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List of Third-Party Keyboards Now Available for iOS 8 Users

NightFox said:
Can you show me where you're getting this information from, as I can't see any reference to it.



The only thing I can find is that you have to "Enable Full Access" to allow text prediction, but this is allowing the keyboard extension to access the index of previously typed words stored within iOS, there's no reference I can see to sending keystrokes to the developer.



Does it say somewhere that it sends keystrokes, or are people just misunderstanding what Enable Full Access is about?
Click to expand...


I got over the fear finally and became a happy user of SwiftKey already. I read their privacy policy and they claim that they will not send over your typing information to their server unless with specific permission from user to open the "cloud" stuff. I think it's the wording of apple that confused us since the iOS warning clearly states that by allowing full access we are giving the app the permission to send the data over the Internet.
 
haruhiko said:
I got over the fear finally and became a happy user of SwiftKey already. I read their privacy policy and they claim that they will not send over your typing information to their server unless with specific permission from user to open the "cloud" stuff. I think it's the wording of apple that confused us since the iOS warning clearly states that by allowing full access we are giving the app the permission to send the data over the Internet.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I think Apple's warnings are accurate, but alarmist. Give an app full access and that could be exploited to send keyswipe data to servers, but it doesn't mean that's what the app does actually do. I think it comes down to how much you trust the app/extension in question, in the same way we've always had to make a call on whether to give apps access to our contacts and location etc.
 
iamMacPerson said:
Has Apple made a section for keyboards yet? I'd really like to see all that are available.
Click to expand...

That would be helpfull indeed.
They are now stored in e.g.
Category > Services > (majority)

- Swype
- Swiftkey
- Touchpal
- Fleksy
- Minuum

Category > Productivity
- Path Input Pro (still iOS7 app, soon to be updated to iOS8 keyboard app)

Some handy links to the various keyboard Apps:

Swype keyboards with App available:
Swype app 0,99 dollar | no Dutch language support (yet)
Swiftkey app free, in-app purchases | no Dutch language support (yet)
Touchpal X free | no Dutch language support (yet)
Path Input Pro app (still iOS7 app, soon iOS8 app) 1,99 dollar (temporary price) | Dutch language support in iOS7 version

Unfortunately only Path Input Pro has Dutch language support as far as Swype keyboards concerned, however doesn't have a iOS8 keyboard yet, it's still a iOS7 app.

Other keyboards with App available:
TextExpander 3 4,99 dollar | no Dutch language support (yet)
Minuum 1,99 dollar | no Dutch language support (yet)
Fleksy 0,99 dollar | Dutch language support
KuaiBoard (formerly QuickBoard) 1,99 dollar | no Dutch language support (yet)
MyScript Stack keyboard / MyScript Stack app free | Dutch language support

There is already a customer keyboard topic going on here, where also all keyboard apps that are out there and are planned are mentioned in the TS (and my post here). Someone still needs to adjust the TS but i don't have enought posts to adjust it and add my links and keyboards ;(
 
Wow Swype (IMHO) SUCKS now. That was the one thing I truly missed from Android but the good news is Swiftkey so far is amazing!!!
 
Swype

Swype seems good.

AND it seems to be the ONLY one that does not need to send all my keys over the web to the publisher!
 
Fleksy

Has any one got the link on appshopper for Fleksy?

I cannot find it and iTunes is crashing when I click the link to try to get it.
 
NightFox said:
Can you show me where you're getting this information from, as I can't see any reference to it.

The only thing I can find is that you have to "Enable Full Access" to allow text prediction, but this is allowing the keyboard extension to access the index of previously typed words stored within iOS, there's no reference I can see to sending keystrokes to the developer.

Does it say somewhere that it sends keystrokes, or are people just misunderstanding what Enable Full Access is about?
Click to expand...

Well, take the reverse. How do you know they are NOT sending all your keystrokes to them? There is no way to tell, and the only company with a reputation at stake (Apple) is saying they have FULL access to send anything they want without telling you (According to the dialog).
 
Solamar22 said:
Swype seems good.

AND it seems to be the ONLY one that does not need to send all my keys over the web to the publisher!
Click to expand...

