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Swype, the high-speed on-screen keyboard for Android opens up for public beta testing (and a video review)
Swype, if you've not heard of it before, is a new on-screen keyboard input method. It does away with the abhorrent, RSI-inducing finger-tip tapping method of input on today's smartphones. In fact, judging by the 'Swype vs. iPhone' video that TechCrunch pushed out last year, Swype might even be as fast as those little BlackBerry keyboards.
But enough talk of iPhones and BlackBerrys -- Swype's main purpose is replacing the tap-tap-tap on-screen keyboard that ships with Android smartphones. I hope Swype eventually appears on other smartphone platforms, but for now it's Android-only -- and as of this morning, you can join the public beta and get your hands on a free copy of Swype. They say it'll only be open for a few days, so you'll want to get in there quickly.
Anyway, rather than listing the features, I suggest you watch the video review above. I must warn you, I do say 'ass' and 'shit' a few times, so it may not be safe for work (depending on where you work).
But enough talk of iPhones and BlackBerrys -- Swype's main purpose is replacing the tap-tap-tap on-screen keyboard that ships with Android smartphones. I hope Swype eventually appears on other smartphone platforms, but for now it's Android-only -- and as of this morning, you can join the public beta and get your hands on a free copy of Swype. They say it'll only be open for a few days, so you'll want to get in there quickly.
Anyway, rather than listing the features, I suggest you watch the video review above. I must warn you, I do say 'ass' and 'shit' a few times, so it may not be safe for work (depending on where you work).
Comments
15
Subscribe to commentsPendergastJun 16th 2010 1:35PM
Uh...swype has been out for WinMo for ages so not sure how you get that it's not available for other smartphones.
Sebastian AnthonyJun 16th 2010 1:54PM
Fantastic!
Still not for the iPhone or BlackBerry...!
Crazy SerbJun 16th 2010 2:32PM
I don't know where the guy in a video got the idea that this typing method is up to 5 times faster than traditional methods (self-marketing hype, maybe?), but it took him 5 times longer to type whatever he wanted to type out in Swype than it would take a normal human to type out with the "traditional method"...
That guy must be smokin' some good ganja.
Sebastian AnthonyJun 17th 2010 7:23AM
Nope... no drugs.
SnorriJun 16th 2010 2:37PM
For what it is worth I have been using Shapewriter on my Droid, which does the same thing, and it is free normally.
Sebastian AnthonyJun 17th 2010 7:23AM
Cool -- I'll check it out.
ChristianJun 16th 2010 2:53PM
what's a holy ass ass?
Sebastian AnthonyJun 17th 2010 7:24AM
Just imagine a comma between the first and second ass...
Admittedly, it still doesn't make much sense, but it makes SOME sense...
bknabJun 17th 2010 4:25AM
I was hoping the beta would open soon, thanks for the heads up. Now I just need to figure out why I don't have the smiley key that you have in that vid....
JonsiJun 17th 2010 9:32AM
I see you guys all love it, that’s good. Because there is another program using similar technology and has a download/purchase option for Windows Mobile, Android, Symbian and iPhone devices, unlike this.
It’s name is “Dasur – SlideIT”. Google it.
Crazy SerbJun 17th 2010 11:32AM
Meh, purchase option for a keyboard enhancement? What is this world coming down to...
And I take my original comment back, somewhat... sure, that guy in a sample video can't type to save his life (I'm now sure he can't use even the regular Android keyboard properly, let alone this one), as I've installed Swype and after literally 30 seconds of playing with it I can see how it speeds up word entry gazillion times!
It takes a few minutes of getting used to and maybe a change or two in the settings (speed vs. accuracy, popup suggest window, etc), but it's waaaay faster and slicker than the regular keyboard entry.
Sebastian AnthonyJun 17th 2010 11:36AM
That's ME in the video, you know that right?
EatmoldJun 17th 2010 6:03PM
Got it, using it, awesome!
OGeeJul 4th 2010 8:52AM
Sorry all but ShapeWriter Keyboard works better and smoother than Swipe. I have a few keyboards in my Nexus One 2.2 but I alway seem to go back to just using ShapeWriter. Swipe is buggy, and they seem to have everything in place in SW...
Try it for yourself.
Sebastian AnthonyJun 22nd 2010 6:06AM
I'll give it a go :)