Help Virtual Keypad Glitches Poll

[thethreelaws]

After reading this thread, and/or at least watching this video...

Motorola Droid Bionic - Odd Virtual Keyboard Behavior - YouTube

....which of the options above would be your response (please vote in this poll)?


Not that I'm so much of an idiot that I will actually do what you say, but I'm just curious about what you think.



p.s. Oh, I forgot an option in the poll....I could flash the ROM too, but that just seems a bit too much to have to do with a brand new phone.....shouldn't the d@mn thing just work correctly right out of the box?

 

[Thom]

I can't figure out why you're still having this problem. If it was me I would ...

Take it back where I bought it.
Request a replacement.
Hand it to the person in the store and watch them encouner the problem.
Walk out with a replacement phone.

... Thom

 

[kennyidaho]

I've had this horrible time with typing double letters and periods all over in my texts. I thought I was just bad at typing on this phone until I seen you video. Mine does the exact same thing!

 

[Thom]

I've had this horrible time with typing double letters and periods all over in my texts. I thought I was just bad at typing on this phone until I seen you video. Mine does the exact same thing!

If it was me I would ... take it back where I bought it and get a replacement.

... Thom

 

[dave1812]

Why don't I ever have these types of problems? I feel left out.

 

[thethreelaws]

Thanks, guys.

Now that the Packers game (I mean, the Aaron Rodgers Show) is over, we're going back to the store to get a replacement. I got it last Sunday night...So, they better not try to give me a refurbished one either, because if they do, I will just do a full return and then go back to get another one later.


Before I leave though, I want to make sure to back this thing up.
I know, I haven't had it very long and I could just reload my apps, etc, but I'd like to back the whole thing up anyway.

So, what's the best backup tool/method?

 

[thethreelaws]

Well, I went in and got another brand new Bionic replacement, and this new one has the same problems. So, obviously, it wasn't just something wrong with the unit that I got first, but with the phone model.

I suspect that the only reason all Bionic owners aren't experiencing these specific issues is because they aren't doing exactly what I am doing, in the exact same way to get it to happen.

I know that people have said in this thread and the other one that it's not happening on their Bionic, and I trust you, but the guy at the store tonight didn't see it happen when he tested it in his own hands on my Bionic either....but then he did see it when I demonstrated it with my hands....and no, it has nothing to do with my hands, but simply the way I use the phone (which, obviously if you've watched the video, is within normal use parameters).

Anyway, my 30 days reset with getting this new Bionic tonight, and since we were already there past closing time, I just took it and will decide how to proceed sometime soon.


Thanks for your participation in my madness.

Now that we know it's not a problem with my particular unit, but with the Bionic in general, what are your recommendations?

 

[Thom]

I know that people have said in this thread and the other one that it's not happening on their Bionic, and I trust you, but the guy at the store tonight didn't see it happen when he tested it in his own hands on my Bionic either....but then he did see it when I demonstrated it with my hands....and no, it has nothing to do with my hands, but simply the way I use the phone (which, obviously if you've watched the video, is within normal use parameters).

Since it worked for him and it didn't work for you ... try a soft-tipped stylus and let us know the result.

... Thom

 

[damewolf13]

Why don't I ever have these types of problems? I feel left out.

I don't have that problem either.

 

[breadnatty08]

No problems here. Have you tried a 3rd party keyboard? I swear by SwiftKey (a little pricy at $4, but well worth it). Try one of the free ones in the Market and see if the problem persists.

 

[thethreelaws]

Since it worked for him and it didn't work for you ... try a soft-tipped stylus and let us know the result.

... Thom

OK....I don't see how it could make any difference. If you actually watched the video and pay very close attention to the exact moment when the thing repeats the letter on te one problem and when it adds the period to the beginning of the fields on the other problem, I'm not sure how this could make any difference, cause it's clearly not something I'm pressing.

Still, I will try this.....if possible, I will record video of it and post that as well.....hopefully tonight, but I'll let you know, either way.

No problems here. Have you tried a 3rd party keyboard? I swear by SwiftKey (a little pricy at $4, but well worth it). Try one of the free ones in the Market and see if the problem persists.

So, you mean there are alternate virtual keypads?

