This is a roundup of all the software keyboards I could find. They are available at more places than the urls I'm providing. I copied reviews in some cases from the websites that I found the products at. In some cases I added my own comments.
Is there one best product for text input? Are hardware keyboards better? I didn't want to carry one, and I didn't want to pay for a thumb keyboard either. My stylus broke and I realized I hated to use it for input. It forced me to work too slowly, so I investigated soft keyboards. Basically there are several features to keep in mind:
1.Autocomplete - start typing the first few letters of a word and a word or choice of words pops up for you to choose from
2.Word learning - Some of these progs will learn new words and add them to their autocomplete dictionary
3.Stylus input v. finger input - self explanatory. Usually the stylus input has smaller buttons, so you have to concentrate on hitting these tiny buttons. Finger input has big buttons
4.Full screen layout v. partial screen layout - some of these take up a huge amount of screen, hiding nearly everything behind them. Many may prefer to see what else is on the screen.
5.Customizable layouts
6.Skinnable
7. VGA
8.Conventional keyboard layout - some of these have conventional layouts that make them easy to learn, some have radical designs that must be learned. The conventional ones have a QWERTY layout, others are FITALY layouts, or more innovative layouts that take getting used to but may pay dividends in time savings and typing ease.
Happy Tapping Keyboard -
link $Free
Free keyboard. Instructions are in an asian language. Not recommended unless you can translate from their sites. Looks like you must use a stylus for input. My link is to the Aximsite instructions made by user Bleep. See the link for more details.
Topkey -
link $9.95
from pda mill website:
International layouts: Choose from over 40 predefined keyboard language layouts. Quick layout changing: Add shortcuts for the different language layouts for quick access. Built-in layout editor: Customize keyboard layouts for your special needs. Self-learning predictive input: Three words predictive input, and three suggestions for the next word. The more you type, the better suggestions you will get. Let the predictive engine learn your most frequently used words. Keyboard gestures: Speed up typing by using the stylus gestures for space, backspace, enter and capital letters Fully skinned: Chose from the 4 default keyboard skins or create your own. VGA support: Now supports both VGA and QVGA resolution and screen rotation Database editing: Now includes powerful tools to train or edit your own predictive databases.
Goamo VGA sip keyboard -
link $5.95
Summary: A SIP keyboard that displays full size even in true VGA mode. While browsing the web, or any application, in true VGA use the VGA SIP Keyboard to easily input URLs and data.
Numeric keyboard not supported. Has a few different skins. Requires stylus input. Doesn't seem to have autocomplete for word entry.
Fitaly -
link $25.00
Designed for Stylus Entry. FITALY replaces the functions of the on-screen QWERTY keyboard and handwriting recognition data entry systems. 73% of the letters you use in normal text are in a very tight central circle. With your hand resting at the bottom of your handheld device, and the stylus in the center of the keyboard, 84% of the normally used letters in written English, and two space bars, are within stylus-reach by just moving your fingers; never moving your hand! And individual letters are near the letters most likely to follow.
This is a radical design. While creative, it is different than the conventional keyboard and would take some getting used to. It has autocomplete called the Expander. As of June '06 they have a new version 5.
Resco Keyboard Pro -
link $19.95
a powerful input method. It gives you the ability to write texts and control your applications faster than ever before. In addition to the system keyboard, there are three numeric layouts, including a "Writing Calculator" for typing numbers or numerical expressions.
In addition, there is a special keyboard that allows you to customize your Pocket PC for fast insertion of frequently used phrases. The keyboard is fully skinable and supports more than 20 national keyboard layouts.
Lots of optional keyboards, skinnable, learns phrases, autocomplete. Requires a stylus for input into the small buttons. Works w/windows mobile 5. As of June '06 current version is 4.35.
Ripboard -
link $Free
Aximsite user Bleep again provides excellent info here for us. Ripboard is an open source project,
info here, which anyone can contribute to. Works with vga and qvga, fitaly and qwerty.
Blimkeys -
Blimkeys $Free
This is just like using SMS on a cell phone. Each key has 3 or 4 letters on it and you keep pressing the key until the right letter pops up. It's easy to use and doesn't take up much real estate. It's adjustable and customizable. You can use your finger or stylus to type.
