Ever since I got my G Tablet, I have been scouring looking for the best overall keyboard. I use Swype on my phone, but had trouble getting it to work properly on my tablet. For a while, I found that SlideIt worked fine for me. Then, I tried Gingerbread Keyboard, Thumb keyboard, NI Keyboard (Notion Ink), and finally seemed to setting in on SwiftKey.
SK has become my daily keyboard of choice, but today I stumbled upon one I haven't seen mentioned on the board yet. It's called FlexT9 and it's a bit of a hybrid keyboard. You can type normal (tap and tap), you can slide type (like Swype), it has Speech to Text, AND it has handwriting recognition. Each option can be changed on the fly very quickly.
I found the swype features to be excellent overall, and I really like the predictive text not being so intrusive. The Speech to Text may be the most impressive part of the whole package. It does whole sentences very well. Fixing errors is very easy as well, as you just double tap a word you want to delete or replace and it will select the entire word and display similar words as well. The handwriting recognition was what I was actually hunting for when I found the app. It's decent, but not fast enough for what I was looking for.
The app costs $5, but can be found free in various places. I plopped down my $5 for this one, making it one of the few I've actually paid for (paid for Swift Key when it was on sale, hoping I don't have to re-buy when Honeycomb is released).
In any case, thought I'd recommend this one.
Here's the AndroidTapp.com review of the app:
http://www.androidtapp.com/flext9-speak-trace-write-tap/
I will add that this worked on both my phone (HTC Hero) and my tablet. I loved that the tablet predictive text box did not block the text input area in most apps like some keyboards do.
This is a great keyboard combination. What I like most about it is the highly accurate voice to text transcription feature.
Nothing on the Ipad2 works this way including Dragon search/dictate.
Charlie
I purchased this, it's exactly what I've been looking for. However, I can't get it to work. When I get the message about security, I select OK, but the check next to FlexT9 Text Input, remains unchecked. Any suggestions?
btw...I'm running a stock gtab.
lbkimbro said:
I purchased this, it's exactly what I've been looking for. However, I can't get it to work. When I get the message about security, I select OK, but the check next to FlexT9 Text Input, remains unchecked. Any suggestions?
btw...I'm running a stock gtab.
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Click to collapse
I don't believe the stock settings allow you to enable other keyboards. They show up, but don't allow you to check the boxes. Other ROMs support this (like Vegan), but not the ones based on the stock ROM (like TNT).
If you are rooted, you can use Root Explorer and do a manual work-around.
1. Install the keyboard app
2. Open ROOT EXPLORER app and navigate to DATA/APP folder.
3. Copy the APK of your keyboard device you want to add
4. Go back to the main directory, then navigate to the SYSTEM/APP folder.
5. Click the button on the top right that says MOUNT R/W (Mount to Read/Write)
6. Paste APK file into this directory
7. Click MOUNT TO R/O to return to read only mode.
8. Repeat if you have multiple keyboards
9. Once you are done adding keyboards, reboot your device. Those keyboards should now be enabled in your SETTINGS.
This is the procedure for TNT and Stock based ROMs. Hopefully this works for you as well.
You may also want to do some searching for other potential work-arounds for adding keyboards.
Looks like I might have just found the first thing that my gtab can't do, that I want it to do, "out of the box".
I've avoided rooting it again, but maybe I'll have to re-think that. I rooted it the first day that I got it, but just didn't like my tablet looking like a phone on steroids. I might I have to learn to get over that.
Thank you for the information.
You don't necessarily have to change your ROM and the way the tablet looks to be rooted. Rooting itself doesn't change anything about the device besides giving you root access to the device.
Hi there what do you mean by saying rooted?
thanks
Hi guys. This is my first post! I recently created an account with XDA becasue i LOVE the work and information i get and how everyone gives each other a hand Hope this hasn't been posted befrore!... I recently downloaded the droid x multi touch keyboard on my evo. When i installed a message came up saying that the app can store passwords and credit card numbers Has anyone had any issues with this? Is this really an issue? I currently use it for texting and convert to stock keyboard when inputing personal information. I would like to use my new keyboard comfortably. Thanks!
