I know Steve Jobs said that keyboards don't work because the buttons and controls can't change. That's great, but what's the point when they don't offer 3rd party apps? I'm sure Apple could make an amazing keyboard that wasn't touchscreen.
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What is the point in the keyboard?
- Thread starter LoganT
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Apple's solution is great... you get the controls you need when you need them
apple's solution is great in theory. we really need to wait and see how well people will manage to input text. with the loss of tactile feedback, it could be tricky.
sorry. i just always think it really funny when people feel the need to roll their eyes when answering just about any question someone asks. i like to imagine that happening in real like encounters. "what time is it?" "8:00
And that has what to do with this thread??
hey man i'm just trying to lighten up the mood on this forum a bit. everyone's freakin out so much asking the same questions over and over. i think we just need to cool out and be patient. the day will come very soon when we can all have our iphones.
the idea of an on-screen KB isn't anything new. any experienced mobile-computing user will most likely agree that an actual KB with good tactile feedback is a must. almost all top selling PDA phones have real KBs. it seemed like forstall had a little trouble with the virtual KB at WWDC.
but i certainly hope you are right. and since the iphone is more of a consumer product, the lack of KB may not make it a flop.
Other manufacturers offer touchscreen or hardware keyboards, sliders or not, sliding from bottom or side, etc. It's nice to have a choice.
There's a predictive, landscape mode, touch keyboard for Windows Mobile devices, from some super programmers in Russia. It's skinnable too:
http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/fsk/screenshots.html?en
I have fairly thin fingers. I can *almost* touch type on it with a 4" wide screen. But I still backspace a lot, compared to the device's hardware keyboard.
The iPhone's keyboard is on a 2" wide screen. Incredibly small. But I'm sure it'll do for relatively rare and small amounts of text entry.
There's a predictive, landscape mode, touch keyboard for Windows Mobile devices, from some super programmers in Russia. It's skinnable too:
http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/fsk/screenshots.html?en
I have fairly thin fingers. I can *almost* touch type on it with a 4" wide screen. But I still backspace a lot, compared to the device's hardware keyboard.
The iPhone's keyboard is on a 2" wide screen. Incredibly small. But I'm sure it'll do for relatively rare and small amounts of text entry.
i think the click wheel was universally accepted as genius. it was such the obvious implementation of controls. thanks, ipod mini! what really got panned was the touch sensitive buttons on the 3rd generation ipod. i always forgot which button was play. and when a button didn't respond, i didn't know if it was just being unresponsive or if the ipod was on hold.
i think the difference is that virtual KB has been tried, and failed too many times.
it's certainly possible that apple can make the on-screen KB work. but when the iphone software VP has trouble of using it, i'm not holding my breath.
the wheel got generally positive reviews. The first iPod got kicked around a bit because Apple said that Windows support wouldn't be there until the following year, and the price was kind of high. It seems that the reviewers were onto something that time around, sales didn't really take off until both of those issues were addressed.
The touch screen thing is a little different, those have been on portable devices for years and they do have some known problems. How well Apple did or didn't deal with them remains the subject of wild unfounded speculation.
The thing that bothers me about the iPhone, is the iPod controls.
I know we lost the click wheel, but I would have like to see a virtual click wheel.
In my opinion, the circular control system was the best ever. But this setup it now has feels so...mp3 playerish. Its disgusting.
I know we lost the click wheel, but I would have like to see a virtual click wheel.
In my opinion, the circular control system was the best ever. But this setup it now has feels so...mp3 playerish. Its disgusting.
Uh - It just occurred to me. What about those in colder climates? Gloves?
It's 10 degrees outside, you get into your car to make a call. Or outside Christmas shopping. Standing in line for a concert, etc. etc.. Will flicking the screen/scrolling for a number be possible with gloves? I mean, people are even speculating whether screen protectors would work. Umm..... I would hate to take my gloves off in nasty weather. Though I suppose it would be only for an instant. But still - might be inconvenient depending on what one's doing at the time.
It's 10 degrees outside, you get into your car to make a call. Or outside Christmas shopping. Standing in line for a concert, etc. etc.. Will flicking the screen/scrolling for a number be possible with gloves? I mean, people are even speculating whether screen protectors would work. Umm..... I would hate to take my gloves off in nasty weather. Though I suppose it would be only for an instant. But still - might be inconvenient depending on what one's doing at the time.