Android and precision text cursor placement

[mikeymikec]

I have a HTC Desire C with Android 4.0.3. Sometimes, when I am trying to put the cursor between two letters to correct a mistake I've made that I noticed before sending a message, it activates a helpful mode that magnifies the text and makes it easier for me to place the cursor. However, 9 times out of 10, it doesn't activate this mode automatically or (more likely), there's something I ought to be doing differently to activate that mode consistently.

Do people know what I mean to begin with, and if so, what am I doing wrong?

 

[thedosbox]

The HTC keyboard has arrow keys, so I just use those for precision key placement. I think Swiftkey can also have them enabled.

 

[soccerballtux]

one of the many examples of ways that google just can't get anything right IMO
having to resort to arrow keys is pathetic!!!

 

[gorcorps]

one of the many examples of ways that google just can't get anything right IMO
having to resort to arrow keys is pathetic!!!

I've had the same problem on my iPhone, so this just seems like an asinine comment meant to start a flame war.

The Samsung keyboard that came on my S4 active had a feature that if you swiped on the keyboard it would move the cursor in that direction. It was an awesome feature, but I like swipe typing too much to give it up for just that.

 

[mikeymikec]

I don' have any arrow keys on my phone's keyboard.

 

[lopri]

It's one of the shortcomings of touch screen typing. I have yet to see a compelling solution to this common problem. Keyboards with arrow keys help, but I wish there were more convenient ways. Copy/paste is a pain, too.

 

[lopri]

To the OP: There are keyboards with arrows at Play store. Swiftkey (phone/tablet), Swype (tablet), and many others.

 

[Accord99]

I don' have any arrow keys on my phone's keyboard.

Check if you have HTC Sense Input options under Languages and Keyboard, there should be a check to enable the arrow keys.

 

[mikeymikec]

Check if you have HTC Sense Input options under Languages and Keyboard, there should be a check to enable the arrow keys.

There isn't such an option in the HTC Sense Input options on my phone.

However, I figured out how to do what I wanted to do First of all you have to make the push-pin-style marker appear by tapping approximately where you want to do precision text editing. When the marker appears, drag the marker to where you want to do the text editing, and it will magnify the text above or below the edited area.

Is this a HTC Sense thing or an Android feature?

 

[vshah]

There isn't such an option in the HTC Sense Input options on my phone.

However, I figured out how to do what I wanted to do First of all you have to make the push-pin-style marker appear by tapping approximately where you want to do precision text editing. When the marker appears, drag the marker to where you want to do the text editing, and it will magnify the text above or below the edited area.

Is this a HTC Sense thing or an Android feature?

a sense version of an android feature

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

I've had plenty of criticism for the Android method until they got things half-decent in Gingerbread and much better although I've seen the prediction cover up the pin or something like that. Anyway, however it is now in 4.x is pretty good.

The iPhone has strengths too with the magnifying glass, but fails to allow me to place the cursor in the middle of the word without having to do a long hold.

My preferred solution:

- Pin interface in Android
- Volume buttons cursor movement
- Possible arrow keys in the keyboard in an alternate screen if required?? (less critical)
- Maybe long hold with a magnifying glass?? (less critical)

I think having the volume button cursor is a HUGE plus after using some custom keyboards.

 

[AstroManLuca]

In stock Android, it gives you a little blue carat thing you can use to place the cursor, but it doesn't actually assist you in placing it precisely. It jumps around a lot and is basically a useless feature.

On iOS, if you hold down, it magnifies the area with the cursor and slows down the tracking so you can put it EXACTLY where you want it. Works really well. Windows Phone does a similar thing except it doesn't magnify. It still slows down the cursor movement so it's easier to place in a precise location.

 

[ChronoReverse]

Yeah, I like that Kii keyboard has inbuilt capability to use the volume keys to move the cursor because normally I rely on my ROM (like CyanogenMod) to do that.

The other thing I like is the Sense 4+ take on the Android pin interface where it adds magnification to the mix. Basically Kii keyboard on Sense 4+ was my ideal.

Right now since I'm not on an HTC phone, I have to forgo magnification (but it's not too bad since the GS4's screen is big).

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Yeah, I like that Kii keyboard has inbuilt capability to use the volume keys to move the cursor because normally I rely on my ROM (like CyanogenMod) to do that.

The other thing I like is the Sense 4+ take on the Android pin interface where it adds magnification to the mix. Basically Kii keyboard on Sense 4+ was my ideal.

Right now since I'm not on an HTC phone, I have to forgo magnification (but it's not too bad since the GS4's screen is big).

I wish Kii gave the option to change the volume key interface. The interface on Smart Keyboard Pro and some other keyboards was reverse (Vol Up = right, Vol left = cusor left). So I end up using Kii but with CM's volume controls for the keyboard because CM lets you choose vol up = right or left and vice versa for vol down.

 

[mikeymikec]

On my wife's HTC Android 2.x phone, she just needs to press on a word and it activates the magnifier.