Today the latest version of the popular Swype keyboard for Android has been released to beta testers. While many have probably seen or heard about it already I’ll be posting the videos below for you all to see the new features in action. The update is available right now over at the Swype’s beta webpage and so far I’m actually really liking the copy and paste features as well as gestures.
Many phones already have some version of copy and paste features built in, especially HTC Sense UI phones but the new system in which Swype has done it makes things even easier. No longer to you have to remove your finger from the keyboard and tap copy, then hold down and wait for the pop-up and hit paste. It’s all quick and easy using sliding gestures right on the keyboard. I actually am really enjoying this so far. Here are a few of the main new features:
Quick Editing – Access cut, copy, paste, and select-all functions in a flash!
Cut – Swype from the Swype key to the X key
Copy – Swype from the Swype key to the C key
Paste – Swype from the Swype key to the V key
Select-All – Swype from the Swype key to the A key
Send-to-Application – Highlight any text, anywhere, then send it directly to an application with a quick gesture. Currently supported apps are Twitter, Google Maps, and Facebook
Twitter – Swype from the Swype key to T-W to create a new tweet using the highlighted text
Google Maps – Swype from the Swype key to G-M to search Google Maps for the highlighted text
Facebook – Swype from the Swype key to F-B to create a new wall post on Facebook using the highlighted text
It may sound difficult but it’s actually extremely easy and here is a video to show you what I mean. I’ve tried this myself and it really is just as simple as the video makes it out to be.
It really is that simple, smooth, and easy. My favorite feature is actually being able to quickly copy an entire line of text, then with a simple Swype gesture head directly into Google Maps and search for it. No more misspelling addresses or zip codes or anything. Copy a few lines, instantly go into Twitter using the Skype Key + TW gesture opens Twitter but sadly that is currently the only option. Hopefully we will be able to choose the default client Swype opens for people like me that use TweetDeck rather than the default Twitter client. Same thing works for Facebook as well.
While this isn’t anything groundbreaking the amount of ease this actually brings to the table for a few of those simple daily text input and output moments really is a nice touch. Swype and their team have also updated the personal dictionary management as well as introduced something called Swype Connect. With Swype Connect the installation validation just got easier as it collects Swype-specific data and ensures the integrity and validity of the installation. This should help with installation errors for many of the users. Swype reminds us this collects keyboard data only and nothing personal.
Again, head over to the Swype Beta Page for details and download instructions.
