Google Keyboard Now available and Free!

[onthecouchagain]

Public Service Announcement:

Kii Keyboard has had a few updates recently that have just made it even better. Swiping is now more reliable than ever. The predictions still aren't quite up there with Swiftkey, but the swiping is phenomenal now. Maybe as good as Swype.

And it's still free for nearly all the features. No ads or anything: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zl.inputmethod.latin

 

[Technarchy]

Wow. I downloaded it to try out for fun. It's TONS better than I remember it being on the Nexus 4.

Google's really going crazy with their minor but frequent upgrades to their apps. I'm loving these upgrades.

Swiping is so much better now on the stock keyboard. I'm very impressed. As is the ability to slide to get to the symbols. The little line that follows you when you slide to the symbols is great. Auto prediction and correction seem better, too.

Might give this a go. Doubt it'll dethrone Swiftkey, though, but will try it for a few days.

Impressive, Google.

PS. If Apple doesn't announce any sort of upgrade or revamp of the iOS keyboard on Monday, I will laugh, and then shake my head in sad disappointment. Wouldn't mind seeing some sort of swipe-like functionality, too. They're so behind in this department, it's absurd.

That is a lot of enthusiasm. It's just an okay keyboard. It's also hideous from an aesthetics perspective, when you go back and click on a word it doesn't give you other possible options, no symbols without a sub menu, and no highlight all, cut and paste shortcut commands.

The one thing I'll give it credit for is it's way better pecking keyboard than Swype and swiftkey due to the key spacing and layout.

As for the iOS keyboard, for me it's still one of the fastest and most accurate in the game. It's most like using a real keyboard and has phenomenal detection despite the small screen and my medium sized fingers.

Personally I don't think there is a better keyboard than Swype on Android

 

[adder7712]

Public Service Announcement:

Kii Keyboard has had a few updates recently that have just made it even better. Swiping is now more reliable than ever. The predictions still aren't quite up there with Swiftkey, but the swiping is phenomenal now. Maybe as good as Swype.

And it's still free for nearly all the features. No ads or anything: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zl.inputmethod.latin

Kii's prediction is still heavily based on Google's algorithm.

 

[onthecouchagain]

Kii's prediction is still heavily based on Google's algorithm.

I guess that'll never change?

 

[Stuntman06]

Public Service Announcement:

Kii Keyboard has had a few updates recently that have just made it even better. Swiping is now more reliable than ever. The predictions still aren't quite up there with Swiftkey, but the swiping is phenomenal now. Maybe as good as Swype.

And it's still free for nearly all the features. No ads or anything: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zl.inputmethod.latin

After using SwiftKey and Swype for several months, I decided to give Kii a try again. My first impression is that the landscape layout is superior to SwiftKey. The other thing I like about Kii is that it actually has an English (Canadian) language setting. With SwiftKey and Swype, I had to do a work around by selecting the English US layout (for the $) and the English UK dictionary.

 

[flybub]

I downloaded Kii to give it a run. I've used SwiftKey exclusively for the last few years on my Android phones (HTC Incredible, Rezound, Galaxy S4). I have noticed quite a delay though on my S4 when opening a text message to reply or type out an email. I will agree with a few on here that iOS is still superior to any keyboard I've ever used. Even comparing my iPhone4 to my S4, I can punch out an email much quicker on my iphone than I can my s4. Not sure why it is but it is.

 

[adder7712]

I guess that'll never change?

Isn't Kii largely based on the stock keyboard but with some additions?

 

[onthecouchagain]

Isn't Kii largely based on the stock keyboard but with some additions?

I guess so. I'm not really sure. It definitely works similarly and predicts similarly, so I wouldn't be surprised.

It's essentially Google Keyboard Plus.

 

[Stuntman06]

Isn't Kii largely based on the stock keyboard but with some additions?

I find that Kii is more similar to Thumb Keyboard. The reason is that Kii has a number of different keyboard layouts. In landscape, I use the 13-key split keyboard. The letters of the keyboard are split to either side (like the iPad one) with a number pad in the middle. I use a 4.7" phone and I find that in landscape, it is difficult for my thumbs to reach the centre of the keyboard. The split layout moves the letters closer to the left and right sides of the keyboard and makes it more comfortable to type on.

 

[Eddie Bombay]

SwiftKey Flow for life

 

[Savor]

For some reason, that official Google JB keyboard is not avail in my country so I downloaded an alternative Jelly Bean kb from a 3rd party and it was much better than that crappy Sense 5 default keyboard.

Been using SwiftKey since last week and been loving it ever since. I'm typing faster than on my iPhone. I'm starting to love BIGGER screen phones. Reason being I like putting the SwiftKey keypad to the largest font/height. Putting that setting on a smaller phone has the kb taking up over half the screen like 75%. While on my One, it is about half.

I do a combination of flow, normal typing, and using predictive system. I generally text my wife with pretty much using the same phrases to her. So a 3-word phrase is like 5 taps for me. And I like SwiftKey with the multiple language feature. Using English and Tagalog. Cant see myself going back to the others and to a smaller screen. I generally use my phone to text honestly with using WiFi for BlinkFeed/Viber/web/email and making calls right up there. Camera, gaming, and music isnt high on my list like it used to as I've gotten older.

That SwiftKey "Light" theme with the largest font height just looks great on my glacial silver HTC One.

