useful for me.
(Maybe you could make a poll. )

lots
I use mine everyday. Got free sms's every time i load my sim so i type a lot and spam all my m8's hehehe

moneytoo said:
I use the keyboard a lot. If I need enter more than one word, I use the qwerty. I write many lines of notes, IM... Now I dont wait until I come to computer and reply to mails imidiately. It's really useful for me.
(Maybe you could make a poll. )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I should make a poll. Is there a way to create a poll now or is it too late?

ventipi said:
I should make a poll. Is there a way to create a poll now or is it too late?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thread Tools -> Add a Poll to this Thread

moneytoo said:
Thread Tools -> Add a Poll to this Thread
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you, a poll is added. Let the voting begin!

Me. I hate numeric keypad with T9 - vote for keyboard! 1+

I disabled the XT9 garbage (it was so annoying with the qwerty). The keyboard is why i bought the phone.

It's good though having the phone pad for quick input. I used to have a Wizard and hated having to slide the keyboard out every time I needed to input something (I know there's a soft keyboard on PPC but they're far too fiddly!).
One other thing I like about the Wings QWERTY keyboard is that you can access most of the secondary keys by a long press instead of having to press the Fn key first. I thought it only applied to the number section but discovered by accident that it works on all keys with an alphabetical base key.
All I need to do now is work out how to map different function keys - I use '&' a lot but having to press Fn+Sym, then navigate the symbol grid is a pain.

I have same problem. I am spanish and I use spanis characters that can only be found in Symbol screen... and it takes too much time!. Any way to make shortcuts?

****ing Never
I use the Resco Keyboard Pro.

Does Resco Kb Pro works for Smartphones? I have only found it for PPC... and idea where I cand find it? How does it solve the problem?
Thanks indeed!

tintinxp said:
Does Resco Kb Pro works for Smartphones? I have only found it for PPC... and idea where I cand find it? How does it solve the problem?
Thanks indeed!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah there must be a version for smartphone. Surely. Check a search. for sure.

zcink said:
yeah there must be a version for smartphone. Surely. Check a search. for sure.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
and how it's work without touchscreen ?????

dacoon said:
and how it's work without touchscreen ?????
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah your'e right need a ****in stylus. sorry went brain dead there.

There should be a way to redefine little blue simbols in keyboard buttons so I cand obtain spanish accent or spanish N instead of, i.e, ; or whatever.
Any other idea?
Thanks for your try, anyway...

sometimes i type fast and then the keyboard cant catch up with me. its really annoying. why cant the stupid processor not keep up with the input?? i also noticed that while im typing fast, some letters are missing.
does this happen to you too??
is there any solution?

I really didn't notice that; I am not very fast typing... my problem is that I can not type with XT9 while I am looking to the screen to ensure that the word choosen is the word that I want to writte... well, I can, but it's a very slow procerss.
This is ehy I like to writte with ABC, but having the option to input spanish characters in a fast mode ...

zcink said:
yeah your'e right need a ****in stylus.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is that a special kind that you insert somewhere?

Stop screen keyboard from opening automatically

Argh! its one of those annoyances that pisses me off lol.
Every time I enter a text field screen keyboard pops up covering half of the screen.
How do I stop it? I want it to open only when I click on it.

..........

Out of curiosity, are you using the standard keyboard or Pocket CM, resco ect?

Standard, the one that comes with Dutty's v4. It has a Touch skin, but I think it's standard keyboard.
If there's an answer somewhere - please point me in the right direction.. I searched and didn't find anything (it's kinda hard to phrase this one)

Sorry. Don’t have any answers for you. I was asking just to keejp note just in case a similar problem occurred with my Kaiser. I have an original non flashed rom by the way, so it probably won’t be a problem with me.

