Posts tagged Swype
Beta Review: Swype
Mar 6th
Swype – Actually pretty awesome.
The onslaught of touch-only Androids hitting the market has created a bit of dilemma for me. You see unfortunately, I was blessed with fingers that may as well be physically allergic to on-screen keyboards. I’d literally take a T9 keypad over those ridiculous on-screen “mock ups” of the real thing… So for now, I’ve been patiently waiting with my T-Mobile G1 for an awesome new Android packing a full QWERTY. It’s felt like an eternity already…
While time will tell if I’ll ever get my new phone-of-my-dreams, a new app has been released in beta that I’ve been lucky enough to have a few weeks to try out, and I must say, that while it’s not perfect, almost would make me consider a touch-only device.
Swype is an app that replaces the stock on-screen keyboard with a new gesture-based way of typing. It’s a novel concept that, surprisingly, works pretty well! Let’s say for example you wanted to type “Hi android.” All you have to do is touch down on H, then slide your finger to the i and release. After you lift your finger, touch back down on the a to begin typing android, and continue the same way you did hi, but sliding from the a to the n, the d, r, o, i and finally d. The spaces are automatically added every time you start another word. Most common words are automatically guessed and used. If it’s not 100% sure of what you wanted to type, an on-screen predictive text type box comes up with some suggestions of what you might have meant. If your word isn’t in there, you hit an x and just touch type your word the old fashion way, adding it to your message and to the predictive database. It’s really simple and intuitive. There are a lot of little hints and tricks on the official website for Swype (www.swype.com), but I’m just going to recommend you start trying it out for yourself to see all that it can do.
Swype is still in beta at the moment, but it’s already proving itself to be a truly unique and worthwhile alternative to typing. It has regular touch screen typing beat by a long shot, and while I’m still not ready to let go of my beloved physical QWERTY’s, I’d at least consider a touch-only phone if I could use Swype on it.
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Beta Test This: Swype!
Mar 5th
Swype, the gesture-based virtual keyboard that to date has only been legitimately available to OEMs, just sent beta testing invitations out to Android users who’d previously provided their email address to them.
The beta, starting today, March 5, is limited to a small number of participants but will expand “soon.” It’s a limited feature set compared to the OEM version and will work for devices with HVGA and WVGA displays.
You can register to participate at beta.swype.com.
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Interested in Buying a My Touch 3G V.1.2 Now? You Better Hurry!
Mar 1st
For those of you who are interested in buying a My Touch 3G V. 1.2(you know, the one with the 3.5mm headphone jack, ram boost, Swype keyboard, and a 8GB micro-sd card ) you better hurry up and be resourceful. According to the team over at TmoNews, supplies are dwindling and the popular Android device has been removed from T-Mobile’s handset upgrade program until March. If you can’t wait until mid to late March, T-Mobile suggests you look for other T-Mobile retail locations that might possibly have them. Good luck!
Source: TmoNews
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Swype for Nexus One easily accessible
Feb 23rd
Making things easy for our readers is something we strive for here at DroidDog, and in that vein, we wanted to give you a quick heads up about getting the Swype keyboard for your Nexus One. By now, you’ve probably at least heard about Swype in some way or another, but just in case you haven’t, we’ll give you a quick rundown of the features. First and foremost, it’s a new way to input text on your device. The standard is to type or tap the letter you want, but with Swype, it’s as easy as drawing a line from one letter to another, formulating the word you want in a new, ridiculous, and fun way. It’s a bit tricky to get used to at first, but as soon as you do, you’ll be “Swyping” in no time. If you just follow the link we’ll provide at the bottom of this post, just go ahead and download the APK file. Easy as pie.
Download Swype
EDIT: The link for downloading Swype has been removed. Click through to read the Swype team’s thoughts on distribution of their product:
Hi everyone,
We would like to provide an update regarding the unauthorized distribution of our Swype software for the Android platform. We realize that many sites are now distributing this software and several are providing installation instructions.
We are glad that you like Swype, but we did not release or leak it for distribution and do not currently support any downloadable versions.
There are now two devices that ship with the Swype keyboard pre-installed: the Verizon Samsung Omnia II on Windows Mobile and, more recently, the T-Mobile MyTouch 3G. We’re very excited about these releases, and there will be a number of new device launches in the near future. Because our partners are highly sensitive about their product releases, we really cannot say anything further. But a lot of work goes into making sure that Swype integrates perfectly with each device we release and by comparison, any leaked or hacked version of our software will work improperly or not at all (as you’ve noticed).
One might ask why we don’t just release it ourselves and save everyone the hassle? The reason is that we have spent seven years building Swype and our business model at present is OEM licensing. We do plan to get to direct-to-consumer distribution, but it is a different sort of business with unique challenges and thus it is hard to say when.
So, in answer to your question, Jeff, we do not support this so-called “beta” and ask that you refrain from using any downloadable version of Swype. Thank you for being respectful of our legal stance in this matter.
Stay tuned (and provide feedback) on our forum at http://www.swype.com.
