Swiftkey Beta released for Android

[Bateluer]

http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/14/swiftkey-beta-brings-new-keyboard-world-class-predictive-text-t/

The software and language engineers at Swiftkey have been toiling on this app for the past two years, and at long last, it's being made available for precisely nothing to anxious Android users. Hot on the heels of Swype's own beta, the Swiftkey beta is now available to download directly from the App Market, and once installed (along with language packs of your choice), it can be used in place of your stock Android soft keyboard. We've never been the biggest fan of Google's factory keys, and while we still feel that Swiftkey's letters are a tad on the skinny side, it's definitely an improvement. But that's not where the magic's at -- this software has an uncanny ability to guess what your next word will be, and it actually looks at your prior SMS list (if allowed) in order to "learn" how you converse. In our early tests, we're pretty darn impressed, and yes, it's definitely worth the $0.00 price tag. Get your download on right now, or hop past the break for a video demonstration if you still need convincing.

Installed it earlier. Normally, I cannot stand predictive text. Its annoying as hell, changes my words, and reduced my typing speed and accuracy because I constantly have to retype things. However, Swiftkey seems to be decent and if it learns like they say? Either way, I mostly like the keyboard layout, though the space bar could be longer and the other keys on that row made smaller. I constantly hit the period key when I intend to hit the space, do it on every virtual keyboard.

I wish it didn't mess with the settings for the Droid's hard keyboard though, the DX's multi touch keyboard did this too, annoyed the hell out of me. Swiftkey doesn't seem to be multi touch though. The hard keyboard is still faster for me though for the moment.

 

[JS80]

wow @ the comments "goodbye swype" i'm trying it now

 

[Spoooon]

Pretty cool so far. I find myself fighting the urge to type the complete word manually.

 

[Bateluer]

Its pissing me off, making typing with the virtual keyboard extremely painful. I have to verify every word I type, make adjustments constantly, and reread anything I type before I send/post/whatever it. On top of that, it also screws up the hardware keyboard on the Droid the same way. Uninstalling.

 

[Glitchny]

Its pissing me off, making typing with the virtual keyboard extremely painful. I have to verify every word I type, make adjustments constantly, and reread anything I type before I send/post/whatever it. On top of that, it also screws up the hardware keyboard on the Droid the same way. Uninstalling.

This is EXACTLY what I did. It kept changing things I didn't want changed and then I'd have to go back and verify. And it being active on the hardware keyboard was enough for me to uninstall.

 

[vshah]

way worse than swype. uninstalled after a day of trying it out.

 

[JS80]

This is EXACTLY what I did. It kept changing things I didn't want changed and then I'd have to go back and verify. And it being active on the hardware keyboard was enough for me to uninstall.

It's looking like this so far. I'm going to give it a full week though before I go back to swype.

 

[Bateluer]

In my view, a virtual keyboard program shouldn't touch any settings or have any effect on the hardware keyboard, if available on the phone. I liked the Droid X's multitouch soft keyboard, but it jacked all the settings on the hard keyboard and gave no options to configure it. To be expected in that case though, as it was an application designed for a phone that doesn't have a real keyboard.

 

[tdawg]

Its pissing me off, making typing with the virtual keyboard extremely painful. I have to verify every word I type, make adjustments constantly, and reread anything I type before I send/post/whatever it. On top of that, it also screws up the hardware keyboard on the Droid the same way. Uninstalling.

I was part of the alpha test group and had the same issues. Tried it for a week and then went back to the default android keyboard. Very annoying to have to verify each word I type if it's not the one the prediction algorithm was expecting.

 

[SunnyD]

Just installed it, like it better than stock on my MyTouch. The stock keyboard was having problems sensing the P key, but seems like swiftkey is a bit more accurate and sensitive to keypresses. I don't care much about predictive capacity, so I don't use it. Guess it's a good alternative since I can't find a swype apk anywhere.

 

[Spoooon]

I just went back to the HTC keyboard.

edit: Funky behavior on the phone since I installed it.

 

[foghorn67]

Keys are shaped and arranged differently. Got to used to the Android stock keyboard. I am fatthumbing everything under the sun.
Un-installed. Why did they make such a drastic change? Shit like this should be seamless.

 

[finbarqs]

yeah i'm trying out swype right now, can't say I'm better at it than the stock EVO keyboard. Evo I can be a lot faster than swype...

 

[tatteredpotato]

Guess it's a good alternative since I can't find a swype apk anywhere.

Even if you have the swype APK I think you need an account to install it. If not I can send you the APK (I think it's still on my phone).

The only thing I don't like about swift key is that it doesn't seem to be multi-touch, which really can slow me down.

 

[notposting]

Tried swiftkey but the hardware interference on my droid made me go back to Smart Keyboard Pro for now.

 

[notposting]

Whoops double post

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

I'll keep to Swype for now. Thanks for the headsup though OP. Always open to new options!

 

[JS80]

Swiftkey is getting a lot better...can't decide if it's faster than Swype. Definitely a lot more potential. Now if they can combine features and call it Swyftkey...

 

[Dangerer]

I didn't get in on the swype beta so i'm using swiftkey and I gotta say its pretty damn good...... miles better than the stock android keyboard

 

[tommo123]

tried it, but it's annoying and way slower than swype.

back to swype

 

[Demo24]

In my view, a virtual keyboard program shouldn't touch any settings or have any effect on the hardware keyboard, if available on the phone. I liked the Droid X's multitouch soft keyboard, but it jacked all the settings on the hard keyboard and gave no options to configure it. To be expected in that case though, as it was an application designed for a phone that doesn't have a real keyboard.

Did someone port over that keyboard? I had a feeling someone would but I've kind of been out of the loop so I dunno where one finds that.

 

[murphy55d]

Did someone port over that keyboard? I had a feeling someone would but I've kind of been out of the loop so I dunno where one finds that.

DroidX multi-touch keyboard is available but as of yet does not work on froyo. 2.1 it works great i hear.

http://www.droid-life.com/2010/06/24/download-multi-touch-keyboard-from-droid-x/

 

[JS80]

I went back to Swype after 2.5 weeks of trying Swiftkey...holy crap Swype is so much faster. The only thing Swiftkey was faster at was repeating phrases I would frequently type.

 

[tatteredpotato]

I went back to Swype after 2.5 weeks of trying Swiftkey...holy crap Swype is so much faster. The only thing Swiftkey was faster at was repeating phrases I would frequently type.

Swype really aggravates me when it gets a word wrong since you have to redo the entire word. Plus I prefer typing with two thumbs as opposed to using a single finger. Maybe if I go back I'll like swype again and see how I like it after a break.