Swype Beta For Android Is Open, Temporarily

FyreWyr writes "In 2008 we discussed Swype, which allows a mobile (phone, e.g.) user to draw a path over a virtual keyboard to enter words, rather than requiring precise tapping to accomplish the input. Using this software, a Swype intern (Franklin Page) beat the Guinness record by about 6 WPM for the Guinness-standard phrase: The razor-toothed piranhas of the genera Serrasalmus and Pygocentrus are the most ferocious freshwater fish in the world. In reality they seldom attack a human. (Unfortunately the video at that link is marked private.) TechCrunch reports that Swype is presently in open beta, and will be available for 'a couple of days,' supporting English, Spanish, and Italian entry. Finally, while the deadline has apparently passed, I was able to retrieve the Android beta for testing a few minutes ago. I'm posting it here for the benefit of Android-enabled Slashdot readers."

Already on

[yakumo.unr]

It's pre installed on the Samsung Galaxy S, you just have to click and hold on a text input field to get the menu up that lets you enable it.

Re:Swype is really awesome

[iammani]

Not sure how long ago you checked, but Droid does come with swype.

Re:Swype is really awesome

[iammani]

Oops, I take that back. Its actually Motorola Droid X, that comes with swype. I got my version numbers wrong.

Well I'm certainly glad you posted this!

[56]

They definitely are still letting people download it - I just installed it on my HTC Magic. It works quite well, shocking so actually. In vertical one-handed typing, I'm already much faster and more accurate than I ever was with the regular keyboard. However, the swype idea doesn't make much sense for horizontal typing - there's no real way to use both hands so what's the point? I would prefer to be able to stick with the traditional keyboard for horizontal typing. That said, I'm going to stick with it for a few days and see how it goes under real-world circumstances.

Sweet, could be sweeter

[unfortunateson]

It beats the living snot out of the standard soft keyboard, and may be faster than the slider keyboard on my Moto Droid, except that I can use *two* thumbs on the slider.
I haven't yet gotten used to the right actions to say, "no, it's not one of those eight words" without having to reswype the whole word -- annoying on lengthy words. It's accuracy is pretty darn good anyway, even if I swerve because I'm going the wrong way toward a letter, it often gets the right word.

Only app I haven't gotten it to work on is Twisty, an interactive fiction interpreter -- it would be a big help there.

Re:Well I'm certainly glad you posted this!

[AusIV]

Enable word prediction in the Swype Settings menu, and swype will behave quite similarly to the standard keyboard if you tap letters one at a time instead of swyping. That said, from my initial impressions I'm unconvinced that using both hands to type on the horizontal keyboard would be faster than swyping on the vertical keyboard.

Flick Input

[JanneM]

I really prefer flick input, to be honest - 9-key layout, and a small "drag" in different directions determine which character to enter. You got big, easy to hit keys, and you're not dependent on the predictive input to get words right. I started using it for Japanese, but it's so convenient I now use it for English as well. Now, if I could add the Swedish characters to the Xperia Japanese/English flick keyboard I would never have to switch input method again.

Re:Flick Input

[JanneM]

The keyboard I use is the one included in the Japanese Xperia, and is actually the best one I've used so far. Simeji (http://www.appbrain.com/app/com.adamrocker.android.input.simeji/ [appbrain.com]) and OpenWnn (http://www.appbrain.com/app/com.owplus.ime.openwnnplus [appbrain.com]) are similar Japanese input methods, and both have several modes including flick input (the left screenshot in the Simeji link and right screenshot for OpenWnn shows flick input in action for Japanese).

Of those two I like OpenWnn better, but both do suffer a bit from featuritis. They have a system of plugins where you can add all kinds of shortcuts, precanned sentences and stuff. The default Japanese Xperia keyboard is much cleaner and simpler, and feels more responsive too.

Re:Privacy?

[Anonymous Coward]

It will say that anytime you install -any- input method.

Re:Flick Input

[demonlapin]

I can't help you with the multiple-language problem, but Swype is easy to use with one hand. Grab with the fingers, type with the thumb. I do it all the time.