Regards,
The Swype Team
Our lawyer has asked us to remind everyone that Swype does not explicitly or implicitly condone the unauthorized copying and distribution of the Swype software and to inform you that the Swype software is proprietary to Swype, Inc., is the copyrighted work of Swype, Inc., and Swype, Inc. has and always will reserve all of its rights.
Quote via SmerterWare
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MyTouch 3G 1.2 Shipping With Swype
Feb 9th
While T-mobile has been getting ready for the new MyTouch 3G 1.2 (just a MT3G with a little more RAM and a 3.5mm jack), by doing things like lowering the price of the original MyTouch to $99, more and more news keeps coming to the surface about this mysterious device. This particular tid-bit happens to be of the Swype variety (you know, that crazy new keyboard input method). Tmonews has gotten a tip from one of their ninjas that the MyTouch 1.2 will be shipping with Swype as the default keyboard. I don’t really know what would prompt this decision (other than the fact that Swype is AMAZING), but it may be the start of a virtual keyboard revolution. If you haven’t seen Swype in action yet head over to our article where you can find it live in action on a G1. Viva la innovative software revolucion!
Via Tmonews
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T-Mobile myTouch 1.2 Featuring Swype?
Feb 7th
In just a few short days, T-Mobile is expected to release the updated version of their myTouch 3G handset. Among the notable changes in design are a 3.5mm headphone jack and more memory. A leaked internal screenshot for T-Mobile indicates a software enhancement will be joining the party too.
The folks over at TmoToday have a screenshot shows the myTouch 3G with 3.5mm headphone jack (catchy title) will also offer the unique soft keyboard, Swype. For those of you who aren’t familiar with it, Swype works by dragging your finger from letter to letter, rather than pecking them. It’s rather unconventional, but we hear it’s pretty awesome.We’re not sure what kind of learning curve it has, however, it appears it could be a preferred way of typing.
It’s interesting to see something like this being bundled with a handset, but it does help differentiate it from other Android phones. At least out of the box. Swype also comes preloaded on the Samsung Omnia II.
Fun Fact: Swype was founded by the same guy (Cliff Kushler) who invented T9 texting.
Thanks for the heads up, Jim!
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Swype Keyboard Review for G1
Feb 3rd
Comparing Swype to other virtual keyboards would not do it justice. It stands in a league of it’s own. It is the first virtual keyboard for Android that appears to have some real intuition (Can I say that without sounding weird?) At first glance it looks like any other virtual keyboard, but after you use it to type your first word you’ll notice a sleek blue line trailing behind your thumb as you move from letter to letter. When you finish a word a friendly suggestion box pops up with options to select the word you actually intended to use. many times we type so fast that we miss a letter or two and we end up tweeting or texting a misspelled message. Those days are over. The Swype keyboard that @Kmobs has ported over to the HVGA devices like the G1 and the Cliq from the leaked beta version intended for the Nexus One and the Droid is now available for your typing pleasure. Now this keyboard still takes a little getting used to as with any new virtual keyboard, but if you’re like me, you’ll be texting and tweeting quicker than ever in no time at all.
After using with Swype for 1.5 weeks here are some pros and cons
Pros: Swype is a solid virtual keyboard (better spacing than stock). Swype doesn’t feel cramped to my fingers when typing in portrait mode. The text suggestion functions very quickly to offer me the best possible choice in what I was typing. Swype’s tutorial was good, showed me what to do and how to use it.
Cons: Some words were not found. Had some spacing issues when I typed and moved to a next word (such as racecar, [possible spelling issue, but I'm from TX] would come up race car. If I tried to fix it, it would delete the whole word). Word search was way to big, made me feel like I was competing with my screen for space. Adding words was a tad confusing…I think I may have gotten it right, but sometimes I think not. Oh one more thing, typing in passwords are a pain if you have both numbers and words…can’t really swipe all that well. Used my physical keyboard for most of my passwords. Another issue I have is not seeing what I type. With the physical keyboard you see what you are typing on the screen. With Swype, either the one finger swipe or trying to type with two, you wont see what you typed till you are finished with that word.
Other: Like I said, solid virtual keyboard. Mostly had to use the one finger approach, mostly had to swipe to a word rather than type (not a con, just a middle-of-the-road thing). Perhaps make the search at the bottom, rather the middle of the screen. A better add to dictionary feature. A possible password way of typing (don’t know how that will work on virtual though). Great tutorial. Swype was fast and for the most part very accurate to what I was trying to type. Over all, my virtual keyboard of choice.
Ok, a quick issue of landscape. Again, screen is taken over by the word search. Swiping is very difficult in that the words are closer. Swiping and straight typing the word(s) were not shown till after I finished typing. I have fat thumbs so have to Swype with one thumb…kind of makes typing in landscape pointless
A special thanks goes out to @Kmobs, @gfurr24 (Garrett Furr) and @ZombieUsr (John-Michael-Guerra)
To give Swype a try for yourself on your G1, MyTouch 3G or Cliq go to @Kmobs’ download page at iq0.org
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