Develop Bugs

[Q] [App Idea] Soft keyboard that only shows numbers while using physical keyboard

I am certainly no developer, but I was wondering if there was a way to make a soft keyboard that would only show a row of numbers while the physical keyboard is in use, but would show a normal full keyboard when only using the soft keyboard. While I love the physical keyboard on the G2, I do miss my G1's 5th row. The way I was thinking this could be implemented is the same way swiftkey works. While using the physical keyboard it still shows predicted words that you can click. What I am describing (possibly not very well) is exactly what swiftkey does, but a row of numbers instead of predicted text.
Is this possible? If something like this already exists I do apologize, I searched around but could not find anything like this. Thanks!

Also this should probably be in themes/apps. I meant to put it there, just clicked on the wrong thing, feel free to move it!

gbpack2306 said:
I am certainly no developer, but I was wondering if there was a way to make a soft keyboard that would only show a row of numbers while the physical keyboard is in use, but would show a normal full keyboard when only using the soft keyboard. While I love the physical keyboard on the G2, I do miss my G1's 5th row. The way I was thinking this could be implemented is the same way swiftkey works. While using the physical keyboard it still shows predicted words that you can click. What I am describing (possibly not very well) is exactly what swiftkey does, but a row of numbers instead of predicted text.
Is this possible? If something like this already exists I do apologize, I searched around but could not find anything like this. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No idea if it's possible, but I want it!

Me 3...

DUDE!!! GENIUS! Thats is a Grade A, #1, winner idea.
if you dont know how to, contact some1 who does....

+1 That is a great idea.

Well, I really wouldn't want a row of numbers to take away from my screen real-estate while I'm browsing the web.
BUT! The G2 does have those new quick keys on it which may come in handy? All we need to is preset one of the quick keys to pop up the numbers row when pressed, and hide it when pressed again.
I think this is a great idea, and would love to see if this could be done. I don't see why someone cant make this into a VERY SIMPLE APP FOR THE G2?

havikx said:
DUDE!!! GENIUS! Thats is a Grade A, #1, winner idea.
if you dont know how to, contact some1 who does....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! I'm glad people like the idea. If something doesn't come of this thread, I'll definitely look into finding someone to help.
WilliamStern said:
Well, I really wouldn't want a row of numbers to take away from my screen real-estate while I'm browsing the web.
BUT! The G2 does have those new quick keys on it which may come in handy? All we need to is preset one of the quick keys to pop up the numbers row when pressed, and hide it when pressed again.
I think this is a great idea, and would love to see if this could be done. I don't see why someone cant make this into a VERY SIMPLE APP FOR THE G2?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While I certainly don't dislike this idea, and I would totally use it if someone developed it this way, I would prefer it be implemented more like I described above for a couple of reasons.
1. You say you don't want a row of number blocking part of your screen while browsing the web. The numbers, if implemented like SwiftKey does their suggestive text, would only come up when you are in a text field.
2. I don't know, but I feel like using the quick keys would require root, which we don't (permanently) have yet.
3. There are several other phones out there that could benefit from an app like this, such as the droid, droid 2, mytouch slide, etc because they also have a "full" four row keyboard. If we used the quick keys, they wouldn't be able to take advantage of this

+1 to the list of people who think this is a great idea. One of the G2's significant shortcomings is that the keyboard is only 4 rows, which makes typing numbers very cumbersome. This would be a great solution to that problem.

I agree this would be a great idea. Also adding in the spell check bar would make my day. Even with the physical keyboard I sometimes hit the wrong letter or just can't spell a word.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

Posting in a epic Thread.
Hope this become real.

"Softkeyboard that only shows numbers while using physical keyboard" FTW!

raitchison said:
One of the G2's significant shortcomings is that the keyboard is only 4 rows, which makes typing numbers very cumbersome.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hope you realize that hitting the alt key twice in a row will put it in a "Alt-lock" mode, so to speak. This will allow you to type numbers without having to hit alt after each number. Of course, you'll have to hit alt one more time to switch back to regular letters.

