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Help Epic hardware keyboard input problem

So one thing I found out in my testing is that typing too hard may be bad. I think naturally when we see missed strokes we have a tendency to type harder, but that may be be exacerbting the problem.

Example: I used a double type followed by a single stroke to test this. Hit q and p at the same time, hard, and then immediately follow that with a 2nd p, hard. On my epic, that often results in a missed 2nd p. The same thing with less force types all 3 correctly

Here's a another reproducble error on my epic, but unrelated to force. However it doesn't result in missed letters, it adds one instead. Hit q, a, and L all at the same time, use one finger for q and a. I ALWAYS get qaol. Where did the o come from? Happens with other 3 letter combos too. Its pretty easy on the epic keyboard to hit a letter above or below and when you are flying through letters, you'll inevitably get some triple strikes.

One reason I think I have issues with w is that its a key perfectly positioned for my left thumb to hit it with greater force, along with q, a, and s. I think this may be related, but I am unsure
 
I too have come across this problem. I've had my handset for almost three weeks now. I just emailed Samsung with information from this thread and my own personal experience along with qbunnie's "QAL" test (which resulted in qaol for me as well.)
 
qbunnie said:
Here's a another reproducble error on my epic, but unrelated to force. However it doesn't result in missed letters, it adds one instead. Hit q, a, and L all at the same time, use one finger for q and a. I ALWAYS get qaol. Where did the o come from? Happens with other 3 letter combos too. Its pretty easy on the epic keyboard to hit a letter above or below and when you are flying through letters, you'll inevitably get some triple strikes.
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I'm getting this to, and I did some extra testing. Try this:

Hold E and D and push J.
Hold F and C and push M.
Hold Z and X and push 3.
Hold B and N and push 6.

If you're holding two keys at once, it will automatically enter the neighboring key next to the third one you push if it is in a direct line with one of the first 2 keys.

For the record, this is not the problem for me - the problem is maddeningly frustrating DROPPED keystrokes that make me look like a typing newb. This experiment is something that is reproducible that indicates there are keyboard problems.

Maybe there is some kind of software that is trying to compensate for a physical keyboard with limited simultaneous contacts and dropping what it thinks are garbage keystrokes?

I don't know, but I can honestly say I haven't been frequenting this thread because the whole subject is just depressing. Paying hundreds of dollars for a phone that is heavily advertised and getting trashy hardware with even WORSE support from Samsung just feeds the idea that corporations will do anything and everything to make money, including ****ing you over.
 
Finally! So I am not crazy after all! I was experiencing the same exact issue and googled and came upon this thread.

After trying 2 epics and both giving me the same error, I returned my Epic and bought the Evo Shift.

Things about the Epic that I really miss:
That awesome display
Dedicated camera button
Front facing camera
5 row keyboard (ironic)

Things I don't miss:
The keyboard issue this whole thread is about
The amount of software tweaking necessary to get it up to par with Evo Shift
The shorter battery life.
Samsung's terrible support and lack of updates

The score is tied 4-4 on my pros/cons. :D

Oh well.

I'll just have to wait for something better to come along as it always does.
 
welcome to our world.

I'm getting a Shift for a backup phone and finally retiring the Pre. Will see how much I enjoy the pros and cons of both phones.
 
the same ol problem all 9 of my epics has had . . the fact it skips inputs. sadly no phone with a keyboard comes close in comparison to other features so I'm holding on for the next release ... and to anyone who claims not to have issue I'm sorry but I lost belief lol as even every store model I've played with has the issue
 
Yep. Would've been better to revive the old head to alert more people. Much better to show one big thread to service and samsung when complaining.
 
neither service nor samsung seems to believe this is an issue although the sprint techs in the stores haven't given me much of an issue. mods might as well merge this lol
 
maybe you just need to push the buttons more accurately I've never had a problem with the physical kb, the touch now that's another story, I mess up all the time.
 
maybe you need to understand it's an actual problem and if the op would've just gone back to the original thread you would see it has affected quite a few people. I've had many hard keyboard phones, and this is the only phone I've noticed this kind of problem. happy you don't have an issue, but it doesn't make the problem not real.
o0Syn said:
maybe you just need to push the buttons more accurately I've never had a problem with the physical kb, the touch now that's another story, I mess up all the time.
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So true.... EB13 did NOTHING to fix it either......... I am beyond mad.. this is such a problem for me.... might go to the sprint store tomorrow and tell them after I got the update my keyboard started skipping keys..... try and get a new one.
 
