Any hope for a QWERTY keyboard on new iPhone?

[Michael CM1]

Just because no one else has said it yet ...

The iPhone actually has a QWERTY keyboard.
In fact it has possibly the most advanced QWERTY keyboard in existence.

Think about it.

It's sooo much better to have a keyboard that could possibly be customized than some static one. Apple probably saves manufacturing costs not having to put an actual keyboard on the phone. No need to re-tool for Arabic, Japanese, etc.

This also allows features like the .com key (I would love a .net key!).

 

[t0mat0]

Yes, it's wonderful that he came up with the exact same solution that mall touchscreen kiosks have used for years

He also totally ignored the fact that PDAs have had onscreen keyboards for over a decade... and only recently moved to physical ones in order to free up the screen for data, and because of consumer demand.

I also gotta say, I really miss hardware cursor keys when browsing forums like this one under mobile Safari. I keep accidentally hitting links while scrolling. And don't even get me started on how painful it is to use fingers to scroll to the bottom sometimes.

True. Sorry if I came over rude.
Both have pros and cons. Jobs mentioned the cons pretty much. He didn't mention the cons of non physical button keyboards. I think the debate really needs figures as to average keyboard usage on say a Crackberry - how long are those emails etc.
(In terms of a blue sky alternative - there have been phones that throw out a
light based keyboard for the deaf (don't have a link to hand at the mo).
But if it contained a voice to text converter, that's an alternative too...
An iPhone sized slider?

The iPHone isn't perfect: iPhone < a physical button keyboard Crackberry style < a laptop and it's keyboard.


In terms of a "End" button, isn't there already a shortcut? Should be one soon I hope if not.

 

[dejo]

(I would love a .net key!).

Apparently the 2.0 firmware adds .net, .org, and .edu when you click-and-hold the .com key!

 

[Telp]

I am going to be honost here. I "need" a new iPhone and so i will be getting the 2G most likely. However, if there is a real keyboard, i most likely will not be getting it. I can not stand real keyboards, and cant type on any of them. Not the sidekick, not the nV, not the blackberry, its embarassing to try really. If it has a textile keyboard, ill get a refurbished 1G.

 

[kdarling]

Apparently the 2.0 firmware adds .net, .org, and .edu when you click-and-hold the .com key!

Good.

What's so ironic is that you don't even need the .com key now, since it automatically adds ".com" when looking up a site without it.

If it has a textile keyboard, ill get a refurbished 1G.

If any phone you buy has a textile keyboard, you've been taken for a cloth ride.

Perhaps you meant "tactile" ? ;-)

 

[t0mat0]

If any phone you buy has a textile keyboard, you've been taken for a cloth ride.

Perhaps you meant "tactile" ? ;-)

It's not the best of looks...

 

[kdarling]

LOL. Good one!

 

[bobertoq]

I think one of the big things on the iPhone is the virtual keyboard and no physical buttons. Anyways, I'd want a Dvorak keyboard. I hate QWERTY.

 

[Telp]

I think one of the big things on the iPhone is the virtual keyboard and no physical buttons. Anyways, I'd want a Dvorak keyboard. I hate QWERTY.

Aghhh. I can't stand Dvorak. Tried it for a week and couldnt get it done.

 

[bobertoq]

Aghhh. I can't stand Dvorak. Tried it for a week and couldnt get it done.

heh it took my a few months to get it done. I read that someone wrote a program that converted QWERTY text to DVORAK while using the DVORAK layout, teaching himself how to use Dvorak. I would never go back to Qwerty.

I wrote this page (and coded it entirely using my keyboard set to dvorak) late one night after looking at some quotes on bash.org.
I figured that I would teach myself how to use the dvorak layout while making a useful tool at the same time.

 

[gloss]

You sort of get used to it over time. I still have bad days, but honestly, I felt sort of lost trying to type on my friend's Voyager. Physical button presses were really awkward.

 

[Telp]

You sort of get used to it over time. I still have bad days, but honestly, I felt sort of lost trying to type on my friend's Voyager. Physical button presses were really awkward.

Thats how i feel whenever i try and use my friend's phones like teh sidekick. I can't get any speed and it feels really awkward.

 

[hondje]

Considering good 'ol Stevo ridiculed the physical QWERTY keyboard, there is not a chance we will ever see one on an iPhone. I love the corrections (most of the time) that the touch software offers me. I actually wish my laptop would do the same!