That happens when you install any keyboard, its a precaution in android itself, because android doesnt know whether its the well known, trusted multi touch keyboard, or a keyboard filled with virus. You could install a keyboard made by google, and it would still say that.
I was playing with App Inventor and noticed something odd. In App
Inventor there is a component that is an orientation sensor. Now obviously, the tablet knows its orientation. However, that component doesn't seem to work. I didn't get my other tablet out to test it yet, but I assume this mostly works on other platforms. So do we know if this thing has an orientation sensor reported to the OS?
Although I have actually developed "regular" Android apps before, I wanted to see how far I could push App Inventor and since I've replaced my old tablet with the gTablet it was the guinea pig.
I worked around it, by the way, by looking at the screen dimensions and assuming that if they flipped, the tablet had been rotated. That's all I cared about anyway was portrait vs landscape.
If you want to see the result (freebie on the market):
https://market.android.com/details?id=appinventor.ai_al_williams.Pushy
Truthfully, nothing special about it being on the gTablet, it was just what I happened to develop on. I will say, it is about the largest thing I've seen done on App Inventor and I would NOT want to do anything bigger. I really think this would have been faster to just do in Java, but the whole point was to push App Inventor.
I have an HP bluetooth keyboard (made for some HP tablet, but works fine for typing) that I use on my KFHD7. I know that when my kindle was running 7.2.3 the extra buttons on the top of the keyboard designed to work with the HP tablet worked (like volume up, volume down, lock screen, ect.) but that recently they have stopped working. Some other keyboard shortcuts have also stopped working (like alt+tab to switch between recent apps). I attributed this change to the update of my KFHD7 to 7.3.0, but I'd like for someone else to confirm this.
In short, I would like to know if anyone else uses a bluetooth keyboard and upon updating to 7.3.0 if the behavior of the keyboard changed. I would also like to know if there is any way for me to get the old features back (alt+tab is really the one I miss most).
Also, for developers running 7.2.3, I was thinking that since the recent apps button on the KFHD7 was turned into a favorites button instead, if by using some sort of alt+tab function it could enable some sort of recent apps button? I really have no idea on this as I don't have any sort of coding experience, and I have limited knowledge about android systems. But I thought I might as well make a suggestion.
Thanks in advance!
I thought I would give the stock keyboard a chance as I usually use SwiftKey on my note 2. I thought it had improved until I tried SwiftKey again and realised how much better it is still.
What are your thoughts on Samsung stock keyboard?
Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk
I did the same but SwiftKey is so much faster no matter how you use it. That and the multiple language support is fantastic!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk
The samsung keyboard is like a big iphone keyboard. Can't long press for captions or symbols smh... What's the point?
I find a make so many more spelling mistakes with the stock keyboard. It's a shame really.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Made a post about this in another section. . I've tried so many keyboards recently, and over the course of many years.. Swipe was awesome when phones were only 3.7-4-3" .. it still is kind of neat , but frankly I never seem to use swipe. So swiftkey was for me as well.. bought it a long time ago and used it as my primary keyboard for the past many phones.
Recently I saw someone post another keyboard recommendation,. Called Kii Keyboard. Its pretty much the best of all worlds, what I love about it, its super easy to customize. So its like Swiftkey in everyway, but more custom options,.
Advantages of Swiftkey?
I've not used Swiftkey since I had the SGS1.
What's the advantage over Swype?
I have used Swype since the 1, and as my 5 arrived today, first thing i did after uninstalling the Optus bloat was to add Swype.
It is one of the few apps I've actually paid for
Stovemeister said:
I've not used Swiftkey since I had the SGS1.
What's the advantage over Swype?
I have used Swype since the 1, and as my 5 arrived today, first thing i did after uninstalling the Optus bloat was to add Swype.
It is one of the few apps I've actually paid for
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Click to collapse
Both SwiftKey and the Samsung keyboard also support swiping now.
The advantage of SwiftKey is you can use the swype style if you want, or you can do regular typing without spaces and it'll work out what you are writing. The latter technique is way faster and more accurate than swyping in most cases, and you can still swipe if you want as well!