Stryder5 said:
I hope you realize that hitting the alt key twice in a row will put it in a "Alt-lock" mode, so to speak. This will allow you to type numbers without having to hit alt after each number. Of course, you'll have to hit alt one more time to switch back to regular letters.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its a good idea, but if you were to dedicate a key to it, it seems kinda pointless
I mean double-tap ALT will lock number keys. So it doesn't seem like that much of an issue.
great idea tho. How can we make it better?

Best idea since that app that fixed the white G1 backlit key issue lol. Finally have a pirpose for these dumb ass quick keys.
If someone did this right this could be the new swype... preloaded on all 4 row sliders.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using telepathy and unicorn dust!

i'm highly upset i never dove deeper into developing. this seems like something fairly simple to develop, for some1 who knows developing.
please do. this 4 row is killing me.

I would pay a couple bucks for this app, and it seems pretty simple. Someone please make it!

+1
love it. i think that could be a great app that i'd for sure use

I'd gladly pay for this. I really hope something comes of this thread.

I made these tonight.
G2NumberKeyboard shows a number row whenever the keyboard is open.
G2NumberToggleKeyboard shows/hides the number row whenever you press and hold the right shift key.
It works ok, but has a few bugs (for instance, sometimes the number row doesn't appear without sliding the screen closed/open, sometimes the number row stays on-screen after leaving the input box, etc).
Install the apk then enable in Settings -> Keyboard
Give it a try and let me know/give feedback.

Better keyboard than swype or slideit?

I prefer using a sliding keyboard over hunting and pecking but i haven't found a keyboard that has all the features I want and wondered if there's other options.
Basically these are my main complaints with the keyboards I've tried.
Slideit: no smiley button for texting, no way to quickly delete whole words, and the worst for me is how hard it is to get common punctuation like the question mark.
Swype: auto spacing is annoying, and backwards. Swype inserts the space after a word is swiped, instead of in the beginning of the next word. This makes it impossible to modify the last word by hunting and pecking without first getting rid of that last space. Slow. Unnecessary. Swype constantly pops ups when "hidden words" are typed and this cannot be ignored, thus breaking up the flow of typing. The need to double back and make scribbles for repeating characters is very unnatural compared with the rest of the text entry, and other keyboards get by without this, it should at least be an option. Finally, and I don't mean to dump on swype so hard, but it does some really funky stuff with punctuation. I can type 'they've', but I can't type 'they'd' without going to the punctuation key for some reason.
Does anyone else have similar gripes with sliding keyboards or are there workarounds or other options out there? Slideit seems the most bearable right now but some if its flaws are quite annoying, too.

I am currently using Swype and I have the same problem, I wish there was a better keyboard to use. Maybe shapewritter? Better keyboard is weird, don't like that one but if there was something with T9 I'd be happy..
Sent from HTC EVO 4G via xda app

ultra keyboard is pretty good, it has swiping and normal typing and lots of settings, check it out.

Ultra has swiping?
Sent from HTC EVO 4G via xda app

Software buttons annoyance!

Sent quite a few text messages and emails today and closed both the applications a few times in error as the homepage button is right under the space bar and very sensitive!
I suppose I will get use to it however with time.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

This is what I fear the most when I first heard about the software button. Hopefully my fingers will get used to it.

It's not too different from having a capacitive button right below the screen. Just need to type a little slower I'd say

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTMpctKxY3E&sns=em
He agrees with you.

Type in landscape mode
Sent from my X10i using xda premium

_hyperdude said:
It's not too different from having a capacitive button right below the screen. Just need to type a little slower I'd say
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I'd say having software buttons and having capacitive buttons are both equally bad for this reason. This is why I prefer real physical buttons.

Tjotte said:
Type in landscape mode
Sent from my X10i using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
YT guy also agrees with you. Win. Win.

Try a keyboard on which you can set the height of the bottom row. Thumb keyboard for example or smart keyboard. Btw as the developer of thumb keyboard I plan to add an option to add extra space under the bottom row of the keyboard so it floats a bit above the keys.

