RIM gets patent for logic-based text prediction, BlackBerry 10 keyboard now preserved for the ages (update: not so ambitious)

Posted on 18/07/2012 by Jon Fingas

For those of us who aren't fans of swipe gestures, the highlight of BlackBerry 10 is undoubtedly a unique keyboard that's often a step ahead of its user. It's a good thing for this last camp that RIM was just granted the final version of a related patent for logic-based text prediction. Instead of simply hunting for typos, the patented keyboard guesses the next word based either on the context of the words around it or on other criteria, like common expressions. About the only time the technique doesn't predict words is for passwords -- RIM would rather not be that clever. While there looks to be a few differences in the practical implementation of the patent as we've seen it in a pre-release BlackBerry 10, theory and reality are close enough that RIM won't be worried about anyone else poaching its seemingly mind-reading technology anytime soon.

Update: We've dug deeper, and it's more focused on simple frequency logic and auto-complete shortcuts (think "ttyl" generating "talk to you later") rather than anything too complex. BlackBerry 10 isn't so secure, then, although these are still quite important typing techniques.

Filed under: Cellphones

RIM gets patent for logic-based text prediction, BlackBerry 10 keyboard now preserved for the ages (update: not so ambitious) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Jul 2012 22:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fleksy iOS Keyboard App: for the Blind, Drunk or Fat-Fingered

Posted on 22/06/2012 by Lambert Varias

Touchscreens have made it so much easier for us to interact with gadgets. Except if you’re blind, that is. Fortunately, there’s a new app for iOS devices that can guess the right word to produce, even if the user picks all the wrong keys. In other words, the app is psychic. Or not.

fleksy ios keyboard app

The app is called Fleksy, and it was made by a company called Syntellia. Fleksy has two features that separate it from the vanilla iOS keyboard. First is its predictive text input, which can guess the word that the user wants to type even if the user hits the wrong letters. Or at least, the slightly wrong letters. The example in the image above shows that Fleksy looks at the letters near the ones picked by the user to come up with something that makes sense.

Its second feature is its use of the VoiceOver feature in iOS devices. As soon as a word is completed the app will say the word aloud, giving the user a chance to edit what he’s typing, although it doesn’t seem to have a delete button.

Syntellia has already submitted the app for approval, so hopefully it’ll be available soon. It’s not magical, but it is practical. I bet it would work even better with that button-growing touchscreen.

[via Fleksy via The Next Web]

MultiTap Text Brings Back Numeric Keypad, Lets You Text Without Looking Once Again

Posted on 04/04/2012 by Lambert Varias

If there’s one thing that I miss from my old Nokia cellphones, it’s the simple but efficient T9 typing system. I don’t know why Apple insists on packing so many tiny buttons on the iPhone with the QWERTY layout when the numeric keypad works just fine for many of us. That’s why I’m interested in the MultiTap Text app.

multitap text app

As you can see MultiTap text uses a virtual numeric keypad, with buttons that are big and easy to tap. You can send a text message or an email from within the app itself. You can also copy the text manually if you prefer. It defaults to having key clicks turned off, but it’s definitely better to have them on if you plan on touch typing. Unfortunately, you can’t use it to reply to messages from within Apple’s Mail or Messages app, and have to use copy and paste for those situations.

MultiTap Text is now available from the App Store for $0.99 (USD). It’s not as good as having physical buttons, but I really do wish this becomes a built-in option for iOS.

[via OhGizmo!]

SwiftKey 3 Beta launches, no space bar required (video)

Posted on 04/04/2012 by Myriam Joire

Just when we thought our favorite Android virtual keyboard couldn't get much better, TouchType decided to prove us wrong by launching SwiftKey 3 Beta. If you're one of the product's 30,000+ VIP users, you'll want to get your hands on the company's newest creation right now, for free. What's new? The space bar is no longer required, for one -- Smart Space detects and corrects "miss-typed or omitted spaces across whole phrases." Paradoxically, that same space bar is now wider, just in case you're feeling nostalgic. Smart punctuation further enhances the UI, with language-specific improvements in tow. In fact, SwiftKey 3 offers support for seven new languages -- Korean, Estonian, Farsi, Icelandic, Latvian, Lithuanian and Serbian (for a total of 42). Finally, you'll find two lovely new themes, Cobalt and the Ice Cream Sandwich-inspired Holo. We've been playing with TouchType's latest and greatest for a few hours now on both our HTC One X and our Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 and we've stopped using the space bar completely. Did you notice? Wedidn'tthinkso. Check out the gallery of screenshots below, hit the break for a demo video and the full PR, then follow the More Coverage link to sign up as a VIP.

Gallery: SwiftKey 3 Beta screenshots