PDA

View Full Version : Android Touch Screen QWERTY: Coming Soon…



nogdolan
10-23-2008, 02:30 PM
http://androidcommunity.com/android-getting-virtual-keyboard-20081024/


Ask any G1 owner to make a list of complaints or shortcomings of their phone’s software and almost every list would include that the lack of a Virtual, Touch Screen Qwerty Keyboard was rather annoying. They won’t have to be annoyed for THAT much longer.
In early 2009, it appears as though the Android OS will feature an update that includes a virtual keyboard. PHEW! While the PHYSICAL full Qwerty Keyboard is a huge asset of the G1 according to most, simple things like typing in your login/passwords, initialing your High Score in a game and small tasks like that always require you slide open the G1. That can be a hassle.
Its unfortunate that it will take at least 3 months to complete an update, but at least its coming, right? In the meantime, hopefully a 3rd party developer can fill in that gap. But seeing as how its already “scheduled” we’re guessing developers aren’t exactly scampering to code a solution themselves.
The onscreen QWERTY is said to include a dictionary of suggestions and a suggestion algo that will make the task of typing on screen much easier. This update can’t come soon enough!



Input method framework (IMF) This feature will enable support for input methods other than physical keyboards, for example soft keyboards. IMF will also enable application developers to provide IME (see below) applications based on the framework.
Input method engines (IME) IME will support soft keyboards, a dictionary of suggestions, and a suggestion algorithm. The Android platform may contain few reference IMEs, and developers can provide IME applications through the Android Market.

bigzae
10-23-2008, 02:34 PM
gr8 post. we all have been w8n to hear some good news about this. Now ill be able to txt n drive.lol:D

MotorbikerChris
10-23-2008, 02:37 PM
HAHAHA^^^ not that i would ever text and drive;) but that would make it easier.

Re@lly Dope!
10-23-2008, 02:39 PM
Very nice, I hope it just works well. It's one thing to give us a virtual keyboard but its another to give us one that is really reponsive and functional.

the_infamous
10-23-2008, 02:40 PM
Yeah cause I have gone thru hell w/ mine in the last few days, & I am almost ready to send it back because of this exact reason, amongst the many others!

ColtM733
10-23-2008, 02:41 PM
Thx for the info!!!

bigzae
10-23-2008, 02:42 PM
HAHAHA^^^ not that i would ever text and drive;) but that would make it easier. lol i got good at it while using my DASH and since then here in michigan they are trying to make a law against it.:D

nickbunyun
10-23-2008, 02:45 PM
you just HAVE to love open source :) and updatable phones :D

rawskilz
10-23-2008, 02:49 PM
this is really great news. all the opening of the qwerty just to type a few words is unnecessary. cant wait to get this app when is out

jrokwitdacapitals18
10-23-2008, 02:55 PM
I don't get how some of these apps will work. Will we have to open that app to use the keyboard on the browser ? Another good example is multi touch. Will we open the app and use the browser though that app? Does anyone know what I'm talking about . Or will the touch keyboard,multi touch be access though the browser and not by it's own app? Thanks

momo9999
10-23-2008, 04:02 PM
I'll say this again. The reason why there isn't a virtual keyboard app out is because it's nearly impossible to write one with the current SDK. You do not have the ability to intercept key inputs from other applications.

jrokwitdacapitals18
10-23-2008, 06:20 PM
But that didn't aswer my question .

CJ Chitwood
11-18-2008, 11:27 AM
The OP said it was an "update" featured by "the Android OS"... Using only that, I would assume that this will be built-in like screen swiping and your apps list. I would further assume that any time a text entry box is open and in view that there will either be an automatic displaying of the virtual keyboard or an icon to open it. I assume it will therefore NOT be a separate program in so much as a downloadable app. That said, it's not to say it won't be running as a separate service in the OS. We'll see when it comes out. From what I'm gleaning off the OP and the link the OP provided and the link the link provided, it's not yet set in stone. It's "on the roadmap". The way I read that is, "We've decided we want to implement it and now we're deciding how, if it can be done."