Messagease -
link $19.50
You enter letters, characters, digits, and many editing functions with either a tap or a drag on MessagEase's keyboard buttons. Notice the letter buttons of MessagEase keyboard are almost three times as large as the letter buttons of the QWERTY keyboard occupying the same overall area.
Has a nonconventional keyboard that allows use of finger or stylus. Also has a number keyboard. You must learn their system, so it isn't intuitive. Has a memory that can learn words, phrases or commands.
SPB full screen keyboard
link $9.95
Spb Full Screen Keyboard is a unique text input tool for Pocket PC. Unlike other input methods it covers the entire screen area and has keys large enough to be typed with finger-tips rather than with a stylus.
Tengo Keyboard -
link $19.95
The principle behind TenGO is simple. The QWERTY character keys are grouped into 6 large input blocks so you need not aim precisely on the individual characters you wish to type.
For example, to type the word "palm", you can type anywhere on the block "yuiop", anywhere on the block "asdfg", anywhere on the block "hjkl" and anywhere on the block "bnm" to get the word choice "palm".
At times, there may be more than one word choice for a keystroke combination which TenGO will intelligently present the most probable words as the first choices. Simply select the word you want from the word choices.
Must input w/stylus. Very intuitive.VGA support.
Tengo Thumb -
link $12.95
Same as the keyboard but cheaper and w/bigger buttons. I can't figure out why it's cheaper. Both have autocomplete and have quick tutorials. If you try them, and you know how to type, you'll find yourself typing so quickly and accurately you won't believe it. The qwerty keyboard is very natural. This product is my favorite b/c you can use your fingers or a stylus. It's got a great price, it's easy to learn and you can type very quickly and accurately. It learns what words you use and adds them to its dictionary.
Interkey -
Link $14.95 to $29.95
InterKey and InterKey Portable utilities provide full Pocket PC/Windows Mobile data entry support: multilingual on-screen keyboards and multilingual input with Pocket PC portable keyboards. As optional feature, InterKey provides word autocomplete function, that completes words you are typing on the on-screen keyboard or Pocket PC external keyboard.
Typango -
Link $11.95
In 2001, Previsionary invented Typango, the world's first full screen rotating keyboard. Typango was quickly adopted by thousands of users as the best way to type on a PocketPC. The latest version, Typango 3.0, sets a new level in value and performance.
Dynatype Universal KB -
Link $14.95
DynaType is a multilingual soft keyboard (SIP) supporting more than 60 national layouts.
Two additional keyboard designs for landscape capable devices providing bigger keys suitable even for stylus-less input.
Kilmist Keyboard XL -
Link $9.99
Keyboard XL makes up for the lack of a comfortable keyboard for mobile devices. It turns your mobile devices screen into a slick, spacious and responsive keyboard to facilitate the fastest input method yet. With its small foot print of less than 100 KB, Keyboard XL will be the lightest and fastest keyboard you will ever use. Accomplish all your typing tasks using Keyboard XL and easily transfer the text into application of your choice. This is a full screen kb.
Touch Keyboard -
Link $9.95
Touch Keyboard is a full screen PocketPC keyboard that allows you to type large amounts of text into your device using your fingers or thumbs. After you finish entering your text, tapping OK closes the keyboard and automatically pastes the text you entered into whatever app you were using.
PDA Keyboard -
Link $9.99
PDAmedia Keyboard (kbd) is a sip input method that integrates with Pocket PC sip (soft input panel). It is fullskinable and it supports an advanced skin language definition that allows creating skins with a varied functionality including standard skins, full-screen skins as well as multi language skins.
Stormloader's Flash Keyboard -
... keyboard ... or get the link from the Aximsite thread:
http://www.aximsite.com/boards/x50-x...-keyboard.html$free
A beautifully innovative keyboard that's easy to use and highly effective. It's full screen, yet you can change the transparancy and still see what's underneath. This was created with the input of many different users to be practical, yet cutting edge. If you have been frustrated by all the other SIPs, this will be your last stop.
Overall I tried to present all the products I could find and give you enough info to at least get started. Try several products and make your own mind up. If I missed any products let me know. If there are features I missed please tell me as well. I believe you will find that these products are less expensive, more convenient and superior to hardware keyboards and stylus input.
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