Why is there no keyboard in horizontal mode in email and SMS clients?

[macbook123]

Anybody understands this?

Sorry for making this a thread after mentioning it already in another forum. But I believe this is really a major omission. Typing speed is where the iPhone has to compete with BlackBerry, Palm and Co. Most users will type way more when writing emails and text messages than when writing internet addresses. The keyboard in horizontal mode is significantly larger than that in vertical mode. Although I have rather thin fingers, I type about 50% faster (without errors) in horizontal mode.

Do folks think it will easy to remedy this with a software update? Am I the only one who's bothered by this?

 

[nickspohn]

I personally think it is easier to type with 2 thumbs in vertical mode, and of course, easier with just one phone.

I love the fact i can easily type with holding the phone in 1 hand and type my thumb at the same time, leaving my other hand for doing stuff the iPhone can't do

-nickspohn

 

[dagrouch]

I thought it was awkward at first but I just shrugged it off when I realized that you can pinch the email to see it better. Still doesn't solve the widescreen keyboard, but like another poster said, it seems faster with two thumbs in portrait mode.

 

[macbook123]

I thought it was awkward at first but I just shrugged it off when I realized that you can pinch the email to see it better. Still doesn't solve the widescreen keyboard, but like another poster said, it seems faster with two thumbs in portrait mode.

well, I can still type with two thumbs in landscape mode, and much more comfortably and faster.

 

[HOSKINGJ]

I have two words for you: "firmware" "update"

Actually a third as well: "hacking"

 

[macbook123]

I have two words for you: "firmware" "update"

Actually a third as well: "hacking"

I'm hoping you're right! Let's also hope that we see the batch of updates within the first few weeks from June 29 (i.e. the deadline for returning the iPhone). Although I think the thing is wonderful, I believe some of the newbie issues render it slightly less useful for the average business user than a BlackBerry (and I think these are a sizable fraction of the buyers). I'm not saying the keyboard in portrait mode is unusable, just that it is slightly less reliable than a BB keyboard (not SureType), and that it doesn't make sense to NOT have landscape keyboard in email and SMS mode.