What open source keyboard alternative you suggest instead of gBoard on Android?

ladnopivo@lemmy.ml to Asklemmy@lemmy.ml – 51 points –

I'm trying to build my own degoogled ROM for me, so what are you suggesting? For now I'm on OpenBoard.

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Thumb-Key is aiming to be an FOSS replacement to the now unmaintained MessageEase. Like MessageEase, it offers a 3x3 touch-and-swipe layout. Such a layout takes some time to learn, but allows to type fast and accurately, thus getting rid of the dependence on prediction/auto-correction, without which QWERTY on small touchscreens would be unusable. Some people report being able to type > 50 WPM on MessageEase and the same should be possible with Thumb-Key. It's a young project and is still missing many features and gestures of MessageEase, but it is active and has a community here at thumbkey@lemmy.ml.

I only recently switched from GBoard to MessageEase and ThumbKey, and I still around 25 WPM, but I found that I stopped making mistakes when typing out the long master password for my password manage on my phone, because this is one of the areas where auto-correct couldn't help.

But I am still far away from reaching the speeds of swiping on a QWERTY-keyboard without word prediction. So if you don't mind that and don't want to spend your free time learning alternative layouts, stick to QWERTY layouts, but if you want a keyboard layout to type exactly what you want, try one of these 3x3 boards. To be honest, if you want to give it a shot, out of the two I wound probably still recommend MessageEase, as Thumb-Key is very alpha, but that might change. I have both with the same layout and switch back and forth.

That's a really smart idea: downloaded and using it to type this comment. I've often thought about how radial entry is so superior for many things (see CSGO buy menu). It's definitely a steep learning curve (as is any new input method) but I look forward to reaping the benefits!

I test it on your post. It's weird. But I think I can get used to it.

This is cool! Typing with it right now. Have been hoping to see an innovation like this for a long time. (Maybe some proprietary products have come and gone but non-free software doesn't exist to me unless I really can't afford to abstain)

That's a really smart idea: downloaded and using it to type this comment. I've often thought about how radial entry is so superior for many things (see CSGO buy menu). It's definitely a steep learning curve (as is any new input method) but I look forward to reaping the benefits!

Ok it's not as step as I thought it would be. I feel like i'm entering a fighting game combo

Will definitly try it for the next few day's althought certain point, like the fact that "I'm" takes 5 clicks

I only need three touches, using the MessageEase English with Symbols layout ln thumb key. That layout shows the single quote on the alpabetical "front" layer, while it is hidden behind a symbol layer in the default layout. Tou can find the layout list in the settings.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm going to try it definitely.