lol, I think I'm in the original thread somewhere. I know I started one on this & a few other sites 1 day after launch. o0syn its even when I type like a turtle with firm presses & like dbpaddler said its known prblem
 
Tschofield7 said:
So true.... EB13 did NOTHING to fix it either......... I am beyond mad.. this is such a problem for me.... might go to the sprint store tomorrow and tell them after I got the update my keyboard started skipping keys..... try and get a new one.
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of course when talking to a sprint guy today just casually shooting the sh!t with him he mentioned the update will fix it. he was so full of sh!t his eyes were brown but I played along knowing it likely wouldn't
 
hm just odd that some have it and some don't. I admit it is a bit laggy when it comes to the internet but I haven't had a problem with it skipping over what I press.
 
o0Syn said:
hm just odd that some have it and some don't. I admit it is a bit laggy when it comes to the internet but I haven't had a problem with it skipping over what I press.
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Neither have I and i've had it since launch day.
 
While I personally don't have the issue, I believe it exists (seen it on other Epics).


I'll happily merge threads if someone cares to link me to the old one. :)
 
Updated to 2.2.1.

Still present.

In fact, it seems even worse.

A standard 40 character text message would cause 1 or 2 dropped keys, now it seems to be 2 or 3.

I really, REALLY, ****ing hate this problem. The whole point of a physical keyboard is typing speed and accuracy, and the Epic fails Epically. I'm having to back up every 4th word to change "I" to "it" or "he" to "the".

So ****ing frustrating.

It has to be that it's badly engineered and unfixable - I don't see any other possible cause. Samsung and Sprint are ignoring it full on, and just send you replacements as a "fix". Eventually you go through so many they have to send you a different phone.

Whatever. I'm going to bail out as soon as a better phone comes out. Sprint and Samsung can kiss my ass.
 
Locane said:
Updated to 2.2.1.

Still present.

In fact, it seems even worse.

A standard 40 character text message would cause 1 or 2 dropped keys, now it seems to be 2 or 3.

I really, REALLY, ****ing hate this problem. The whole point of a physical keyboard is typing speed and accuracy, and the Epic fails Epically. I'm having to back up every 4th word to change "I" to "it" or "he" to "the".

So ****ing frustrating.

It has to be that it's badly engineered and unfixable - I don't see any other possible cause. Samsung and Sprint are ignoring it full on, and just send you replacements as a "fix". Eventually you go through so many they have to send you a different phone.

Whatever. I'm going to bail out as soon as a better phone comes out. Sprint and Samsung can kiss my ass.
Click to expand...

agreed!
 
iBleedBlackNgold said:
agreed!
Click to expand...

I agree. I just got thisphone a couple of weeks ago and really love the display, but the frequency of the dropped keys is really, really REALLY annoying. I'm seriously thinking about just going ahead and moving to Verizon 'cause I really want a phone with a keyboad. Constantly replacing my phone is inconvenient and shouldn't happen for a 500 dolar pone, and I really hate the idea of making my boss think I'm either careless or donet know how to spell. I GOT THIS STUPID PHONE SO I COULD HAVE ACURACY WHEN I TEXT! Now all I'm getting is the droppedletter above^...
 
I agree. The keyboard on this phone is one of my favorites too.. I seem to have really bad luck with picking phones.. well usually it has to be with sprint only having a certain amount. I used to have a moto q that did the samething.. horrible phone. My blackberrys were perfect though with the keyboard. Samsung moment didnt have this problem, but aweful slow phone. This phone is amazing, except for that one problem.

How has samsung not even acknowledged it?
 
Hey guys,

I gotta quick question for you: Is anybody using a non-stock battery? 'Cause I switched out my battery for a 3500 mAh one, and apparently this seems to be the root of a lot of my problems. After I switched back to my original one, it only dropped about half the keys, and general performance has been WAY better. I know it doesn't excuse the problem, but maybe that can at least help alleviate some frustration? It def did with me (although I'm still gonna get mine exchanged)...
 
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