AKey: Virtua Keyboard

[jaynoonan]

Has anyone tested this out?

http://slideme.org/content/akeyui

[jp801w]

I tried to. I downloaded the SlideMe Application Manager but could not finde the AKey program listed. It looks like a decent first attempt but having to open it, type, copy & paste doesn't seem like it saves you much time.
Plus, its not exactly laid out the the QWERTY format. Hopefully we will see some other versions out there soon.

[jasex183]

its ok but its more you copyin and pasting into the text feild

[Op3nTheJar]

To sum it all up this is not G1 worthy.

[epicdesigns]

DEVELOPERS stop being lazy and make one good you are doing nothing by making these horrible virtual keyboards stop teasing us. Make it hook into sms/mms/email/browser/contacts/everything just as it was a normal keyboard. stop cutting corners

[andrews240]

DEVELOPERS stop being lazy and make one good you are doing nothing by making these horrible virtual keyboards stop teasing us. Make it hook into sms/mms/email/browser/contacts/everything just as it was a normal keyboard. stop cutting corners

I am not a dev but I would think that if it was as easy as just doing it, it would be done.

For a virtual keyboard to do what we all want it to do, it would have to integrate, or otherwise interact, with the existing apps ("sms/mms/email/browser/contacts/everything") in the OS. Android is designed to not allow that to happen, at least not easily, because of the way that apps are sandboxed.

I think for the full virtual keyboard experience, it is going to take some deeper OS integration than what is available right now for the average, non-Android team, developer. This will likely change in the near future.

[constellanation]

For a virtual keyboard to do what we all want it to do, it would have to integrate, or otherwise interact, with the existing apps ("sms/mms/email/browser/contacts/everything") in the OS..

correction to do everything WE want it would have to have shape shifting powers and the ability to occupy two spaces at the same time. We seem to be a picky bunch

[rynosaur]

I am not a dev but I would think that if it was as easy as just doing it, it would be done.

For a virtual keyboard to do what we all want it to do, it would have to integrate, or otherwise interact, with the existing apps ("sms/mms/email/browser/contacts/everything") in the OS. Android is designed to not allow that to happen, at least not easily, because of the way that apps are sandboxed.

I think for the full virtual keyboard experience, it is going to take some deeper OS integration than what is available right now for the average, non-Android team, developer. This will likely change in the near future.

Yeah, you're right, and RC30 fixed the "bug" that allowed low-level access.
Google has traded our ability, temporarily, to get at such added features for security.

Meh, I still think sliding the screen open to type is fun. When google adds the virtual keyboard next year, I'm sure it will be swell!

[XerxesQados]

Yeah, you're right, and RC30 fixed the "bug" that allowed low-level access.
Google has traded our ability, temporarily, to get at such added features for security.

Makes perfect sense from their point of view. If a gigantic security exploit were to be discovered now, the platform would stop being adopted by most people. Once there are bazillions of people who can't live without Android, taking a risk like that will seem more palatable.

[jmejiaa]

DEVELOPERS stop being lazy and make one good you are doing nothing by making these horrible virtual keyboards stop teasing us. Make it hook into sms/mms/email/browser/contacts/everything just as it was a normal keyboard. stop cutting corners

It's not that easy, we have to make 1 for each app, I'm in the process but with the screen being so narrow it's hard to do.

Also, Dev's(me mainly) don't want to spend to much time considering Google is already working on one for the g1, so even if i make one for txt, email,internet etc it would make no sense to keep after google develops the official one.

I think for now dev's are still getting used to the app, it's alot different for companies with teams of developers that can bang out awesome apps, for other Dev's like me, I have a full time job and I'm trying to make something for you to enjoy for free, so thanks, but I do not like being called lazy, if you can do better then please do and I will gladly use it and then leave a terrible comment when it misses a feature I want.

[andrews240]

Mad props to jmejiaa, and other devs, that are providing cool apps right now while they are still free for all. I am sure that there are app devs that are sitting on the sideline for when the cash register opens. Keep it up, I could only wish to have your skills.

[theycallmeVosko]

It's not that easy, we have to make 1 for each app, I'm in the process but with the screen being so narrow it's hard to do.

Also, Dev's(me mainly) don't want to spend to much time considering Google is already working on one for the g1, so even if i make one for txt, email,internet etc it would make no sense to keep after google develops the official one.

I think for now dev's are still getting used to the app, it's alot different for companies with teams of developers that can bang out awesome apps, for other Dev's like me, I have a full time job and I'm trying to make something for you to enjoy for free, so thanks, but I do not like being called lazy, if you can do better then please do and I will gladly use it and then leave a terrible comment when it misses a feature I want.


well said. people dont seem to understand that we make apps as well as we can and they dont do anything but complain and they couldnt even begin to understand how to code apps

[henchman]

Yeah, you're right, and RC30 fixed the "bug" that allowed low-level access.
Google has traded our ability, temporarily, to get at such added features for security.

Meh, I still think sliding the screen open to type is fun. When google adds the virtual keyboard next year, I'm sure it will be swell!

Yeah, it's so cool when you're driving, and want to find a name quickly, to have to remove the phone from it's cradle and slide open the screen.

NOT!!!

[Mark]

Yeah, it's so cool when you're driving, and want to find a name quickly, to have to remove the phone from it's cradle and slide open the screen.

NOT!!!

Assuming you're trying to find a name to CALL them, there's an application called SpellDial that uses a touch-screen T9 input to search through your contacts. That's what I use when I'm in my car and don't have time to open the keyboard.

[jackb]

The virtual keyboard (whether it works or not) is ugly and not fun to use. I would be totally happy with a T9 virtual keyboard for those quick one handed text inputs. I don't need a whole keyboard for those...

[epicdesigns]

It's not that easy, we have to make 1 for each app, I'm in the process but with the screen being so narrow it's hard to do.

Also, Dev's(me mainly) don't want to spend to much time considering Google is already working on one for the g1, so even if i make one for txt, email,internet etc it would make no sense to keep after google develops the official one.

I think for now dev's are still getting used to the app, it's alot different for companies with teams of developers that can bang out awesome apps, for other Dev's like me, I have a full time job and I'm trying to make something for you to enjoy for free, so thanks, but I do not like being called lazy, if you can do better then please do and I will gladly use it and then leave a terrible comment when it misses a feature I want.

Well all the virtual keyboards have been all the same..keys are too small. I know the screen is narrow but then simply make the text box smaller for the viewing of the keys typed. Even for a temp solution just to hook into sms/mms which most people would find great. Its just my comment, maybe you should of got some feedback on the application before surging it into the marketplace and have us remove it after 2 min due to keyboard to small.