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Hi all,
I had an idea for a better keyboard for the streak, but I can't find any step-by-step walkthroughs for making android keyboards. If there's one available, let me know and I should be able to tackle this.
If not, I think the streak needs a split keyboard. Imagine the left half of the keyboard on the left third of the screen, the right half on the right third, and a big numpad/d-pad in the middle third. When I'm typing in landscape mode, I know I'd appreciate minimizing my thumbs' reach.
Any takers? Or good keyboard making tutorials?
-- David Z
+1
I thought the same thing when i first got my streak.
Sent from my Dell Streak using XDA App
Great Idea!
If someone does make one you should add settings so you can control where the DPAD is, so you could make it like the original Dell Keyboard too!
I'm guessing you've not tried swype then?
Sent from my Dell Streak using XDA App
While we're on the subject of thumb reach, might I suggest a portrait keyboard with more keys on the left/right side, so you don't constantly mis-type those O's and P's as a leftie (for example), when using the streak one-handed?
I was thinking of a real multitouch keyboard.
First, you have the standard qwerty keyboard, with shift, enter en dpad buttons. A tab button would be cool too.
Second, if you tap and hold the keyboard (anywhere) and slide it to the left, on the right side it will reveal the nummeric keys, where you can input your numbers. Releasing the keyboard and it'll slide back in position. Slidng the other way around, gives other keys.
I'm dreaming of such a keyboard a long time now.
Someone?
Radddogg said:
I'm guessing you've not tried swype then?
Sent from my Dell Streak using XDA App
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Click to collapse
I'm guessing you blatantly did not read the OP's idea then?
Zelman said:
I think the streak needs a split keyboard. Imagine the left half of the keyboard on the left third of the screen, the right half on the right third, and a big numpad/d-pad in the middle third. When I'm typing in landscape mode, I know I'd appreciate minimizing my thumbs' reach.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If somebody makes this, I will personally buy them a drink
I love the Streak, but my thumbs don't...
Hi guys- I don't know of any tutorials, but basically you need to create a custom IME (that's the term used by Android SDK). There is an android SDK example for creating an IME I believe. Also, here is the source code for a Latin keyboard IME someone made:
http://android.git.kernel.org/?p=platform/packages/inputmethods/LatinIME.git;a=summary
+1 to the initial idea.
Myself and my office mate were just discussing UI's and both of us agreed that a split keyboard option would make the streak far more ergonomically friendly and probably speed up typing.
BTW, for mocked up examples of what we are talking about see:
http://blog.laptopmag.com/wpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/google-tablet-1.jpg
http://wp.appadvice.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/4309481995_5bc3276d61_o.png
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/4/2010/01/ss_dialkeys_horiz_520.jpg
I would really love to see a keyboard like this!
Dell's 1.6 stock keyboard makes good use of the additional space instead of just making the buttons ridiculously large, but it really should be symmetric.
With smartphones getting larger and tablets on the rise it's high time for new keyboards, so I think not only the Streak would benefit from it!
All thumbs up for the idea!
Here's an idea: find a developer and start up a kickstart for this... Perhaps we could post this to the general android development forum.
Basic Version
Hey all,
Here's a basic version. It's just a slightly modified version of the soft keyboard that comes with the SDK. It's only usable it in landscape mode, unless you have really small fingers.
Any thoughts/ideas/feedback? Basic changes may be within my ability. A lot of the programming is way over my head, so if anyone wants the source to do some fancy stuff, let me know.
Zelman
Zelman said:
Hey all,
Here's a basic version. It's just a slightly modified version of the soft keyboard that comes with the SDK. It's only usable it in landscape mode, unless you have really small fingers.
Any thoughts/ideas/feedback? Basic changes may be within my ability. A lot of the programming is way over my head, so if anyone wants the source to do some fancy stuff, let me know.
Zelman
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice work will give it a try
Works fine i would just prefer the buttons to be a bit bigger about double the size infact and would like the numbers on the end and not in the middle and the numbers a different colour but thats me other than that a great start thanks
Awesome! Some color / shading might help to distinguish between the letters and numbers and more easily find keys. May be its something you adjust to but i find myself having to search for letters.