They just need to make the softbuttons hide when the keyboard is open. Not hide completely but minimize so it would require 2 taps. One to maximize the buttons and one tap to go. Or shuffle them around. Or add a forth softbutton (search?) So the alignment isn't directly below it.
It happens even on my G2x. I think its just growing pains when moving into a larger screen. Going from a Nexus One to a G2x (3.7" to 4") messed up my typing until I got used to it.
G2x - 2.3.7 CM7
Transformer - 3.2 Revolver OC/UV

player911 said:
They just need to make the softbuttons hide when the keyboard is open. Not hide completely but minimize so it would require 2 taps. One to maximize the buttons and one tap to go. Or shuffle them around. Or add a forth softbutton (search?) So the alignment isn't directly below it.
It happens even on my G2x. I think its just growing pains when moving into a larger screen. Going from a Nexus One to a G2x (3.7" to 4") messed up my typing until I got used to it.
G2x - 2.3.7 CM7
Transformer - 3.2 Revolver OC/UV
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think Google just needs to figure out that having a virtual home button is a really ****ing dumb idea. Apple figured this out with the iPhone 1. Why the **** can't Google get a clue already?

Chirality said:
I think Google just needs to figure out that having a virtual home button is a really ****ing dumb idea. Apple figured this out with the iPhone 1. Why the **** can't Google get a clue already?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Take a pill and chill on the language.

appelflap said:
Try a keyboard on which you can set the height of the bottom row. Thumb keyboard for example or smart keyboard. Btw as the developer of thumb keyboard I plan to add an option to add extra space under the bottom row of the keyboard so it floats a bit above the keys.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're the fellow behind Thumb Keyboard? I love TB Keyboard! I've emailed you a few times about custom auto-corrections. Please implement them soon! It's the only one single thing missing from TB Keyboard.
Edit: And yes, I can vouch. Thumb keyboard is excellent and allows you to adjust the space bar line.

onthecouchagain said:
You're the fellow behind Thumb Keyboard? I love TB Keyboard! I've emailed you a few times about custom auto-corrections. Please implement them soon! It's the only one single thing missing from TB Keyboard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm working on a update in which I want to include the new spellchecking options offered by Ice cream sandwich. When working on it I also want to look at some options to customize the suggestion model. For now I'm planning to add the new ICS suggestion model as an option. For me it isn't as useful as the current suggestion model used, but I'm sure for others it will fit their typing style better.

Chirality said:
I think Google just needs to figure out that having a virtual home button is a really ****ing dumb idea. Apple figured this out with the iPhone 1. Why the **** can't Google get a clue already?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Settle it down a little bit man...

appelflap said:
I'm working on a update in which I want to include the new spellchecking options offered by Ice cream sandwich. When working on it I also want to look at some options to customize the suggestion model. For now I'm planning to add the new ICS suggestion model as an option. For me it isn't as useful as the current suggestion model used, but I'm sure for others it will fit their typing style better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That sounds terrific.
Will custom auto corrections be in an update after that? I think since everyone types a little differently and thus makes their own mistakes, custom auto corrections will go a long way in helping everyone's typing. For example, I know I constantly hit "km" instead of "I'm". It'd be great if I could set up a custom correction where every single "km" typed will correct to "I'm."

landscape ftw tbh

Chirality said:
I think Google just needs to figure out that having a virtual home button is a really ****ing dumb idea. Apple figured this out with the iPhone 1. Why the **** can't Google get a clue already?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Virtual buttons are awesome. They just need tweaks. Perhaps just reordered. Or perhaps make the icons further down on the screen and make the hit area smaller while the keyboard is up. There are lots of solutions.
Just needs tweaked.
G2x - 2.3.7 CM7
Transformer - 3.2 Revolver OC/UV

player911 said:
Virtual buttons are awesome. They just need tweaks. Perhaps just reordered. Or perhaps make the icons further down on the screen and make the hit area smaller while the keyboard is up. There are lots of solutions.
Just needs tweaked.
G2x - 2.3.7 CM7
Transformer - 3.2 Revolver OC/UV
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What's good about virtual buttons?