246810 said:
Sorry. Don’t have any answers for you. I was asking just to keejp note just in case a similar problem occurred with my Kaiser. I have an original non flashed rom by the way, so it probably won’t be a problem with me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you will.
It's not a bug, it's a feature.. and it comes standard with every ROM I've seen (WM5+). Most people won't have a problem with it, but if I type something, I use hardware keyboard.. so on-screen keyboard pop-up is useless for me.

ummm... well it hasn't been a problem with any of the two MDA touch's, MDA vario II, or two MDA Vario III's I've had in the last few months... Fingers crossed it'll stay that way....

I would also like to see a solution

I vaguely remember a blank-sip or none-sip program exactly for this purpose. You could make it the default. Maybe PHM made it, try searching on the web.

I like the option of using the SIP sometimes, but most of the time I don't want it. It seems like once you use it once, it thinks you want it all the time, until you use the hardware keyboard again. How hard would it be to just let me click on it when I want it. Jeez!

a blank SIP is an option in this free program: http://www.phm.lu/products/PocketPC/PowerToys/

Blank SIP is a solution, but not a very good one. When I do want to use screen keyboard, I'd have to snipe that little arrow to open SIP selection, then find what I want and click it. Wait for it to load...
It'd be easier if it just wouldn't pop-up when cursor is in the text field. There's probably a setting somewhere..

Try this....
DarkDvr said:
Blank SIP is a solution, but not a very good one. When I do want to use screen keyboard, I'd have to snipe that little arrow to open SIP selection, then find what I want and click it. Wait for it to load...
It'd be easier if it just wouldn't pop-up when cursor is in the text field. There's probably a setting somewhere..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try these registry settings that worked for me. When I used to open a new document with ms word or go to the address bar in PIE the sip used to pop up but not after applying these settings. After import .reg file or changing them manually you will need to soft-reset.
It now only pops up when i select rename file in resco explorer. But I can live with that.
Hope this helps...
diigibio (diigimatrix)

Some programs call it automatically. It's the way they're coded. I would think there wouldn't be a way to suppress the on-screen keyboard without disabling it entirely.

ugoff said:
Some programs call it automatically. It's the way they're coded. I would think there wouldn't be a way to suppress the on-screen keyboard without disabling it entirely.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only other way to do this is to go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ControlPanel\Sip and change "AllowChange" from 1 to 0 and then soft-reset. However as you say this will disable it fullstop. So the only way you could enter info is either at the dialer (to call someone) or by using the slide out keyboard. To re-activate change the 0 back to a 1 at the above registry key.
diigibio

What tasks do you need a stylus for?

All the videos I've seen show the UI being used with the finger? Are there any every day tasks that you can't do using the TF3D UI? I fully accept that 3rd party apps may require the stylus as to some obscure settings under WM so I'm really after any every day type tasks.
TIA

to be honest, I never use the stylus anymore!

Thought that was an ear cleaner lol

Hamudi2000 said:
to be honest, I never use the stylus anymore!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The same here!!!

Yea.. ever since I got the Cruise, I hardly used the stylus!
Same thing with the Diamond. Only for scribbling notes...

I use the stylus on the diamond quite a bit actually...mainly because even with all those tweaks to tf3d...its still a bit laggy imo ie when i go to close programs from the task manager i use the stylus...sometimes i just find it easier to use than say my finger....not quite used to the touchscreen with my fingers.

Soft-reset!

i think in the week and a half i have had this thing, i've only used the stylus for soft resetting as chainfire has said, and occasional letters on the full qwerty where i hadn't aligned the screen properly.
i find that after a bit of practice, youcan do pretty much anything on this thing with your fingers or in my case a thumb, the touchflo seems to allow for a little inaccuracy in that regard

I use it to click on those really teeny buttons like the X and task manager.
sometimes it just gets frustrating, on one hand they call it a TOUCH diamond and yet the user interface is not *as* consistent as it should be for full finger input only.

styluslessness...
Im the same, ever since Ive had the Ameo ive not really used the stylus on phones, the more i dont have the use it the better.
The touchflo3D does make things alot easier and alot of it seems to make sense how the ui works, rather than having to revert back to the standard windows mobile interface. All it needed was bigger buttons! Now theres a thought! hehe.
So far, touch diamond = all good!