Two other layout thoughts. 1) maybe stretching out the spacebar a bit. since thats a frequently pressed key it'd be nice to have it by the other letters and closer to the thumbs., 2) rearranging the numpad to have the zero at the bottom center as with a typical dialer numpad. This would require splitting the spacebar into two segments.
Just my 2 cents.
Sent from my Dell Streak using XDA App
gtg203a said:
Awesome! Some color / shading might help to distinguish between the letters and numbers and more easily find keys. May be its something you adjust to but i find myself having to search for letters.
Two other layout thoughts. 1) maybe stretching out the spacebar a bit. since thats a frequently pressed key it'd be nice to have it by the other letters and closer to the thumbs., 2) rearranging the numpad to have the zero at the bottom center as with a typical dialer numpad. This would require splitting the spacebar into two segments.
Just my 2 cents.
Sent from my Dell Streak using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can't get color to work, yet. Good idea on the spacebar(s). Check this version out.
Screenshot
Here's the current state of things (as of the build above). I'm going to look more into changing the color of the number keys, but I don't think it's really as necessary with this layout. Any and all suggestions are welcomed, and I will let you know what I can/can't/will/won't do.
Also, anyone with android programming experience who can tell me things like, "What are the image format requirements for icons like the one on the delete key?" please let me know if you can offer expertise.
Zelman said:
Can't get color to work, yet. Good idea on the spacebar(s). Check this version out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hi thanks alot for the keyboard, its amazing, only 1 bug/error or maybe its just me, as i type a text, after every fullstop, it automatically changes to capital which is good, but it doesnt change back to small case letters after the first letter has been typed, for example if i type this and then stop. IT CONTINUES LIKE THIS. hope u understand? plz help cause otherwise this keyboard would be perfect for me
kag8 said:
hi thanks alot for the keyboard, its amazing, only 1 bug/error or maybe its just me, as i type a text, after every fullstop, it automatically changes to capital which is good, but it doesnt change back to small case letters after the first letter has been typed, for example if i type this and then stop. IT CONTINUES LIKE THIS. hope u understand? plz help cause otherwise this keyboard would be perfect for me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have definitely seen the same issue. I will take a look at the source, but if anyone has the SDK and has a good eye for troubleshooting code, feel free to post hints.
Hey guys, I am left handed, and had to have most of the fingers and thumb on my left hand amputated. If you wanna know why, is because of a MRSA infection gone septic. I also lost my legs below the knee.
So, I am learning the right handed thing, and findin my HTC Pure with spb mobile shell 3.x not doing the job for me one handed.
If I can get some thoughts on a better and stable ROM I can put on my phone to make it more thumb typing friendly.
If you want to more about what happened to me, I have a blog. I dont know if moderators allow self promotion, though. So someone let me know.
Thanks!
Sorry to hear that
You could try the Else Theme. I have not tried it personally, but it definitely looks interesting and thumb friendly. The theme is based off of Throttle Launcher. So, be sure to look into that as well.
I don't think the theme has done anything special to the keyboard layout, so it may not help you with typing a text message or email, but the navigation is geared toward quick right-thumb navigation.
jSerious said:
You could try the Else Theme. I have not tried it personally, but it definitely looks interesting and thumb friendly. The theme is based off of Throttle Launcher. So, be sure to look into that as well.
I don't think the theme has done anything special to the keyboard layout, so it may not help you with typing a text message or email, but the navigation is geared toward quick right-thumb navigation.
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Click to collapse
lol... i made that theme and i have a HTC pure..
im sorry to hear about your infection...
for this particular case... i do recommend my theme and also the rom in my sig is very stable...
also for one handed opperation Swype is the best keboard to use BY FAR!!!
lemme now how it goes
Thanks for the advice, guys. Sorry I haven't thanked you sooner, somehow I am not getting notices in email when someone replies!
Off to change settings in user cp.
