SwiftKey's Systemwide Gesture Keyboard Launching Alongside iOS 8 for Free

[MacRumors]

Earlier this year, popular Android alternative keyboard maker SwiftKey expanded to iOS with a note-taking app integrating the company's gesture keyboard. And with Apple opening up iOS to systemwide third-party keyboard as part of iOS 8, SwiftKey is ready to expand its presence.

In a blog post and appearance at TechCrunch Disrupt last week, SwiftKey showed off its iOS 8 gesture keyboard and announced that it will launch alongside iOS 8 when the new operating system debuts tomorrow. In addition to allowing users to type by dragging their fingers from key to key and offering predictive suggestions, the keyboard will integrate with SwiftKey Cloud to allow the user's preferences and learned language data to be backed up and synced across devices. And in the biggest news for the release, SwiftKey's keyboard will be available free of charge, allowing anyone to give the keyboard a try.

SwiftKey has also released a short promotional video narrated by Stephen Fry:

We've had some time to try out SwiftKey for iOS 8 and can say that it works very well. Available in dark and light themes, SwiftKey is accessible systemwide as is typical for these new keyboards under iOS 8, and users can easily switch between keyboards by tapping the globe icon on the keyboard.

In our testing, we found Swiftkey's suggestions to be relevant both in relation to words being typed and contextually with preceding words. The optional "SwiftKey Flow" input method of dragging from letter to letter also works well in most situations, accurately interpreting the patterns being traced out as the intended words.

SwiftKey for iOS allows users to type in two languages simultaneously without switching keyboards, and the keyboard will support over a dozen language-country combinations at launch with more to come. The keyboard will be available for all iOS 8 devices, including iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

Article Link: SwiftKey's Systemwide Gesture Keyboard Launching Alongside iOS 8 for Free

 

[nepalisherpa]

Tomorrow is going to be a great day!

 

[penajmz]

Great. Can't wait to try this for myself.

 

[boshii]

This that ish I do like!

 

[Apple_Robert]

I like the idea. However, why do companies continue to believe everyone has or wants to log into FB or Google + all the time when using a third party app?

 

[Oohara]

Ahhh...thank you for 3d party keyboards. Finally the iPhone is an option again! Unless the 6 Plus turns out to be just too big, then I'll have to go for an update to my Note instead.

 

[adrianlealmtz]

Awful

This and all extensions about new keyboards for iPhone's... are DISGUSTING!!!
That's what I loved about an iPhone... One UNIVERSAL keyboard for ALL apps and ALL iPhones...

whyyyyyy

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

This is pretty awesome. But does anyone know what their profit strategy is? If this is free, something's gotta give. Only temporarily free? Some sort of in-app purchase? Ads? Data mining? (My money is on that last one)

 

[LXC101]

Gesture typing coupled with a new iPhone?! What is Christmas?

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

This and all extensions about new keyboards for iPhone's... are DISGUSTING!!!
That's what I loved about an iPhone... One UNIVERSAL keyboard for ALL apps and ALL iPhones...

whyyyyyy

Well you are in luck!! You get to keep your keyboard! Now let me ask you, why do you care what keyboard I use?

Note: These keyboards are still universal for ALL apps

 

[odds]

This and all extensions about new keyboards for iPhone's... are DISGUSTING!!!
That's what I loved about an iPhone... One UNIVERSAL keyboard for ALL apps and ALL iPhones...

whyyyyyy

You have a point. I really enjoy Apple products because of consistency in design language across hardware and software. However, I also really, really want the swiping functionality of a touchscreen keyboard in iOS. Thus, the perfect keyboard for me would be one that looks stock but has swiping functionality. I can type so much faster and more accurate using the swipe feature.

 

[Baby Panda]

This and all extensions about new keyboards for iPhone's... are DISGUSTING!!!
That's what I loved about an iPhone... One UNIVERSAL keyboard for ALL apps and ALL iPhones...

whyyyyyy

No one is forcing you to change your keyboard.

 

[Brittany246]

I definitely am going to try it out. I've only used swiftkey on my nexus 7. It will probably be much easier and faster to use on a smaller screen.

 

[Fuchal]

I like the idea. However, why do companies continue to believe everyone has or wants to log into FB or Google + all the time when using a third party app?

Swiftkey learns how you talk via your FB and Google accounts, and so starts right off the bat with tons of personalized data.

I used it when I had an Optimus G and it was by far the nicest keyboard I've ever used. (iOS Keyboard in 2nd)

 

[Apple_Robert]

Swiftkey learns how you talk via your FB and Google accounts, and so starts right off the bat with tons of personalized data.

I used it when I had an Optimus G and it was by far the nicest keyboard I've ever used. (iOS Keyboard in 2nd)

I will be starting from scratch then. I rarely use such accounts. I am not one of the hip youngsters who uses those things heavily.

 

[Technarchy]

Very good news indeed.

 

[rGiskard]

Doesn't seem to have my favorite feature from Google Keyboard: tap and hold any of the top row of letters for the number.

View attachment 492280

No more switching layouts to type numbers. After using it all other keyboards feel primitive.

 

[jm001]

This and all extensions about new keyboards for iPhone's... are DISGUSTING!!!
That's what I loved about an iPhone... One UNIVERSAL keyboard for ALL apps and ALL iPhones...

whyyyyyy

Your point is moot as no one is forcing you to install these keyboards. So relax and keep enjoying your standard iOS keyboard. It's your choice and that's the actual point here.

 

[stewy]

This is quite the quagmire... Isn't using a 3rd party keyboard admitting that another company can do something better than apple?

 

[quickcalibre]

What a brilliant ad, I love stephen fry.

 

[jm001]

Wednesday will be refreshing, BUT Friday will be uplifting. I can't wait.

 

[larrylaffer]

This is pretty awesome. But does anyone know what their profit strategy is? If this is free, something's gotta give. Only temporarily free? Some sort of in-app purchase? Ads? Data mining? (My money is on that last one)

SwiftKey used to cost $4 on the Google Play Store if I recall correctly. They started giving it away free, and are now selling add-ons, like alternate themes and colors and stuff.

 

[avanpelt]

SwiftKey is the only thing I really miss from my almost year and a half foray into Android. I will install SwiftKey first thing after updating to iOS 8 tomorrow.

 

[Joelist]

The best touch typing system ever FINALLY on iOS

This is a huge plus coming to us with iOS 8. SwiftKey has been the gold standard in touch typing for years and bringing it to iOS removes a key reason some went to Android.

 

[Jessica Lares]

I will probably give it a go. SwiftKey isn't as exciting when you have all this other crazy stuff coming out though. I only ever used it because I never liked the built-in keyboards on my Android devices and wanted them to take up less room on the screen.

I will be starting from scratch too.