Chirality said:
What's good about virtual buttons?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They are virtual? (I had to guys.)
For starters? No physical buttons = bigger screens for the same real estate since you don't have to have the space for actual physical buttons and as an added bonus less complexity and chance of something physical breaking or going wrong in the device since it's all screen. You could argue that costs come down do to less hardware and time to actually make a device that's all screen. I'd also say if you wanted to add something down the line with the virtual buttons it's easy: software tweak.

You can do a lot more with software than you can with hardware.

Great Idea that OEM's should do

I have a thought that I think OEM's should consider. I'm in love with Qwerty phones. I mean I ALWAYS mess up when typing on software. No matter how good the keyboard. I just hit the most stupid letters. LoL!!
Anyways, my idea is based off something I seen for the iPhone and it's millions of 3rd party accessories. It's a detachable keyboard. I thought that was the coolest idea ever. So OEM's should make detachable keyboards for those who want them. I wouldn't mind using a keyboard on my E4GT. I mean, I really wouldn't mind the size that I'm sure it would add.
I'm sure if the OEM made it the keyboard would be expensive, but that's one thing I'm willing to spend no more that $50 for. =.P

i like hard keyboards too and the added real estate from not having a soft keybaord displayed on the screen. i thought i would miss it dearly when i replaced my samsung moment with the OG evo. NOPE! swype and swiftkey make me happy.
it would be nice if there was a way to specify which keyboard to use when in landscape and portrait modes. i'd like use swype in portrait mode, but swiftkey when in landscape.

How do you feel about this idea for the camera app. A tap for a single pic a double tap for burst shot and press and hold for panoramic. Shot.

kidhudi said:
How do you feel about this idea for the camera app. A tap for a single pic a double tap for burst shot and press and hold for panoramic. Shot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is an amazing idea! Not sure about the panoramic but the burst...how has this not happened yet?
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA

cnstarz said:
i like hard keyboards too and the added real estate from not having a soft keybaord displayed on the screen. i thought i would miss it dearly when i replaced my samsung moment with the OG evo. NOPE! swype and swiftkey make me happy.
it would be nice if there was a way to specify which keyboard to use when in landscape and portrait modes. i'd like use swype in portrait mode, but swiftkey when in landscape.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...gle&utm_medium=organic&utm_term=root+keyboard
Hope that helps.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA

They make Bluetooth keyboards. I tried a Logitech one and it worked good. But I like Swype and carrying around a keyboard isn't practical for me.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

I don't like this trend...

... of apps ignoring the menu key.
I've always preferred the menu - home - back layout Samsung has stuck with. It just feels more natural to me... Now though I'm starting to think the new Android design guidelines are going to pose a big usability problem.
Especially on big phones like the GS3, having to reach to the top of the phone to get at common options is an annoyance at best. Mint is one of the latest apps to implement the new design guidelines that renders the menu button useless.
I hope the development community can come up with a workaround - if they haven't already. Anyone know of efforts to remap or otherwise keep the menu button useful?

Its not really the dev community that controls the design guidelines.. as you know google updates them with each iteration of Android. The problem here is, starting from the Galaxy Nexus, none of Google's phones have come with a menu button. Google believes this is better (for some reason) and so all the design guidelines are trending towards making the menu button obsolete.
Samsung on the other hand is slowly becoming the only manufacturer to persist with the menu button.
From a development perspective, its easy enough to support devices with/without a menu button, with the same piece of code. I feel the main reason big Android apps are moving to the Holo bar menu button is for uniformity like in iOS (which is what Google wants in the first place)

There are roms that let you easily re-assign the menu button. For example, I have menu bound to recent apps (android standard is back, home, recent apps) with long press recent apps as menu for those few cases where apps still use the menu button.
As much as you may like the menu button it is more than on its way out at this point. Despite what samsung has been building their phones with.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium

50% of the reason I like a physical home button is because for me, it's easier to power up the phone...and more natural, less effort etc. I also go into standby by an upward gesture on my homescreen so on/off is very quick and handy.
The other half is that I have more screen real estate.

