You *can* use ICS Voice Typing with Swiftkey, sort of . . .

[Vance14]

A lot of us Nexus users would LOVE to use the new ICS voice typing feature while still using Swiftkey, preferably built right in as the default voice entry implementation. This is something SK is looking into (as far as I know, there are no third party keyboards which have implemented this feature, I suspect it is an API issue). But, in the meantime, I finally realized there is a way you can use the nifty voice typing without giving up SK as your default keyboard (for some of you, this will be a "well, of course", but maybe some of you out there are like me and didn't figure this out):

When you enter a typing situation and SK comes up, you have that keyboard icon in your notification bar. If you pull that down, and press "Select Input Method", then press "Google voice typing", it will immediately pull up the mic and start listening and typing as you speak. Then, when you are done, it goes right back to SK!

I had never tried this because my concern had been that by doing this you were somehow DE-selecting SK as your default input method and going back to stock ICS, and would have to go back and reset it. But, no, it keeps SK as your default and the next time you have text to enter, SK comes right up.

So, while it would be better to have it built right in as the SK voice entry and save two taps, you actually can use SK and the new ICS voice typing at the same time.

 

[thebignewt]

Nope. When I'm typing using SK there's nothing in my notification bar so that doesn't work for me. I don't know if I have the new ICS voice typing feature or not.

 

[Vance14]

Every Nexus (and every ICS device, I believe) has the new voice typing feature. If you using the stock browser, it is the default voice input when you press the mic. In SK, as you already know, pressing the mic uses the older style of voice input.

I am very surprised that when the keyboard is open you are not getting the keyboard icon on top (not the SK icon in particular, but the generic keyboard symbol). I thought that happened when any keyboard was being used. Try this: in your Language and Input section of the Settings, make sure the box for "Google Voice Typing" is checked along with the SK box, then see if you get that icon. Maybe it will only come up if you have more than one option to choose from. And, you would need that box checked anyway to use the voice typing.

 

[thebignewt]

Yeah, I see it now. I used to see the select input method thing in notifications randomly. I thought that every so often Swiftkey had to be reselected as my KB or something.

 

[TabGuy]

Hey, this is a cool tip and works perfectly. Thanks!

 

[ruh-roh-raggy]

I use SwiftKey X, and I do have a microphone key on my keyboard 2 keys to the left of the space bar. If I long-press that key, the microphone pops up to begin "listening". A single tap on that key (SwiftKey logo) brings up a small SwiftKey menu where you also can select the microphone.

Try going into the Apps drawer: Apps>SwiftKey>Advanced>Voice recognition (check the box). Then see if it works in your next text msg., email or whatever.

 

[Vance14]

Yes, but that is the old voice input, not the new voice typing that comes with ice cream sandwich.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[ruh-roh-raggy]

Yes, but that is the old voice input, not the new voice typing that comes with ice cream sandwich.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

Well duh! I didn't know that, silly me! I've used it a few times but didn't realize that there were 2 different "voices" on my phone. (Still getting used to "talking" to my phone when there's no one on the other end.)

Those of you who use voice typing a lot, what differences are there between ICS voice typing and the voice typing in SwiftKey?

 

[Vance14]

The voice input for Swiftkey is basically the same as the Google input for Gingerbread and before, they use Google's engine, I believe. You speak what you want and when it thinks you are done (long enough pause) it translates and gives you three options to choose from. You pick the best one and go. With the new ICS "voice typing" it begins the translation as you speak and you watch it type, you can pause as long as you like and then start speaking again. You can press words to change them. A MUCH better system, and I was really torn when I thought I had to choose between SK and the new voice typing. Now, I can use both if I am willing to tap a couple more times.

 

[ruh-roh-raggy]

BIG difference then! Phones I came from ... to the GN ... night and day. Thanks!

 

[Vance14]

The more I use the new voice typing, the more I kick myself for not figuring this out earlier. It is really very useful.