Looking for a multi-tap software keyboard

[davosmith]

Does anyone know about a software keyboard that would replicate the experience of using an old-style phone keypad, without the predictive stuff?

I mean one where you could tap a button once for A, twice for B, three times for C? (similarly the next key would be 1=D, 2=E, 3=F, etc.)

I would think this would have the advantage of being much more accurate than the standard keyboard (where it can be a little tricky to hit the right key), whilst avoiding the unpredictability of predictive texting (with this scheme, you always get an 'O' when you press the '6' area 3 times, you don't have to worry about the software trying to second-guess what you might have wanted).

I've tried out a number of apps, handycent keyboard is in the right direction, but does the predictive stuff; slidetype is a nice idea, but still not totally convinced...

 

[lekky]

what phone do you have, this is availablw built in with the Hero.

 

[pizzachef]

The HTC sense keyboard has that feature, and you can install it for free (if you don't already have an HTC phone). Also, Better Keyboard has multi-tap for both the compact qwerty and the t9 phone pad keyboards.

 

[davosmith]

To be honest, I don't have an Android phone yet - I've been playing around with the emulator and thinking of getting a HTC Dream (my sister is thinking of getting the Tattoo, as it is available as an upgrade on her current contract, but she does a lot of texting, so would like a keypad that is like what she is used to).

 

[davosmith]

The HTC sense keyboard has that feature, and you can install it for free (if you don't already have an HTC phone). Also, Better Keyboard has multi-tap for both the compact qwerty and the t9 phone pad keyboards.

Thanks for the information - I'll try that out

 

[pizzachef]

...(my sister is thinking of getting the Tattoo, as it is available as an upgrade on her current contract, but she does a lot of texting, so would like a keypad that is like what she is used to).

I'd suggest spending a little time with the qwerty on screen keyboard. Its tons faster than using multi-tap. And its pretty good at fixing your mistakes and suggesting words that you might have meant to type. The one downfall of the HTC virtual keyboard that I've found is that it turns off the auto-correct/suggest feature when you're typing in a search field or the web address field in the browser. Dunno why it does this. Better Keyboard leaves it on all the time and its very useful in search fields.

 

[davosmith]

Thanks to you all for your help/suggestions.