BlackBerry's iconic keyboard patent has expired
BlackBerry's iconic keyboard patent has expired
Let's all close our eyes and go back to 2009 so we can feel the thrill of typing our first email on the go.
I had two BlackBerry devices for work, right about the time they were going away. I'd heard the keyboard was good on earlier models but it seemed like the quality had gotten pretty cheap on the later phones. The BlackBerry 10 OS on my last phone was actually pretty good, and probably would've kept them in the market if they'd launched it 5 years earlier.
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Yes please I hate fucking virtual keyboards and haptic feedback.
I literally go out of my way to use shit like KDE Connect to not have to type on a shitty phone virtual keyboard
God I don't know how anyone likes the haptic feedback. Turn that shit off.
Swiping is pretty cool though.
Haptic feedback maxed out plus the tap sounds with the volume turned up to 100% is the way to go.
"Boomer mode"
Might as well use a typewriter. https://youtu.be/o4nwe7cW_og
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I've been swiping for years. I can't believe no one else in my tight circle does it.
I can’t get my head round it.
It seems to work terribly on iphones, even with Google's keyboard. (Source: one single iphone which was entirely uncooperative.)
Try going a little slower. That always makes it more accurate for me.
I use the Google keyboard at speed and it works great, while the iphone used in the same manner was completely impossible. Even the Google keyboard installed on the iphone was awful.
I'll try your tip and go slower. Maybe that will make a difference.
Start with swiping not too fast and keep track on prediction bar, you often don’t have to swipe the whole word. You can take breaks mid-swipe, no problem.
Give it a try, it's all I use anymore.
I've always swiped but somehow just installed voice to text last week. Game changer!
I'm in too many places where chatting to my phone wouldn't go over well.
Ah that makes perfect sense. I'm alone for much of my day.
I fucking love haptic feedback. They suck only when the system used is a motor with that circular half-weight thingy. The linear oscillating weight ones are amazing.
I like it if it's really really subtle. Basically the minimum length vibration, which is 2ms on heliboard.
Anything longer, I find annoying.
I can't even use the keyboard properly without haptic feedback.
I never tried swiping. Maybe i should look into that.
I hate tapping away on the glass but swiping works okay, until the phone decides a word couldn’t possibly be what you’re trying for. My most recent frustration was New Zealand, which of course worked fine this time.
I use a FOSS (ish) keyboard and it's not very accurate, but all still way better than typing everything.
Boomers and normies appear to love it.
Check out Unihertz. Can’t offer any advice or if they’re good, but they look interesting.
I'm very satisfied with mine. Some UI tweeks were required to adapt to the small screen.
Keyboard feels great to use but their current layout sucks majorly
I have a 60% bluetooth keyboard that I'll use when I need to type on my phone. A pain to carry with me, but taking a whole laptop is sometimes even worse.
60% Bluetooth, but what's the other 40%?
Dolomite
I'm 40% dolomite
It's the tough black mineral that won't cop out when there's heat all about.
Potash
Concentrated power of will.
They're on discount. You don't have to pay for the extra 40% of a keyboard.
With our luck? Carcinogens.
Wired USB. If I get some time I'm going to put PS/2 or maybe ADB in it as well just for the fun of it.
(Just in case this is a serious question to someone, 60% refers to the keyboard size, indicating what buttons I have and don't have compared to a normal keyboard)
Magic
Yea looking forward to this kind of keyboard XD
Urgh split keyboards are the worst. Better to have everything in one higher up central position with easy access to entry ports for finer fingering.
You can get these folding keyboards that will fit in a pocket, often have a roughly-cell-phone-sized case.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=folding+keyboard
Still another item to carry, but it might fit the niche you're looking for better if you're not happy with hauling a regular 60% keyboard. Larger than those Blackberry-style thumbboards.
I have the protoarc, and it's awesome. Got it for using with my tablet when I'm stuck in a parking lot (long story) for several hours. Only trouble with it is that the design of the case means you have to use their charger, because the insertable length of the USB c is slightly longer than normal, and the case makes it so a standard USB c won't fit.
I hate having to have multiple chargers, especially proprietary ones, so I took a knife and carved away the plastic around the charging port, and now I can use whatever USB c I want. Just thought I'd mention, because I'm sure it'll void the warranty. Lol
What keyboard do you use? They are not all the same
tell me about it. i’ve recently been sort of forced to switch from android to ios (some special circumstance) and holy shit, the virtual keyboard is atrocious.
I would immediately jump on a blackberry keyboard phone when and if one ever gets released.
I can type 60-70 WPM on the virtual keyboard of my phone without autocorrect. While that's nowhere near the speed of me using a regular-sized physical keyboard, I can't type that fast on a physical phone-sized keyboard like a Blackberry one.
I know quite a few people miss these physical smartphone keyboards, but I'd argue they were never all that great. YMMV.