Chainfire said:
Soft-reset!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WTF is with the really difficut to reach soft reset button?
And from using Mark's one for about 10 minuted, I didn't need the stylus once, and thats pretty amazing considering I used my stylus loads on my Elfin.
Rory

Chainfire said:
Soft-reset!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If thats aimed at me then ive soft resetted the phone a good few times. Its not as laggy as it was before the tweaks to tf3d...the tweaks really did help but i have absolutely no qualms about using the stylus to make my way around the phone.

I use the stylus when i need to get somewhere quick.
Eg
- i need to make an urgent phone call to someone who isnt in my recent call list, Using your finger you'll probably dial someone else by mistake
- To send a text message quickly, without messing around deleteating letters and correcting the T9.
- For navigating outside of touch flow.
Its a great phone, but the screen sensativity isnt great, and to be honest its inconsistant - better in the middle, and worse at the sides. So its too easy to select the wrong thing. Especially in touchflo when scrolling etc.

I use it for pretty much all text entry - emails, SMS, notes, etc.

athanaso77 said:
The same here!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually I try to use the stylus whenever I can cuz i hate fingerprints on the screen.. yuck.

Diamond novice needs your help... PLS!!!

After having a Touch a few months back, i thought the Diamond would be a breeze. NO such luck in my experience.
For example. On the main home screen. How do you edit that so it's just the clock or, to add more to the list that currently shows calendar and call history? I can't find any way to do this so if you can enlighten me, i'd really appreciate it.
What about when texting? Is there any way to make the keypad a different size? Personally i can't find a way to edit that. It's annoying that after adding your contacts name, you seemingly have 90% of the screen filled with the entry system and you have to mess about to get to the message section of the screen. Guessing i've missed something somewhere!
Zooming in on a photo... how is that done? Orange's CD ROM User Manual is vague to say the least so if you can assist here to, please do.
This thread could become a handy hints and tips chart for beginners if all feedback is good so if you have a question or some simple advice for settings and the way to go around things, chuck a note in and someone will be very happy to see the reply

1) Well if u flick ur finger in an upward motion on the home screen u'll notice the clock becoming smaller and will list all the list all ur appointments from ur calendar...
2) If u are not satisfied in the HTC Keyboard, u will need to look into other keyboards my fav personally is Touchpal from Cootek and there is even resco keyboard which is pretty gud.
3) You can only zoom in a picture when u r in the HTC Album, in order to zoom you will need to rotate your finger clockwise or anti-clockwise i am always forget which is for zooming so u will need chk tht out...
I hope these tips helps u out....

whitefalcon said:
1) Well if u flick ur finger in an upward motion on the home screen u'll notice the clock becoming smaller and will list all the list all ur appointments from ur calendar...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
not all the appointments....

KukurikU said:
not all the appointments....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmmmmm, i see. Shame that somehow we can't take the good things from the Touch like the Home screen as standard and have them in the 3D instead. If any cab compilers are reading this, maybe it's something that could be done?
Along those lines, maybe someone could rip out the original texting keyboard, the smaller more compact one... better for stylus use and enables you to see more screen. I HATE the big finger pad they've put on the Diamond. Is is really necessary to have it that big? Surely if you're going to use the stylus (i mean if HTC didn't want us to use one, then ALL the functions and menus would be larger, yes?), then why provide us with one in the first place?!?!!