pngface said:
Its not really the dev community that controls the design guidelines.. as you know google updates them with each iteration of Android. The problem here is, starting from the Galaxy Nexus, none of Google's phones have come with a menu button. Google believes this is better (for some reason) and so all the design guidelines are trending towards making the menu button obsolete.
Samsung on the other hand is slowly becoming the only manufacturer to persist with the menu button.
From a development perspective, its easy enough to support devices with/without a menu button, with the same piece of code. I feel the main reason big Android apps are moving to the Holo bar menu button is for uniformity like in iOS (which is what Google wants in the first place)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uniformity is huge, have you seen that picture with the buttons of around 10 android popular phones in which none of them have the same buttons/order.
Also, as an ex-galaxy nexus user, I must say that on-screen buttons are FAR better than what we have. The only down side is lost screen space in most apps (some stuff does go full screen). But the customizability of the software buttons is SO NICE. you can change the size of the bar, the colour, what buttons are there, what the icons are. The slide for google now is much more intuitive that long pressing menu. XDA devs have even added the ability to add what ever you want to the google now slide up gesture. (including widgets).
The software bar is simply a modder's wet dream

Sure uniformity is cool, but what's more uniform than a menu key that's just there all the time? I don't even have to think about it; I want settings/options, I press the menu key. This has honestly been one of my favorite design elements of Android. I hate that this is being phased out.
Ah well, nothing I can do about it.

themadproducer said:
50% of the reason I like a physical home button is because for me, it's easier to power up the phone...and more natural, less effort etc. I also go into standby by an upward gesture on my homescreen so on/off is very quick and handy.
The other half is that I have more screen real estate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do you have it set up to sleep with a screen gesture?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

yamahakid said:
How do you have it set up to sleep with a screen gesture?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's 2 parts...but super simple and turbo quick!
I use Go Launcher EX. Many of the custom launchers have Gesture ability. (unlike stock TouchWiz) There are 2 types of gestures in GLex. The one I use is an upward gesture anywhere on any home screen. (you could choose an icon in the dock as well) and it's not the Gesture Pad feature. For me, this works well as I never find myself swiping upwards on the home screen except to initiate SCREEN OFF....although I have requested them to add a 2 finger swipe for extra control.
The 2nd part is an app called "screen off and lock" which I have been using for years. I tell GLex to execute SOAL with an upward gesture on the home screen. Works flawlessly. (GLex has it's own plugin for screen off...but it is laggy)
SOAL also has CRT similar fx and other options. But I just use the clean screen off effect and it's INSTANT. I literally can turn on my S3 with my physical home button, swipe to unlock. then swipe up to lock/screen off in under a second...and keep repeating...no lag. (that's not what I use it for per-say...but just to show that it is fast...all with my thumb in a close proximity area.)

Just got it all set up and I'm loving it so far. Thanks a lot
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

yamahakid said:
Just got it all set up and I'm loving it so far. Thanks a lot
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right on, glad you tried it out.
To me, little things like this make the experience so much better.
Are you using GLex?

themadproducer said:
Right on, glad you tried it out.
To me, little things like this make the experience so much better.
Are you using GLex?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No I have an s3, but I flashed a fix that changed my build.prop to gnex so I can run Google wallet.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

yamahakid said:
No I have an s3, but I flashed a fix that changed my build.prop to gnex so I can run Google wallet.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ha Ha...no...actually I meant Go Launcher EX? (GLex)
What launcher do you use to perform the swipe?

themadproducer said:
Ha Ha...no...actually I meant Go Launcher EX? (GLex)
What launcher do you use to perform the swipe?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha oh I thought you made a typo. I'm using apex launcher.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

radeon_x said:
... of apps ignoring the menu key.
I've always preferred the menu - home - back layout Samsung has stuck with. It just feels more natural to me... Now though I'm starting to think the new Android design guidelines are going to pose a big usability problem.
Especially on big phones like the GS3, having to reach to the top of the phone to get at common options is an annoyance at best. Mint is one of the latest apps to implement the new design guidelines that renders the menu button useless.
I hope the development community can come up with a workaround - if they haven't already. Anyone know of efforts to remap or otherwise keep the menu button useful?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Video about some of my likes and dislikes about the GS3 overall its the best smartphone I have ever owned .

That's one thing that annoys me about the Android OS not being unified... some apps will ignore the menu, some wont.