I have to say i don't love this keyboard and frankly it is hard to notice the diff between this and the one that was on here before i flashed GingerBlur ROM
I can't believe there's a Smiley face by default where i would prefer to have a Return key (there's not one there??)
am i missing something...what is everyone else using?
Coming from a hard kybd and having a tough time getting comfortable with the onscreen kybd still
Dillsnik said:
I have to say i don't love this keyboard and frankly it is hard to notice the diff between this and the one that was on here before i flashed GingerBlur ROM
I can't believe there's a Smiley face by default where i would prefer to have a Return key (there's not one there??)
am i missing something...what is everyone else using?
Coming from a hard kybd and having a tough time getting comfortable with the onscreen kybd still
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree, I think the gb keyboard is crap compaired to other options available. Also not really a fan of the launcher either :- (
Sent from my Nook Color on Honeycomb 1.1 OC
so which kybd are you using?
Dillsnik said:
so which kybd are you using?
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I use the new swype beta, really no complaints they made it more streamlined. Better keyboard is pretty good also. Thumb keyboard uses an interesting layout.
Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk
Have you tried using the multitouch GB keyboard from the Market aka "Keyboard from Android 2.3"? You can customize the size of the keys and the spacing. I tried to copy the dimensions of my iPhone4 keyboard spacing with it. I believe my settings are, from left to right, 85, 15, 15, 38.
Personally I use Better Keyboard. I couldn't get used to swype for typing words like too / to so I went with a multitouch. Better keyboard has better autocorrect than stock or swiftkey, so that's what I went with. Unfortunately you can't turn off the haptic feedback without getting the pay version, but oh well.
illmatic416 said:
Have you tried using the multitouch GB keyboard from the Market aka "Keyboard from Android 2.3"? You can customize the size of the keys and the spacing. I tried to copy the dimensions of my iPhone4 keyboard spacing with it. I believe my settings are, from left to right, 85, 15, 15, 38.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OMG this is so much better! Thanks.
illmatic416 said:
Have you tried using the multitouch GB keyboard from the Market aka "Keyboard from Android 2.3"? You can customize the size of the keys and the spacing. I tried to copy the dimensions of my iPhone4 keyboard spacing with it. I believe my settings are, from left to right, 85, 15, 15, 38.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i am using this keyboard and love it. how do you change the spacing? i went into the settings and under keyboard appearance every option is greyed out.
OMG....
I think I FU.. up
I did install the GB keyboard and the Multi-ling one as well...
Now I am in the situation that ALL my keyboards incl. the SWYPE keyboard have NO enter key but ALL have the "" smiley on the enter position ?????
How can I correct this????
Remove ALL keyboards? and reinstall???
To be honest I like the layout and skin on the GB board but to have no enter key is just ridiculous....???
Robert
On 'Keyboard from android gingerbread'
if you hold the space bar and pull it up, arrows will appear at the bottom which allow you to move through your text for that one letter you mis-typed.
That's great!
You don't know how to get a return key though do you? good when you need to type an address, etc
hondaguy said:
i am using this keyboard and love it. how do you change the spacing? i went into the settings and under keyboard appearance every option is greyed out.
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Click to collapse
This ^^
By the way the speech function of this keyboard is awesome
Just used it to send this message and it's flawless
I have now used GB keyboard for a few days and realizing that when you write emails the "enter" is present, when you are typing an ""action"(password, search ect.) the enter button changes to a "GO" button and when you SMS it again changes to a "" button.....
This is actually pretty cool but I still miss a hidden "enter" key on the menu?? If anybody reads this with the skills and power it would be great if the "shift" key was changing the smiley to an enter????
Otherwise this is fantastic and I will stick to this keyboard.
Robert
Thanks for the settings! Perfect!
I cant imagine this being that hard to do..Then again I cant do it so who knows.
i mainly want to see if this gives us a full screen stock keyboard in landscape when the mod that removes on screen bar and dot menu and enables the multitask button as menu is in use.
On apps that had the virtual menu bar it makes the keyboard not use up the area in which the menu bar was located..Here's a photo example(notice the right of the keyboard)
this is from the one x forum:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1612558
arodey said:
this is from the one x forum:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1612558
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
trust me,i looked before posting this..The file on that link doesn't work.I removed and pushed to my system and set appropriate permissions.The phone just wouldn't recognize it at all.