So many people are saying this...yet again, that is a generic Apple warning when you turn on "full access" in any keyboard. The messages is not saying it DOES that. It is just giving you a warning so that Apple is covered if any keyboard is ever found to do stuff like this.

It is the same exact thing as the apps that were found to sniff through your contacts and upload the data to their servers.

Solamar22 said:
Well, take the reverse. How do you know they are NOT sending all your keystrokes to them? There is no way to tell, and the only company with a reputation at stake (Apple) is saying they have FULL access to send anything they want without telling you (According to the dialog).
Click to expand...

As long as you are using a keyboard from a reputable company, you should not have a problem. For example, SwiftKey has articles up on why they need full access and their security practices.

Also, as I said above, technically when you give an app permission to access your Photos, Contacts, etc. they can do whatever they want with said pieces of data.
 
Last edited:
GeeDuhb said:
So many people are saying this...yet again, that is a generic Apple warning when you turn on "full access" in any keyboard. The messages is not saying it DOES that. It is just giving you a warning so that Apple is covered if any keyboard is ever found to do stuff like this.

It is the same exact thing as the apps that were found to sniff through your contacts and upload the data to their servers.



As long as you are using a keyboard from a reputable company, you should not have a problem. For example, SwiftKey has articles up on why they need full access and their security practices.

Also, as I said above, technically when you give an app permission to access your Photos, Contacts, etc. they can do whatever they want with said pieces of data.
Click to expand...

If someone access my contacts, fine. My contacts get spam.

If a company access all my keystrokes, then they get CC info, passwords, words I type, thoughts, and everything else. That is a completely different scale.

There is no clear indication that they do NOT send all your keystrokes to them. They can claim all they want on a easily forgotten web page that they decide to update late some year to day they do log everything retroactively.

If you read apples developer page it indicates they have full access:
https://developer.apple.com/library...eral/Conceptual/ExtensibilityPG/Keyboard.html
 
isoft7 said:
Uhh... I never said Android invented anything.

I'm just pointing out the blatant hypocrisy on this forum.
Click to expand...

Welcome to the Internet. It's cute you think it's limited to this forum. Tech forums. Car forums. Fashion forums. Same everywhere you go.
 
Trapezoid said:
The ability to install to third party keyboards have been available on iOS through jailbreak since 2008.
Click to expand...

3rd party keyboards were available in Windows Mobile circa 2004. So, neither Apple nor Google invented them.

I used to use Touchpal and Fleksy-like keyboards on my old HTC in 2005.

----------
iamMacPerson said:
The quick brown Fox jumped over the lazy dog.
Click to expand...
Then you're never using the "s" key.

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
 
Solamar22 said:
Well, take the reverse. How do you know they are NOT sending all your keystrokes to them? There is no way to tell, and the only company with a reputation at stake (Apple) is saying they have FULL access to send anything they want without telling you (According to the dialog).
Click to expand...

No, you don't know. That's why I said in a follow-up post that it comes down to make a sensible judgement call on whether you trust the app/developer or not. The only way to allow an extension extended functionality is to un-sandbox it which introduces and element of risk, so it's a user choice. Apple's app approval process is also meant to include a degree of checking for inappropriate activity by an app, but ultimately it's your call. Personally, I'm happy to give full access to known extensions like SwiftKey and 1Password, but won't be so inclined with lesser-known ones. YMMV.
 
jomo25 said:
3rd party keyboards were available in Windows Mobile circa 2004. So, neither Apple nor Google invented them.
.
Click to expand...

I know, I didn't say apple invented them. I was responding to the person who said third party keyboards were a Google innovation.

----------
isoft7 said:
Uhh... I never said Android invented anything.

I'm just pointing out the blatant hypocrisy on this forum.
Click to expand...

You probably should look up what hypocrisy means.
 
no keyboard!

I added swiftkey, went to settings and enabled it. Opened the messaging app and changed to the swiftkey keyboard. it did not come up. I had no keyboard, and no way to change back.
Went back to settings and deleted that keyboard. now I have the english keyboard again. whewww
Could it be because I'm on ios 8 with an iPhone 5? :confused:
 
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