 

[thethreelaws]

No problems here. Have you tried a 3rd party keyboard? I swear by SwiftKey (a little pricy at $4, but well worth it). Try one of the free ones in the Market and see if the problem persists.

So, you mean there are alternate virtual keypads?

DUDE!
I just tried 'GO Keyboard', and tried it several times, and neither of the glitchy behaviors happened.

So, this is clearly a glitch in the Bionic's virtual keypad, and not in my use of it.

Thank you very much for the suggestion, dreadnatty08!!

Now the question is, what should I do to get this on Motorola's (or whomever's) bug tracking list? Is there a specific place I should go fill out a form, or what?

 

[Thom]

Try the stylus first.

... Thom

 

[johnlgalt]

I voted other. Here's why.

I use the built in Swype KB, and that may be why I do not see the problem - I've been a long time Swype user, and I cannot go back to hunting and pecking, so I stick with Swype.

Apparently, this issue is only on the stock Keyboard - so, yeah, an alternate KB might solve all your problems. At the very least, use the built in Swype first -since you don't have to Swype, you can still hunt and peck on it just as well as you can on a regular KB.

 

[thethreelaws]

Try the stylus first.

... Thom

First before what?
I will still do the experiment with the stylus just for kicks, but the issue has already been pinpointed. The problem is something to do with the built-in virtual keypad, and has nothing to do with my fingers.

Still, I will report back with the results of the stylus experiment.

I voted other. Here's why.

I use the built in Swype KB, and that may be why I do not see the problem - I've been a long time Swype user, and I cannot go back to hunting and pecking, so I stick with Swype.

Apparently, this issue is only on the stock Keyboard - so, yeah, an alternate KB might solve all your problems. At the very least, use the built in Swype first -since you don't have to Swype, you can still hunt and peck on it just as well as you can on a regular KB.

OK, cool.
Thanks.
I will try this right now, and let you know in a little bit...

 

[Thom]

Thank you for planning to do the test.

The answer to your question of why?

I could not get it to fail.
When you took it back the person you handed it to could not get it to fail.
When you did it it failed.
When you tried it on a different device it failed.

The rubber tipped stylus will (I hope) insulate you from the phone. You could ...
Try it on a table without touching the phone with your hand.
Try it while holding it in your hand.

... Thom

 

[thetingster]

I never had that problem with my Bionic, and I've had two of them because I dropped one and made an insurance claim. I do however now use a third party keyboard because I don't like the stock keyboard.

 

[thethreelaws]

Thank you for planning to do the test.

The answer to your question of why?

I could not get it to fail.
When you took it back the person you handed it to could not get it to fail.
When you did it it failed.
When you tried it on a different device it failed.

The rubber tipped stylus will (I hope) insulate you from the phone. You could ...
Try it on a table without touching the phone with your hand.
Try it while holding it in your hand.

... Thom

Makes sense, but did you actually check out the video yet?
If you pay close attention to the exact moment when the glitches happen, I'm not sure how my finger could have anything to do with it.

Still, as I said, I will do the stylus test, and let you know.

 

[Thom]

Yes I did view your video a couple of times and I did read your message about exchanging the phone.

In the video one finger is clearly hitting the keys. The other fingers are not in view.

In your exchange description ... it worked for him ... it failed for you.

The only thing I could think of was ligical was that you were somehow a conductor.

Trying to help.

I'll stop.

... Thom

 

[thethreelaws]

Yes I did view your video a couple of times and I did read your message about exchanging the phone.

In the video one finger is clearly hitting the keys. The other fingers are not in view.

In your exchange description ... it worked for him ... it failed for you.

The only thing I could think of was ligical was that you were somehow a conductor.

Trying to help.

I'll stop.

... Thom

no, no...dont stop....this is just me conversing.

 

[thethreelaws]

...use the built in Swype first -since you don't have to Swype, you can still hunt and peck on it just as well as you can on a regular KB.

OK, cool.
Thanks.
I will try this right now, and let you know in a little bit...

Well, I tried it with the built-in swipe keypad, and the glitches did not happen while testing with that keypad.

So, although I am still going to do the stylus test like suggested above, I think this is even more conclusive that the problem is with the regular, built-in virtual keypad.

Stylus results to come later (possibly tonight)...

