Android Touch Screen QWERTY: Coming Soon…

[nogdolan]

http://androidcommunity.com/android-...oard-20081024/


Ask any G1 owner to make a list of complaints or shortcomings of their phone’s software and almost every list would include that the lack of a Virtual, Touch Screen Qwerty Keyboard was rather annoying. They won’t have to be annoyed for THAT much longer.
In early 2009, it appears as though the Android OS will feature an update that includes a virtual keyboard. PHEW! While the PHYSICAL full Qwerty Keyboard is a huge asset of the G1 according to most, simple things like typing in your login/passwords, initialing your High Score in a game and small tasks like that always require you slide open the G1. That can be a hassle.
Its unfortunate that it will take at least 3 months to complete an update, but at least its coming, right? In the meantime, hopefully a 3rd party developer can fill in that gap. But seeing as how its already “scheduled” we’re guessing developers aren’t exactly scampering to code a solution themselves.
The onscreen QWERTY is said to include a dictionary of suggestions and a suggestion algo that will make the task of typing on screen much easier. This update can’t come soon enough!

Input method framework (IMF) This feature will enable support for input methods other than physical keyboards, for example soft keyboards. IMF will also enable application developers to provide IME (see below) applications based on the framework.
Input method engines (IME) IME will support soft keyboards, a dictionary of suggestions, and a suggestion algorithm. The Android platform may contain few reference IMEs, and developers can provide IME applications through the Android Market.

[bigzae]

gr8 post. we all have been w8n to hear some good news about this. Now ill be able to txt n drive.lol

[MotorbikerChris]

HAHAHA^^^ not that i would ever text and drive but that would make it easier.

[Re@lly Dope!]

Very nice, I hope it just works well. It's one thing to give us a virtual keyboard but its another to give us one that is really reponsive and functional.

[the_infamous]

Yeah cause I have gone thru hell w/ mine in the last few days, & I am almost ready to send it back because of this exact reason, amongst the many others!

[ColtM733]

Thx for the info!!!

[bigzae]

HAHAHA^^^ not that i would ever text and drive but that would make it easier.

lol i got good at it while using my DASH and since then here in michigan they are trying to make a law against it.

[nickbunyun]

you just HAVE to love open source and updatable phones

[rawskilz]

this is really great news. all the opening of the qwerty just to type a few words is unnecessary. cant wait to get this app when is out

[jrokwitdacapitals18]

I don't get how some of these apps will work. Will we have to open that app to use the keyboard on the browser ? Another good example is multi touch. Will we open the app and use the browser though that app? Does anyone know what I'm talking about . Or will the touch keyboard,multi touch be access though the browser and not by it's own app? Thanks