Keyboard Basics
? The spell checker suggests corrections as you type. Keyboards like
SwiftKey suggest the
next word.
? Calibrate your onscreen keyboard: Tap Menu Settings Language & keyboard Touch input Text input Calibration tool
? Tap the Space key twice to add a period after a word and capitalize the next letter typed in most keyboards.
? The keyboard should come up automatically when you tap into a text input area on screen.
? Holding down the menu key will bring up your keyboard.
Good Vibrations Are Bad For Batteries
By default, many Android phones vibrate giving "haptic feedback" as you type. This is
one of the tips to help save your battery life:
? Menu Settings Language & keyboard Touch input Text input Vibrate when typing OFF
? From these menus you can also set keyclick sounds, spell correction, and more.
Changing Keyboards
AppBrain has 750 listings for "keyboard" in almost every flavor and language. Different keyboards may be better for different tasks and you can have several installed. Also see
Android Central's Keyboard Roundup and
Android 101: How to change keyboards. If your phone is sluggish after changing keyboards, reboot: Press and hold the power button, tap Power off, then turn it back on.
Setup Keyboards
You must enable each keyboard you install: Tap Home Menu Settings Keyboard & Language and then check each keyboard. To change keyboards as you type: Long-press in the text area, tap Input method then the keyboard you want to use.
Here is a video. This is also where you can change the settings for the keyboard.
SwiftKey
Android Market Rating: 4.55
Remainder of Word Predictions:
YES
Next Word Prediction:
YES
Speech to Text:
YES
Predictions keep improving:
YES
Physical keyboards help you type more. Predictive keyboards like SwiftKey help you type less. They learn how you think and suggest words you will most likely say next. Voice Actions trys to prevent typing.
? What's faster than typing? Not typing.
SwiftKey predicts your next word before you even start to type it.
? It learns how you think making better suggestions all the time, sometimes better than the word than you were thinking.
? It may be illegal for you to text while driving. SwiftKey also offers speech to text so you can talk instead of typing. $4. Free trial.
SwiftKey Settings: Tap Home > Menu > Settings > Language & keyboard > SwiftKey X
? Advanced > Spacebar will...: "Always insert a space" gives 3 real predictions. Warning: Defaults to Insert a prediction.
? Advanced > Keyboard feedback: To customize keypress vibrations.
? Advanced > Quick ".": If on, press space twice to get a period. You probably want this off.
? Theme > Theme: To select Light, Dark, or Neon Theme.
? Theme > Arrow keys: To add arrow keys to the keyboard.
Swype
Android Market Rating: Not in the market.
Remainder of Word Predictions:
YES
Next Word Prediction:
NO
Speech to Text:
YES
Predictions keep improving:
YES
With
Swype you don't type. You swipe your finger over the keys instead of tapping them. How good is Swype? Swype set the
world texting speed record.
?
Swype is not available at this time except on certain phones like the
Droid X, Epic, and
Touch 3G.
? A secret to Swype is that it is an excellent keyboard for regualr typing too with great predictions as shown above.
? Tap the blue arrow for another set of predicted words. Speech to Text is very good.
Better Keyboard
Android Market Rating: 4.13
Remainder of Word Predictions:
YES
Next Word Prediction:
NO
Speech to Text:
YES
Predictions keep improving:
YES
Better Keyboard is a great keyboard for a new user because it can show where you tapped as blue dots on the keys.
• Your accuracy will improve quickly.
? Better Keyboard offers multiple languages and is customizable.
? Better Keyboard gives you many predictions with even more by pressing the ► button (in orange above).
? Predictions are only for the remainder of the word, not the next word. $3. No free trial.
ThickButtons
Android Market Rating: 3.64
Remainder of Word Predictions:
YES
Next Word Prediction:
NO
Speech to Text:
YES
Predictions keep improving:
YES
ThickButtons looks like a normal keyboard until you start typing.
? The keys most likely to come next become thicker and word predictions appear.
? Press the ► button (in orange above) to see more predictions.
? Note that predicted words are only shown once you start typing the word.
? Speech recognition is very good. Free.
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