iOS 8 (finally) delivers third-party keyboard support for iDevices

[Shawn Knight]

Official support for one of the most requested features in iOS has finally arrived. With iOS 8 (available for download today), Apple for the first time ever opened their mobile OS up to third-party keyboard developers and as you might expect, there’s no shortage of popular keyboard apps now vying for your attention in the App Store.

As of writing, a number of apps are already available to download including Swype, SwiftKey and Fleksy.

Swype allows users to type with a single hand as you simply drag your finger across the keyboard to spell out words. That probably sounds pretty difficult but it’s pretty easy to get the hang of if you’ve never tried it. With over 250 million users worldwide, you can rest assured that updates will come on a regular basis. It’ll set you back $0.99 and is available in English, French, Italian, German and Spanish.

Unlike Swype, SwiftKey is being offered free of charge. It works much like Swype in that you drag your finger across the virtual keyboard to type. It uses multiple artificial intelligence technologies to predict words you might want to type and can even draw from previous conversations to learn your style.

Fleksy hasn’t been around for all that long but it’s still one of the most popular choices among third-party keyboard apps. The app, responsible for the world’s fastest texter, offers up an impressive autocorrect function, gesture support, themes and a collection of hundreds of emoticons to choose from.

Do you prefer to use a third-party keyboard with your smartphone? If so, which is your favorite and why?

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/58108-ios-8-finally-delivers-third-party-keyboard-support-for-idevices.html

 

[VitalyT]

I haven't tried another keyboard yet, but even the original Apple Wireless was quite slow, one click often results in multiple symbols on iPad 4 that I used. I will try again with iOS 8 tonight to see if anything changed there...

I updated iPhone 5 + iPad 4 to iOS 8 last night, they both seem to be working fine, no visible lag, not yet anyway.

 

[SNGX1275]

@VitalyT - That isn't what this is about, its about replacing the on-screen keyboard with 3rd party ones that can do stuff the iOS one can't/doesn't do. Like dragging your finger across keys.

 

[VitalyT]

@VitalyT - That isn't what this is about, its about replacing the on-screen keyboard with 3rd party ones that can do stuff the iOS one can't/doesn't do. Like dragging your finger across keys.

And I was talking about use of their own keyboard versus direct input being slow as it is. How is it not the same subject? If Apple couldn't get their own version of external keyboard to work well, I'm not sure what to expect from the third-party implementations... That's essentially what I was saying, now just repeating myself

EDITED:

On another re-read: Is it all just about software keyboard on iOS? Damn... Didn't occur to me, because I'm not familiar with those apps, so I was thinking hardware

 

[Camikazi]

@VitalyT - That isn't what this is about, its about replacing the on-screen keyboard with 3rd party ones that can do stuff the iOS one can't/doesn't do. Like dragging your finger across keys.

And I was talking about use of their own keyboard versus direct input being slow as it is. How is it not the same subject? If Apple couldn't get their own version of external keyboard to work well, I'm not sure what to expect from the third-party implementations... That's essentially what I was saying, now just repeating myself

EDITED:

On another re-read: Is it all just about software keyboard on iOS? Damn... Didn't occur to me, because I'm not familiar with those apps, so I was thinking hardware

Probably because until now they were never allowed on iOS.

 

[SNGX1275]

@Camikazi - which was the entire point of the story.

 

[Jad Chaar]

Really digging Swiftkey.

 

[Skidmarksdeluxe]

I never knew that iSheep couldn't download 3rd party keyboards. Thats stupid because default virtual keyboards are usually crappy affairs.

Really digging Swiftkey.

Yeah is great. Now you just need a proper device to use it on then you're set.

 

[Guest]

Oh Apple, how you poked fun at Android for all those years just to end up copying everything.

Hackers keyboard ftw!