I have been using swift key since the galaxy s2 and never looked back. Every time I use another keyboard I always wish it was swift key. When I first got my s5 I used the stock one for a little bit and was making mistakes left and right and the predictions were not very good.
Anyone that I have recommended swift key to loves it as well.
Sent from my SM-G900T using xda app-developers app
Samsung licenses Swiftkey
Samsung Keyboard is actually "SwiftKey (TouchType Limited)" edition that has been themed for Samsung.
PROOF: Go to SETTINGS | LANGUAGE AND INPUT | SAMSUNG KEYBOARD SETTINGS (gear icon) | PREDICTIVE TEXT | PRIVACY POLICY
Takes you directly to.... drum roll.. SwiftKey site and lists the privacy policy for the software Samsung licensed.
The reason I point this out is that other than some big theme changes, the engine for prediction (when fully enabled) is SwiftKey. To reduce my memory footprint, even though I own SwiftKey that I'd purchased back when I used an S3, I've not installed it again. That said, I've used both.
Baring the themes and the cloud service to sync your predictions to your multiple devices, performance should be identical.
Granted, it's well hidden, but here's how to unlock more of the Swiftkeyness (sp?):
1. Go to SETTINGS.
2. Go to "Language and Input".
3. Click on the settings icon for "Samsung Keyboard".
4. Note, you can add more input languages (scroll down as you need the additional languages list).
5. Click on "Predictive Text".
You can now learn from Facebook, Gmail, Twitter, Messages and so on to improve the predictions. This is part of the Swiftkey magic, to learn from the services you use.
6. Go back to Samsung Keyboard Settings.
7. Click on Keyboard swipe.
Interesting, one of the selections (default) is SwiftKey Flow. A further indication that it's licensed from SwiftKey.
Granted two significant features are missing, but I've actually come to like the extra row of keys for the numbers. Just wish Samsung would license the full product so that themes would be possible.
So, in summary, if you haven't purchased SwiftKey yet try enabling all the additional prediction features to get a closer experience to the full SwiftKey product. If the keyboard theme is not to your liking, then the full product version is entirely worth it.
I own it and I want to see SwiftKey continue to do well, but if you are also concerned about memory resources and the theme is not a problem then enjoy the built-in SwiftKey (TouchType Limited) or "limited freebie".
SeaFractor said:
Samsung Keyboard is actually "SwiftKey (TouchType Limited)" edition that has been themed for Samsung.
PROOF: Go to SETTINGS | LANGUAGE AND INPUT | SAMSUNG KEYBOARD SETTINGS (gear icon) | PREDICTIVE TEXT | PRIVACY POLICY
Takes you directly to.... drum roll.. SwiftKey site and lists the privacy policy for the software Samsung licensed.
The reason I point this out is that other than some big theme changes, the engine for prediction (when fully enabled) is SwiftKey. To reduce my memory footprint, even though I own SwiftKey that I'd purchased back when I used an S3, I've not installed it again. That said, I've used both.
Baring the themes and the cloud service to sync your predictions to your multiple devices, performance should be identical.
Granted, it's well hidden, but here's how to unlock more of the Swiftkeyness (sp?):
1. Go to SETTINGS.
2. Go to "Language and Input".
3. Click on the settings icon for "Samsung Keyboard".
4. Note, you can add more input languages (scroll down as you need the additional languages list).
5. Click on "Predictive Text".
You can now learn from Facebook, Gmail, Twitter, Messages and so on to improve the predictions. This is part of the Swiftkey magic, to learn from the services you use.
6. Go back to Samsung Keyboard Settings.
7. Click on Keyboard swipe.
Interesting, one of the selections (default) is SwiftKey Flow. A further indication that it's licensed from SwiftKey.
Granted two significant features are missing, but I've actually come to like the extra row of keys for the numbers. Just wish Samsung would license the full product so that themes would be possible.
So, in summary, if you haven't purchased SwiftKey yet try enabling all the additional prediction features to get a closer experience to the full SwiftKey product. If the keyboard theme is not to your liking, then the full product version is entirely worth it.