TheShowStopper said:
Hmmmmmm, i see. Shame that somehow we can't take the good things from the Touch like the Home screen as standard and have them in the 3D instead. If any cab compilers are reading this, maybe it's something that could be done?
Along those lines, maybe someone could rip out the original texting keyboard, the smaller more compact one... better for stylus use and enables you to see more screen. I HATE the big finger pad they've put on the Diamond. Is is really necessary to have it that big? Surely if you're going to use the stylus (i mean if HTC didn't want us to use one, then ALL the functions and menus would be larger, yes?), then why provide us with one in the first place?!?!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are multiple SIPs already built into the Diamond. Holding your finger or stylus on the small arrow next to the keypad button when input is allowed will display the menu, from there you can select the Windows SIP which is tiny and stylus friendly...
Reading the manual is a good idea before posting dude. Or even a search

dickenz said:
There are multiple SIPs already built into the Diamond. Holding your finger or stylus on the small arrow next to the keypad button when input is allowed will display the menu, from there you can select the Windows SIP which is tiny and stylus friendly...
Reading the manual is a good idea before posting dude. Or even a search
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well thanks for that reply. I'll have a mess about with that one.
That took no time at all. NO WINDOWS SIP on my handset. All i have are the following... BLOCK, COMPACT, FULL, KEYBOARD, LETTER, PHONEPAD and TRANSCRIBER *sigh*
What bloody version have you got?!?!!
Oh and for the record Mr Read-The-Text-Provided (lol)... did i not say this? ---> Orange's CD ROM User Manual is vague to say the least so if you can assist here to, please do.
Hmmmmm, i think i did!
Ok... answer this one then. Every other HTC phone i have had has done this but not on the Diamond. When you receive a simple thing like an mms or a text, the screen lights to give a clue in case you never heard the message laert. How you you activate THAT cus i'm not seeing how it'ds done anywhere.
Clues please?

I agree - the 'manual/instructions' Orange sent were non-existent and as a first time PPC user I was totally lost until I had a nosey around here and to be fair am still learning all what this phone can do!

TheShowStopper said:
Well thanks for that reply. I'll have a mess about with that one.
Ok... answer this one then. Every other HTC phone i have had has done this but not on the Diamond. When you receive a simple thing like an mms or a text, the screen lights to give a clue in case you never heard the message laert. How you you activate THAT cus i'm not seeing how it'ds done anywhere.
Clues please?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Install Diamond Tweak, which is available here... http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=409540
and that gives you the option to enable this feature. (along with tons of other tweaks to!)
Hope this helps!

AGxM said:
I agree - the 'manual/instructions' Orange sent were non-existent and as a first time PPC user I was totally lost until I had a nosey around here and to be fair am still learning all what this phone can do!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh i can answer what it can do for you in one simple phrase mate. It can screw ya head up!
HTC want a good kicking if you ask me. The thing as I see it is this. If they'd have kept the basics as it was on the Kaiser (Tytn II) and THEN added the 3D, all would have been superb.
As for Orange... well, nuff said

tomchap said:
Install Diamond Tweak, which is available here... http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=409540
and that gives you the option to enable this feature. (along with tons of other tweaks to!)
Hope this helps!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cheers for the help there dude. One slight problem that springs to mind.
The 'light handset upon a text arriving' comment i made... what the HELL would that tweak come under?!?!! lol

TheShowStopper said:
Cheers for the help there dude. One slight problem that springs to mind.
The 'light handset upon a text arriving' comment i made... what the HELL would that tweak come under?!?!! lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It comes under 'Wake on New Sms'
A wee bit of advice, there are loads of people on here who will always be glad to help, but the tone of your posts is not one which will make folk jump to help you

bonsaiboyz said:
It comes under 'Wake on New Sms'
A wee bit of advice, there are loads of people on here who will always be glad to help, but the tone of your posts is not one which will make folk jump to help you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for that chap. My tone? Oh well if i've offended anyone then i apologise. I'm just a bit jumpy when things don't go according to plan and my comments come over as slightly abrasive when in fact, they're supposed to come over as a normal question but in a jokey type manner. I get that in a face to face sitation to so i know exactly what you're saying.
Again, thanks for the reply though. Much appreciated