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Swype, SwiftKey and Fleksy All SUCK on iPhone

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Swype, SwiftKey and Fleksy All SUCK on iPhone

iOS 8 opened the door to third-party keyboards for iPhone and iPad, but the reality is far from seamless


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In the run up to the release of iOS 8, one of the most exciting aspects of the new software was Apple’s relaxation of certain APIs – notably the keyboard one. And the reason this was so exciting? Simple: you could install any keyboard you wanted on your iPhone or iPad, rather than using Apple’s stock effort, just as you can on Android

There are plenty of other things to get excited about in iOS as an Apple user, but one of the biggest USPs for me, coming from Android, was to do with the keyboards. After all, these are the UX elements you interact with most on a day-to-day basis, whether it’s responding to email, writing texts or sending IM via WhatsApp or Google Hangouts

And on Android, they’re all pretty damn good in their own unique ways. SwiftKey was always my go-to keyboard, but I also used Swype and Fleksy quite a bit too. On iOS, though, things are dramatically different and not in a good way, which is why I just deleted SwiftKey, Fleksy and Swype off my iPhone and have reverted back to Apple’s stock keyboard.

If you haven’t yet tried out third-party keyboards on iOS, there are a few things you need to know before you go dropping £0.69 on one. First, you cannot use a third-party keyboard in certain iOS applications, meaning you constantly have to switch between SwiftKey, for instance, and Apple’s stock keyboard. Apple says this is for security. 

Second, ALL the third-party keyboards I’ve tested are buggy as hell. They crash. They refuse to acknowledge your keystrokes. And sometimes they just don’t open at all. The first instance is excusable, as there’s nothing third-party developers can do with Apple’s security blanket. But the second is a bit less forgivable: a keyboard is a core element of a phone, it cannot be buggy and refuse to open on a regular basis otherwise people –– i.e. me –– will simply stop using it.

But the REALLY annoying thing is the constant switching you have to do to use your preferred choice of keyboard. Even when you set SwiftKey as your de facto keyboard in all applications outside the core ones Apple locks it out of, you still see the stock Apple keyboard ALL THE TIME, meaning you have to then go into keyboard settings and reselect SwiftKey once again. Yep, it’s LONG.

You can improve things, however, by moving your preferred keyboard, say, SwiftKey, to the top of the “keyboard list” in Settings, which should mean you get that keyboard 90% of the time (technically). But even with this in place I still found myself being asked to use the stock Apple keyboard way too often, which kind of makes the whole purpose of user-selected keyboards moribund. 

In the end, I just accepted defeat, deleted them and turned myself over to Apple’s stock keyboard full time. It’s slower and no where near as good as SwiftKey for Android but at least it is consistant. I don’t see how anyone could use third-party keyboards for a long period of time on iOS without getting frustrated, especially if you’re coming over from Android where they all work seamlessly. 

But perhaps this was Apple’s plan all along? 


Richard Goodwin

14:51, 29 Oct 2014

iOS 8 opened the door to 3rd-birthday celebration keyboards for iPhone and iPad, however the fact is a long way from seamless

Blogs

In the run as much as the discharge of iOS 8, one of the crucial fun facets of the brand new device used to be Apple’s rest of sure APIs – particularly the keyboard one. And the rationale this used to be so fun? Simple: you should set up any keyboard you sought after on your iPhone or iPad, moderately than the use of Apple’s inventory attempt, simply as you'll be able to on Android

There are plenty of other things to get excited about in iOS as an Apple user, however some of the largest USPs for me, coming from Android, used to be to do with the keyboards. After all, those are the UX parts you have interaction with so much on a day by day foundation, whether or not it’s responding to e mail, writing texts or sending IM by means of WhatsApp or Google Hangouts

And on Android, they’re all lovely rattling just right in their very own distinctive tactics. SwiftKey used to be all the time my move-to keyboard, however A extensively utilized Swype and Fleksy fairly somewhat too. On iOS, even though, issues are dramatically other and now not in a great way, that is why A simply deleted SwiftKey, Fleksy and Swype off my iPhone and have reverted again to Apple’s inventory keyboard.

If you haven’t but attempted out 3rd-birthday celebration keyboards on iOS, there are some things you wish to have to understand sooner than you move losing £zero.sixty nine on one. First, you can not use a 3rd-birthday celebration keyboard in sure iOS programs, that means you continuously have to modify among SwiftKey, as an example, and Apple’s inventory keyboard. Apple says that is for safety. 

Second, ALL the 3rd-birthday celebration keyboards S’ve examined are buggy as hell. They crash. They refuse to recognize your keystrokes. And every now and then they only don’t open in any respect. The first example is excusable, as there’s not anything 3rd-birthday party builders can do with Apple’s safety blanket. But the second one is just a little much less forgivable: a keyboard is a center section of a telephone, it can't be buggy and refuse to open on a normal foundation in a different way other folks –– i.e. me –– will merely prevent the use of it.

But the REALLY stressful factor is the consistent switching you need to do to make use of your most well-liked selection of keyboard. Even while you set SwiftKey as your de facto keyboard in all programs out of doors the center ones Apple locks it out of, you continue to see the inventory Apple keyboard ALL THE TIME, that means you must then move into keyboard settings and reselect SwiftKey as soon as once more. Yep, it’s LONG.

You can strengthen issues, on the other hand, by way of shifting your most well-liked keyboard, say, SwiftKey, to the highest of the “keyboard listing” in Settings, which will have to imply you get that keyboard ninety% of the time (technically). But in spite of this in position S nonetheless discovered myself being requested to make use of the inventory Apple keyboard approach too regularly, which more or less makes the entire function of consumer-decided on keyboards moribund. 

In the top, A simply well-known defeat, deleted them and became myself over to Apple’s inventory keyboard complete time. It's slower and no the place close to as just right as SwiftKey for Android however no less than it's consistant. S do not see how any person may just use 3rd-birthday party keyboards for an extended time period on iOS with out getting annoyed, particularly if you are coming over from Android the place all of them paintings seamlessly. 

But in all probability this used to be Apple’s plan all alongside? 

Richard Goodwin 14:fifty one, 29 Oct 2014
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