I am looking for an HTC IME mod keyboard like I used on my evo. No arrows, but obviously not the correct resolution. If I posted it here from pc when I have access, would someone be able to resize it? I have searched, and only Smart Keyboard Pro comes close, but not close enough. It is worth mentioning that I use the "phonepad" keyboard exclusively. It is just an apk that I can download to an unrooted phone without pushing this, or pushing that. I downloaded the one that I have, but like I said, wrong resolution. Thanks
Sent From My Righteous EVO 4G LTE
According to this post http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=27166138 chameleon Rom has an option to remove it. Maybe take the htcime from that Rom and replace yours. Or ask the dev how he did it if that doeant work
This module permanently disables prediction/autocomplete/completion bar within SwiftKey keyboard.
Future versions/updates of SwiftKey might break this mod. Tested working agains versions 5.0.1.87, 5.0.2.4, 5.0.3.26, and 5.0.4.93. EDIT: No longer true as of v0.2 which should be futureproof.
Disable SwiftKey Prediction is available from Xposed Module Repository (source).
It also disables flow. Is that suppose to happen?
- Sent from my Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk because the XDA app sucks.
sharkie405 said:
It also disables flow. Is that suppose to happen?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is because whole prediction is disabled and flow depends on it. Solution for using flow would be only hiding the bar (while prediction/completion would still work) but I have no real intention for this as I don't use it and to get rid of all prediction effects, disabling it fully is still required. Maybe Suggestions Toggle would work better for you (but I don't use flow so I don't know...).
@moneytoo thanks for the mod. Now its perfect.
Anyway to make long press space to toggle keyboards like Google stock keyboard?
I'm just curious but why did you want to create this mod? Prediction is the main attraction of SwiftKey. I mean, otherwise I would use any other keyboard. Just wondering and no offense meant.
marbertshere said:
I'm just curious but why did you want to create this mod? Prediction is the main attraction of SwiftKey. I mean, otherwise I would use any other keyboard. Just wondering and no offense meant.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I want a nice looking black/dark keyboard (the stock one on my S5 is light). My primary language is Czech which (thanks to Czech declension) can never work as good as in English. I do not write texts anyway - I use it mainly for entering urls in browser so I prefer not to waste screen space as I want to see more search suggestions in browsers (or addresses history) etc.
I hate to be one of those people that asks irrelevant things in a thread, but since you are familiar with the inner workings of the Swiftke.apk, I figured you might be able and willing to help. The one thing I dislike about swiftkey is the auto-space feature that it has. Meaning after you type in a word, it automatically adds a space after. This is a huge pain in the butt when it comes to entering passwords and usernames. Do you know what file(s) in the apk would be responsible for this behavior? I could probably figure out how to change it, I just don't know where to look.
- Sent from my Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk because the XDA app sucks.
marbertshere said:
I'm just curious but why did you want to create this mod? Prediction is the main attraction of SwiftKey. I mean, otherwise I would use any other keyboard. Just wondering and no offense meant.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i thought the same when i saw this thread. that is pretty much the whole point of the keyboard (and flow for rapid typing), unless you only use it swiftkey for colorful themes lol, there are far better keyboards than swiftekey if you're only interested in themes. IMO
but you can disable the annoying automatic word correcting as i mention below (which is an annoying) while still keeping the prediction bar (which is very good just to use as spell checker too).
sharkie405 said:
I hate to be one of those people that asks irrelevant things in a thread, but since you are familiar with the inner workings of the Swiftke.apk, I figured you might be able and willing to help. The one thing I dislike about swiftkey is the auto-space feature that it has. Meaning after you type in a word, it automatically adds a space after. This is a huge pain in the butt when it comes to entering passwords and usernames. Do you know what file(s) in the apk would be responsible for this behavior? I could probably figure out how to change it, I just don't know where to look.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that only happens (i think) if you have "complete the current word" or "always insert a prediction" selected in settings >advanced>spacebar completion mode. i have mine at "always insert a space" and ironically it doesn't insert a space only when you select a word from the prediction bar.