 

[onthecouchagain]

For some reason, that official Google JB keyboard is not avail in my country so I downloaded an alternative Jelly Bean kb from a 3rd party and it was much better than that crappy Sense 5 default keyboard.

Been using SwiftKey since last week and been loving it ever since. I'm typing faster than on my iPhone. I'm starting to love BIGGER screen phones. Reason being I like putting the SwiftKey keypad to the largest font/height. Putting that setting on a smaller phone has the kb taking up over half the screen like 75%. While on my One, it is about half.

I do a combination of flow, normal typing, and using predictive system. I generally text my wife with pretty much using the same phrases to her. So a 3-word phrase is like 5 taps for me. And I like SwiftKey with the multiple language feature. Using English and Tagalog. Cant see myself going back to the others and to a smaller screen. I generally use my phone to text honestly with using WiFi for BlinkFeed/Viber/web/email and making calls right up there. Camera, gaming, and music isnt high on my list like it used to as I've gotten older.

That SwiftKey "Light" theme with the largest font height just looks great on my glacial silver HTC One.

Swiftkey really is special. Once in a while a three word sentence will be three taps only.

 

[Stuntman06]

Swiftkey really is special. Once in a while a three word sentence will be three taps only.

The text prediction is pretty cool. However, over time, I find I use that feature less and less. I tend to just type out the whole sentence instead of looking to see if SK predicts it or not. I find the act of checking the prediction slows me down if it does not predict the word. It also ruins my train of thought. I guess I don't use very many repeated 3-word sentences.

 

[onthecouchagain]

The text prediction is pretty cool. However, over time, I find I use that feature less and less. I tend to just type out the whole sentence instead of looking to see if SK predicts it or not. I find the act of checking the prediction slows me down if it does not predict the word. It also ruins my train of thought. I guess I don't use very many repeated 3-word sentences.

I agree with this. I've said before, that's actually not the strength of Swiftkey. It's really the amazing auto-correct that really sells it for me.

I'm just saying, once in a rare while, it'll predict entire sentences. And that's pretty cool.

But I agree, I don't actually look up to see predictions regularly unless I know it'll predict the rest well.

 

[adder7712]

The text prediction is pretty cool. However, over time, I find I use that feature less and less. I tend to just type out the whole sentence instead of looking to see if SK predicts it or not. I find the act of checking the prediction slows me down if it does not predict the word. It also ruins my train of thought. I guess I don't use very many repeated 3-word sentences.

SwiftKey knows me. I typed something along the lines of "Is anyone coming?" and it suggested "lonely" afterwards.

 

[Stuntman06]

I agree with this. I've said before, that's actually not the strength of Swiftkey. It's really the amazing auto-correct that really sells it for me.

I do agree that the auto-correct is amazing. That is what drew me to SwiftKey several months ago. Over time I found that the keyboard layout just isn't what I like. With Kii, I like the keyboard more and I am less prone to making errors compared to SwiftKey. It's a balance between auto-correct effectiveness and the amount and type of errors I am making that needs correcting. I am definitely more comfortable with the Kii layout than any of the SwiftKey layouts.

I'm just saying, once in a rare while, it'll predict entire sentences. And that's pretty cool.

But I agree, I don't actually look up to see predictions regularly unless I know it'll predict the rest well.

When I was testing the keyboards out, I usually type, "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog." After doing this several times with SwiftKey, I find I only need to type the first two words and it predicts the rest. I do find this an amazing feature and the prediction along with the auto-correction is what makes SwiftKey's auto-correction so accurate.

What SwiftKey has trouble with is accidental presses of the shift key or the space bar or even accidentally pressing the predicted words above the keyboard. I find I am doing this often enough that it annoys me. When I switched to Kii this week, I found I am not making as many of these keying errors. I use the 13-Key split layout which has a number pad in the middle. The letters are off to the side which makes it easier for my thumbs to reach. I have noticed I am making some different keying errors on occasion. I sometimes press the 7 on the number pad instead of the T. Overall, Kii is more comfortable to type on. I'm going to stick with Kii over SwiftKey for now.

 

[Mr D]

If you haven't tried it, check out touchpal x...better than kii

 

[Stuntman06]

If you haven't tried it, check out touchpal x...better than kii

Does it have a split layout in landscape?

 

[onthecouchagain]

I do agree that the auto-correct is amazing. That is what drew me to SwiftKey several months ago. Over time I found that the keyboard layout just isn't what I like. With Kii, I like the keyboard more and I am less prone to making errors compared to SwiftKey. It's a balance between auto-correct effectiveness and the amount and type of errors I am making that needs correcting. I am definitely more comfortable with the Kii layout than any of the SwiftKey layouts.



When I was testing the keyboards out, I usually type, "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog." After doing this several times with SwiftKey, I find I only need to type the first two words and it predicts the rest. I do find this an amazing feature and the prediction along with the auto-correction is what makes SwiftKey's auto-correction so accurate.

What SwiftKey has trouble with is accidental presses of the shift key or the space bar or even accidentally pressing the predicted words above the keyboard. I find I am doing this often enough that it annoys me. When I switched to Kii this week, I found I am not making as many of these keying errors. I use the 13-Key split layout which has a number pad in the middle. The letters are off to the side which makes it easier for my thumbs to reach. I have noticed I am making some different keying errors on occasion. I sometimes press the 7 on the number pad instead of the T. Overall, Kii is more comfortable to type on. I'm going to stick with Kii over SwiftKey for now.

Oh I love Kii. It's my keyboard of choice too