Weird One-Handed Type Thingy using qwerty: Anybody else doing this?

[sinistersai4d]

I been doing this weird one-handed type thingy when I'm on the bus holding my coffee. The phone is upside down and the qwerty is slid out.



Anybody else doing this to try and compensate for the lack of an onscreen keyboard? It sucks... but it's all i can manage for the mean time. Personally I prefer T9.


Also, can anybody think of a reason WHY Google and HTC decided not to integrate a Virtual Keyboard? Do you think when it finally makes it to the app store it will be fully integrated into all of android? or just for the email and sms applications?



I'm thinking they left it out on purpose, knowing that people would want it. Possibly to get people into and using the app store more since EVERYBODY will visit the app store the day this app is available. Unless they beam it to everybody for free OTA... which I doubt.

The benefit of having a touch screen is that you can have more versatility in regards to the interface.. they should have every type of keyboard imaginable as an option... t9, qwerty, that weird BlackBerry Pearl keyboard, A-Z, hieroglyphics... everything!

[Mr. Peck]

No obvious touchscreen keyboard benefits.

You can type twice as fast on a keyboard you can feel.

I do not see that T9 can be better unless you're missing predictive text.

[sinistersai4d]

1) Yes I'm missing predictive text.

2) You can type 3 times as fast if I hook up a full size PC keyboard to it.. but that doesn't make it more convenient for typing "Lol OMG u shaved ur pubes rofl!" I love that long emails and sms are easier with the slide out qwerty. But when I'm holding a coffee, or on the bus, or driving (spare me your criticism), or walking with a bag, or masturbating I would like the option to text with one hand. Furthermore, having a touchscreen is supposed to have the benefit of being versatile. You can't add a physical qwerty to the iphone, for example (at least not a cheap one.) But a touchscreen should have the option.

3) There are obvious touchscreen keyboard benefits for the majority of G1 users and reviewers who want one. You are in the minority my friend. Look at any virtual keyboard poll or read one of the many reviews that point out the inconvenience of having to slide out the keyboard to say "lol." I envy that you don't find it annoying. But most of us do. And I guarantee it will be the most downloaded application if even a mediocre keyboard becomes available. The fact that i've resorted to holding my phone upside down just so I can multitask with my other hand should be proof enough that one handed input has it's benefits. Sure I can type faster with two hands... but I can stand on the bus safer if i have one hand on the safety rail. And I can even sit safer if I'm not straddling a scolding hot coffee with my thighs.

[sullitf]

If you go to http://source.android.com/roadmap it looks like google is planning to release all code necissary for an on-screen keyboard early next year. The way they phrased it doesn't really say whether or not they will send out an update with a keyboard, but if nothing else there will be all code necissary and building a keyboard will take very little effort.

Once the G1 was released I started looking around the APIs to try and build a keyboard but there are specific classes listed in the API that simply aren't finished yet (classes for 12-key button listeners, qwerty button listeners, etc.). My guess is google just put that to the side knowing that the G1 would have a hardware keyboard. Once they update the source code for those methods it will basically only be a matter of designing the interface for a keyboard. Hopefully whenever the keyboard is made it'll function somewhat like the Behold's where you can turn it to the side and have the accelerometer automatically switch it over to a full qwerty. This will be very helpful for those times when you just need to enter a password or short text message.

[kommodore]

This is kind of old news. I read about a month ago that we were getting soft key in Q1 of 09. If anyone really feels like arguing the point, I guess I can go back through and try to find where I read that.

[atoy74]

I been doing this weird one-handed type thingy when I'm on the bus holding my coffee. The phone is upside down and the qwerty is slid out.



Anybody else doing this to try and compensate for the lack of an onscreen keyboard? It sucks... but it's all i can manage for the mean time. Personally I prefer T9.


Also, can anybody think of a reason WHY Google and HTC decided not to integrate a Virtual Keyboard? Do you think when it finally makes it to the app store it will be fully integrated into all of android? or just for the email and sms applications?



I'm thinking they left it out on purpose, knowing that people would want it. Possibly to get people into and using the app store more since EVERYBODY will visit the app store the day this app is available. Unless they beam it to everybody for free OTA... which I doubt.

The benefit of having a touch screen is that you can have more versatility in regards to the interface.. they should have every type of keyboard imaginable as an option... t9, qwerty, that weird BlackBerry Pearl keyboard, A-Z, hieroglyphics... everything!

Google has already announced a soft keyboard for the Jan time frame.

[damnitpud]

I'm thinking they left it out on purpose, knowing that people would want it. Possibly to get people into and using the app store more since EVERYBODY will visit the app store the day this app is available. Unless they beam it to everybody for free OTA... which I doubt.

The didn't leave it out on purpose, they rushed the launch of the phone and somethings were not done yet. They will release the Virtual keyboard in January sometime, for free with an OTA Update.

[sinistersai4d]

^people keep saying "Google's gonna release one" etc etc... but all I have read is that they are releasing to developers the necessary tools to make one.. I would much prefer if the android team did this themselves.