 

[Telp]

Considering good 'ol Stevo ridiculed the physical QWERTY keyboard, there is not a chance we will ever see one on an iPhone. I love the corrections (most of the time) that the touch software offers me. I actually wish my laptop would do the same!

I've thought that serveral times, but i think it would be a bit different and not as useful on an actual computer.

 

[iBuferd]

I have had several phones for long times with keyboards including the LG V (not the enV, the BRICK) and now I have the Voyager (waiting on 3G iPhone) and I can type extremely fast on my keyboards. I do however love the idea of the iPhone and fully adopt it to a point. My cousin and buddy both have iPhones and I love how it is smart about what your TRYING to type but I wish they would add Landscape typing when you want it. For instance, When texting I would like to be able to turn it sideways and get a landscape keyboard like I would in Safari. This would add the correct spacing for your fingers to type and it gives more flexibility to the user on what they prefer to use at the moment. I really hope they add this feature so that you can have the option in ANY app that uses the keyboard. Tell me if your with me on this one.

 

[Falkenhausen]

I have had several phones for long times with keyboards including the LG V (not the enV, the BRICK) and now I have the Voyager (waiting on 3G iPhone) and I can type extremely fast on my keyboards. I do however love the idea of the iPhone and fully adopt it to a point. My cousin and buddy both have iPhones and I love how it is smart about what your TRYING to type but I wish they would add Landscape typing when you want it. For instance, When texting I would like to be able to turn it sideways and get a landscape keyboard like I would in Safari. This would add the correct spacing for your fingers to type and it gives more flexibility to the user on what they prefer to use at the moment. I really hope they add this feature so that you can have the option in ANY app that uses the keyboard. Tell me if your with me on this one.

Yeah, I am with you. A lot of Deaf people would like to type it sideways like a landscape keyboard. Just add that feature and I think many would be happy with it.

 

[26139]

No...

I love you iPhone, I hate your touchscreen keyboard... if new iphone has a real keyboard, ill be the first on line to purchase it.

No. Hell no. You don't want an iPhone, you want a blackberry.

 

[Emulsion]

I don't see how all these people are having so much trouble. I've had my touch for five days now and I can already type fast with two thumbs and not have to look at the keyboard. If you just push yourself to get past the learning curve the keyboard is amazing. I'm on it right now. I can't see myself going to a physical keyboard anymore. How manytimes do people have to realize that you don't have to hit the keys exactly. If you just get close the software will fix it for you. In fact I type probably just as fast on this thing than I do on my mbp, and the keys pop up slower than I type so there's a lag but t still registers it and that's good. If you just pull up your panties try something new you can get past your roadblocks.

 

[0098386]

The moment they put a keyboard on an iPhone is the moment I'll stop buying them. I can't find fault with a the iPhones virtual keyboard.

 

[TXCraig]

I'd say you have a better chance of seeing the mobile Windows OS running on the next iPhone before you would see it have a plastic keyboard.....

 

[James L]

Im a multi tasker

I'm a paramedic...

and while this is not encouraged or even legal in some states, I could write text messages on my Treo while driving and dont ever have to look at the screen...snip

... and at work I pull people like you out of car wrecks every day!

 

[Polo5]

I love you iPhone, I hate your touchscreen keyboard... if new iphone has a real keyboard, ill be the first on line to purchase it.

I totally doubt that the Iphone will have a "real keyboard" lol having a real keyboard would mean reducing screen size and that would i think get mad alot of customer lol

However, I see the current iphone screen with alot of potential to improve it in the future (maybe increasing the size of each letter for easier typing?) JM2Cs

 

[Michael CM1]

Good.

What's so ironic is that you don't even need the .com key now, since it automatically adds ".com" when looking up a site without it.

I don't need it for Safari. I need it when entering e-mail addresses. That's why I could really use .net, because my mail one is @bellsouth.net. That's not to say Web browsers getting smart enough to guess "www" and ".com" is much nicer than the old days when you still had to put in http:// (ARRRGH).

 

[JBaker122586]

Yeah, I am with you. A lot of Deaf people would like to type it sideways like a landscape keyboard. Just add that feature and I think many would be happy with it.

Uhh... What the hell does that have to do with being deaf?

 

[Applejuiced]

LMAO

I'm a paramedic...



... and at work I pull people like you out of car wrecks every day!