 

[thethreelaws]

...try a soft-tipped stylus and let us know the result.

Trying to help.
I'll stop.

no, no...dont stop....this is just me conversing.

...Stylus results to come later (possibly tonight)...

Well, I finally did the stylus test ...yay!!
I stopped at Best Buy on my way home from work today. The guy I spoke with got a soft (rubber?) tipped stylus out and let me try it. Once he saw the craziness (i.e. the problems still happen just the same when using the built-in keypad and the stylus like they did with my fingers), he agreed to record it for me with my digital camera.

Disclaimer: I don't now what happened...I guess the guy that recorded it for me didn't notice it was out of focus when he pressed record.

Even so, if you look closely, you can still see the character being repeated in the one problem (when pressing the ?123 shifter key to get to the special characters), and then the period being automatically added in the other one (when pressing the alpha shift key to get to capitol letters).

Seriously, if this is just to crazy, I will get a well-focused version up here later....so let me know....it just may be a few days :lol:

Here's the video...

Motorola Droid Bionic - Odd Virtual Keyboard Behavior - with Stylus - YouTube

...The only thing I could think of was ligical was that you were somehow a conductor...

I'm wondering about this now... when I was talking with the guy at Best Buy, he said that, unlike the old style of screen (like the iPaq I had back in 2001 or whatever) where the stylus was simply a pressure device, the way the new screens work is by touch AND electric signals, and he seemed to think that the stylus actually acts as a conductor so that it is basically an extension of the electrical field of my body.

Now, I don't know how any of that kind of stuff works, but if that is in some sense true, then I don't see how the stylus is actually insulating the device from me, except for the fact that none of my actual body touches it....the same electricity still goes right through the stylus to trigger the sensors on in/on/behind/under the screen.

At any rate, I thank you guys very much for sticking with me on this, and giving me such great tests to try and alternatives to implement as work-arounds so that I can have a less maddening virtual keypad experience on my new phone.



p.s. Oh, I found this on wikipedia about 'capacitive touch screen technology'. I guess it is something like my goofy attempt at understanding this technology above.

 

[johnlgalt]

OK, try this then - put on a couple of pairs of latex and / or Rubber gloves and try the test.

And it could be that your screen is whacked, but....

It does not happen with the Swype KB.

What locale is your BIONIC set to?

 

[thethreelaws]

OK, try this then - put on a couple of pairs of latex and / or Rubber gloves and try the test.

And it could be that your screen is whacked, but....

It does not happen with the Swype KB.

What locale is your BIONIC set to?

If I'm understanding how this 'capacitive touch screen technology' works, wearing rubber gloves may isolate the electrical field enough to the point that it doesn't work at all.

Can anyone give more insight or clarification on this technology and the suggestion of using gloves to do a test like this?

Anyway, I think it is already clear that it has nothing to do with my fingers or any other setting on the phone.

How's that?

Well, here's a recap of the results so far...

The problems do happen when I am using my fingers directly on the built-in 'multi-touch' keyboard.

The problems do happen when I am using a stylus on the built-in 'multi-touch' keyboard.

The problems do not happen when I use the built-in 'swipe' keyboard.

The problems do not happen when I use a third-party keyboard, like the Go Keyboard I'm using now.

So, since it's me (same fingers) in all tests, and since everything else about the phone is set exactly the same way in every test, I don't see how there can be anything else to test, other than to say that there is some kind of problem with the built-in 'multi-touch' keyboard.

I am satisfied with this conclusion, and I don't see the need for further tests. This clearly has nothing to do with how I'm using the keyboard, or with my fingers in particular, or any setting on the phone (other than the fact that the problems happen when I use the built-in 'multi-touch' keyboard).

However, if you or anyone else wants me to try things, just for kicks, or to build the case for going to Moto to ask for help in fixing this issue (if that's what we're aiming at here), I would be happy to play along.

 

[Thom]

The rubber gloves test would have been "interesting".

It seems to me that you are a member of a small group that can confront this problem because the guy in the store didn't.

It also looks to me like a software problem with the default keyboard and how they handle the hardware.

You would be an ideal condidate fot the software developers to include in a beta test of their correction.

I have no idea how to recommend you for that.

... Thom