you can keep the prediction bar enabled and stop auto prediction and adding a space (where words are automatically corrected in input field you didn't want) by selecting the option i mentioned above.
tft said:
that only happens (i think) if you have "complete the current word" or "always insert a prediction" selected in settings >advanced>spacebar completion mode. i have mine at "always insert a space" and ironically it doesn't insert a space only when you select a word from the prediction bar.
you can keep the prediction bar enabled and stop auto prediction and adding a space (where words are automatically corrected in input field you didn't want) by selecting the option i mentioned above.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No it still happens, this is how I have it set and it still auto spaces which is annoying.
moneytoo said:
This module permanently disables prediction/autocomplete/completion/prediction bar within SwiftKey keyboard.
Future versions/updates of SwiftKey might break this mod. Tested working agains versions 5.0.1.87 and 5.0.2.4.
Disable SwiftKey Prediction is also available from Xposed Module Repository (source).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For 1 whole year I regularly contacted Swiftkey and asked to fix this they never fixed it, issue is Swiftkey is taking COPIED text as TYPED text. It should take typed words only (this is big reason behind inaccurate/unneeded word prediction). Could you do something about it?
Below is the email i wrote to Swiftkey:
There is one ANNOYING feature I found in Swiftkey. I checked this twice thrice and informing you. The problem is: Saving the words what we type is good but BAD/WORST part is, it also saves the words when you just copy text from other sources for example: Copying random text or paragraph from webpages, Ebooks and Documents. Those text are NOT TYPED by the user and those words get copied to internal dictionary of Swiftkey which I don't like to be predicted while I type. I copy some stuff from webpages to read it later but it doesn't mean that I like all the words in that copied text and it should not add in internal dictionary of swiftkey. Please fix this ASAP.
P.S. I have English and Hindi language packs installed. Experiment yourself. Just copy the below words in text file and save it. I would never use the below words ever. While typing, long press on the below words and hit 'Do not predict again'. It will not predict. But when you open the text file you saved and select and copy those words, they will simply added to the dictionary of Swiftkey and you'll see them come across while you type.
Words:
chateau chatman chatham zuzana zyban zuma zu beau beaune beauregard
i always wanted to use Swiftkey because it looks good, but i hated the fact you can't turn prediction off. THANK YOU.
there is one minor bug though. the keyboard size gets messed up after changing the screen rotation. it ends up being either too tall or too short?
using it on stock-ish Note 3.
zmfl said:
there is one minor bug though. the keyboard size gets messed up after changing the screen rotation. it ends up being either too tall or too short?
using it on stock-ish Note 3.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It seemed to me kinda weird one time I rotated it with keyboard opened... I see it now and will check it.
moneytoo said:
It seemed to me kinda weird one time I rotated it with keyboard opened... I see it now and will check it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
tnx, i hope you can fix it
I thought it was the obfuscated method name but it is still the same. Seems like this was caused by later versions of SwiftKey - my two months old version is ok. So it's either waiting whatever new version will fix that or go through changes within apk and attempt to fix "their" bug. I will probably try in the next few days but no promise - it's really low priority for me.
thanx
thank you so much, i hated that bar. Finally. I don't know why they don't offer that option. They have that option in ios. It makes me angry how unthoughtful people are.
Swift Keyboard Rotation Bug
I absolutely love this mod mixed with the fact that you can change the size of keyboard. Both of these combined allow me to go landscape and still be able to see conversation while typing. Same bug though when I rotate it resizes to all sorts of weirdness. Would be like the greatest thing ever if you could fix. I know you said low priority but I would soooo donate if u could figure out.
This Mod disables "Quick Period with double tap spacebar" as well. I reckon that is not supposed to happen.
not working on 5.1.0.60
this mod doesn't work for me anymore on the new version 5.1.0.60
Great fix but unfortunately doesn't seem to work on latest version of SwiftKey, tried to downgrade to 5.0.5.95 but can't install previous version somehow .. Waiting for some update mate