I own it and I want to see SwiftKey continue to do well, but if you are also concerned about memory resources and the theme is not a problem then enjoy the built-in SwiftKey (TouchType Limited) or "limited freebie".
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Click to collapse
Whether this is true or not, SwiftKey performs so much better with more precise key presses and less mistakes. Samsung need to perform some sort of better key calibration imo.
Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk
simacca said:
Whether this is true or not, SwiftKey performs so much better with more precise key presses and less mistakes. Samsung need to perform some sort of better key calibration imo.
Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
I do not disagree that the ability to load a theme on SwiftKey that has a better keyboard layout and key size is fantastic.
The best thing for Samsung? License the keyboard themes from SwiftKey so that we can choose a better layout without having to install another product.
SwiftKey still makes money on each phone sold, or at least that would be the prudent method to license, so even if this reduced SwiftKey purchases they'd make great money if the Samsung Keyboard mirrored even more SwiftKey customizability.
simacca said:
I thought I would give the stock keyboard a chance as I usually use SwiftKey on my note 2. I thought it had improved until I tried SwiftKey again and realised how much better it is still.
What are your thoughts on Samsung stock keyboard?
Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
Am not a fan of Samsung stock keyboard. Am also using an application for my keyboard.
swiftkey for the win!!
simply because it synchronizes all your data and you have the same keyboard no matter what device you will have in the future instead of having to relearn everything..
As has been pointed out the Samsung keyboard is Swiftkey. Adapt it more to your liking in the keyboard settings. If you have used Swiftkey on a previous device and setup a cloud account it will be faster as it has already learnt from your typing. The Samsung Keyboard gets better over time. Also, the Samsung Keyboard has shortcut texts keys for the numbers. Long press a number to insert text. I like this alot.
for example -
Long Press 1 - I'm in a meeting, cant talk , will call you back as soon as possible
TouchPal is not a bad option although the subscription model sucks. Kii Keyboard lacks the ability to learn from Facebook etc.
I have to say that my main issue with the Samsung keyboard is the lack of symbols on the main keyboard which allows for quicker typing and the fact it takes up so much damn screen space with no option to resize.
Any of you never gave a shot to google keyboard? You can enable swipe typing on it. And it's better (for me) at predicting new words than both swiftkey and sammy's. It feels like good old swype when it was fast (even faster).
I love Swiftkey but it drives me nuts that it doesn't always give me the option to "learn" some of the various words I use. I really wish it would let me manually add words to my dictionary. Because sometimes when I type something, it does not show me what I'm typing up top. The three choices it gives me are totally not what I'm typing, so I can't add the word.
And would be even sweeter if I could give some words a priority rating, like "high" or "medium" or "low".
And as I'm typing, Swiftkey will move the correct predictive word from the middle, over to the left, just as I'm about to click on the prediction. Drives me nuts.
CZ Eddie said:
I love Swiftkey but it drives me nuts that it doesn't always give me the option to "learn" some of the various words I use. I really wish it would let me manually add words to my dictionary. Because sometimes when I type something, it does not show me what I'm typing up top. The three choices it gives me are totally not what I'm typing, so I can't add the word.
And would be even sweeter if I could give some words a priority rating, like "high" or "medium" or "low".
And as I'm typing, Swiftkey will move the correct predictive word from the middle, over to the left, just as I'm about to click on the prediction. Drives me nuts.
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Click to collapse
did you link it to your google account?
that is the whole point of swiftkey...that it learns....and that you can sync it across various devices
mine has everything learned, like my address...when i type in the street number, the street name, etc pops up as a choice next
eyecon82 said:
did you link it to your google account?
that is the whole point of swiftkey...that it learns....and that you can sync it across various devices
mine has everything learned, like my address...when i type in the street number, the street name, etc pops up as a choice next
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Click to collapse
Yes, it's linked to my Google. I've been a SwiftKey user for two-three+ years now.
And no, it does not learn everything.
But yeah it knows my address and so many other things, which is why I love it.