Michal Ždanský Last week we they brought news, that the SwiftKey predictive keyboard in app form is heading to iOS, based on information from the @evleaks Twitter account. Today, SwiftKey Note has indeed appeared in the App Store, and iPhone and iPad users can finally experience what an alternative to the system keyboard looks like, which has not changed since the first version of iOS. Similar to Path Input, which offers the Swype keyboard, this is a separate application that SwiftKey offers, so it is not possible to use it anywhere else. At least the integration with Evernote should make up for this shortcoming.
Due to stricter rules in the App Store, unlike Android, developers cannot offer an alternative keyboard that would actually replace the system keyboard. Although Tim Cook on the D11 conference promised greater openness in the future, all third-party software must work only in its own inbox, and deeper integration into the system, such as that of Twitter, Facebook or Flickr, requires direct cooperation with Apple. Alternative keyboards thus have only two options. Either offer other developers an API to integrate the keyboard, as the startup is trying to do Flexy (TextExpander works in a similar way), or release your own application.
SwiftKey went the other way and came up with a note app where you can use SwiftKey. Perhaps the biggest attraction here is the connection with Evernote. Notes do not live only in the application sandbox, but are synchronized to the connected service. Journals, notes, and labels can be accessed directly from the main menu, but there's a catch. SwiftKey Note can't load existing Evernote notes unless they've been tagged with a custom label, so it kind of only works one way and only allows you to edit notes created in SwiftKey Note. This drops the idea that the application could partially replace Evernote. However, the company behind SwiftKey is considering connecting other services, so the application could work similar to Drafts, where the resulting text can be sent to different services or applications.
The design of the keyboard itself is a bit half-baked. The only visible difference to Apple's keyboard is the top bar with a word hint. This is the main strength of SwiftKey, as it not only predicts words as you type, but also predicts the next word based on context without typing a single letter. This speeds up the whole typing process with less keystrokes, although it takes a bit of practice. The disadvantage of the iOS version is the absence of the flow function, which allows you to write words in one stroke. In SwiftKey Note, you still have to type out individual letters, and the only real advantage of the entire application is the predictive bar, which reveals basic formatting options after swiping your finger. The developers, however they let it be heard, that they will consider implementing Flow based on user feedback. And they will definitely demand it.
What freezes is limited language support. While the Android version offers over 60 languages, including Czech, SwiftKey for iOS only includes English, German, Spanish, French and Italian. Other languages will probably appear over time, but at the moment the usage is minimal for us, that is, unless you prefer to write notes in English or another of the supported languages.
[youtube id=VEGhJwDDq48 width=”620″ height=”360″]
Until Apple allows developers to integrate apps more deeply into iOS, or at least install alternative keyboards, SwiftKey will remain a half-baked solution for a long time only within its own app. As a technology demo, the app is interesting and the link to Evernote adds a lot to its usefulness, but as an app itself, it has some shortcomings, notably the absence of Flow and limited language support. However, you can find it for free in the App Store, so you can at least try out what predictive typing can look like on an iPhone or iPad.
[app url=”https://itunes.apple.com/cz/app/swiftkey-note/id773299901?mt=8″]
It doesn't have Czech and the keyboard as a separate application is just as bad. Delete after 20 seconds. Brothel.
With the road, mom would appreciate it :-D Before she writes something, it would at least give her a hint. But I? ladscape mode I write so fast that I just need to write down every word of the normal interpretation, let's just say it. No need for me :)
I stopped reading the moment I learned it was a standalone app and basically only worked in Evernote. Why would anyone even waste their time with something like this?
Because it has to start somewhere? And anyway, the response around the world is huge, so it definitely makes sense. You can find the route and other details in further updates.
And yes I work for SwiftKey, but I didn't work on this product. In any case, until Apple changes its tactics, a separate application is the only way to offer the most advanced technologies in language processing to iOS users.
And I'm sorry you think it's a waste of time. At least try it :-)
OK, so you don't say I'm just cooking with water, I downloaded the app and tried it. ;)
It's fine, it works quite well, BUT... I write and write and I constantly have to keep my eyes on the top bar to see if the word I need has popped up. Quite annoying. It would require having the word right in front of my eyes, as well as the letters themselves, when I write. Maybe you could get used to it, but if I can't try it long-term across the whole phone...
And another thing… I'm writing a sentence that I want to end with a period… but when I type the last word, when I select the suggested word, it makes a space. So I have to erase the gap and then write the period. I hope I explained it clearly. ;)
Otherwise you are of course right, it has to start somehow... but I don't believe that Apple will ever open up the system so that another keyboard can be integrated there. That's why I write that it's unnecessary work... But if you expect that Apple will buy your product and maybe even attract employees to it, then I understand the motivation. ;)
I understand the first objection, it takes a little getting used to. That's why there is an alternative mode where predictions are displayed directly in the text, try it (in the application in settings -> Advanced -> Hide prediction bar).
Also, in the settings in Advanced, you will find the possibility to influence what the space bar does when you write a word.
However, as for punctuation, it is special. It works correctly for me, i.e. when I write a word and I want a period, I just write it and it is inserted immediately after the word, without a space. Are you really putting a space there when you put punctuation there? Because that would be a bug, so I would report it sometime.
And the purpose of the application is to allow the user to speed up at least a certain percentage of typing on the iPhone. You can always expand, but if it doesn't start, then of course it will never be systemic :)
When I switch it to "inline", it's even worse... it's better to have it in that bar. ;)
We don't understand the dot... Let's say the last word in the sentence is "home"... so I type "ho" and click "home" from the menu bar. But this causes a space to be created after the word, which I have to delete in Russian and write a period... Otherwise, I can write a period right after the word, but I have to write the whole word manually and not choose from the menu... Do we understand? :)
We understand, that's why I say, try to write the dot there. It is done in such a way that when you select a word with letters, a space is inserted after it. And then it depends on what you start to write - if it's text, normally the space will remain there and you'll write dal. If there is punctuation, then it is inserted directly after the previous word :)
So type "ho", select "home" from the list and type a dot. Everything should work as you would expect. Does it work?
Hmmm… it works.:) I either type a dot or double tap the spacebar and it's… Good.;)
The native keyboard in iOS is something awful that doesn't belong in the 21st century. Without autocorrect, it is practically impossible to use it, and with autocorrect, it replaces correctly written English words with others (eg gave -> have, if -> of, etc.), whereby the iPhone writes what the phone wants, not what I want. Android has a huge advantage in this and it would be wonderful if Apple finally integrated this or a similar keyboard. Of course, Swiftkey can't do better at this point than as a stand-alone app...