Thoughts of a slide out keyboard for iPhone

[carlosbutler]

i dont think a slide out keyboard would ever be seen on an iPhone because it would mean that the touchscreen wouldnt be used. it also costs more and more can go wrong. but the biggest thing is that you would only be able to use it horizontally or vertically, not both since the keyobard would only slide out in one way (i guess).

 

[JBaker122586]

Why do you think that you would have so much trouble using the iPhone keyboard? It's QWERTY as well.

Receiving text messages in the USA and Canada is also free, same as where you are.

Receiving texts is not free in the US.

That doesn't mean it's used less than in Europe though. I routinely go over 1000 texts a month.

 

[Surely]

Receiving texts is not free in the US.

That doesn't mean it's used less than in Europe though. I routinely go over 1000 texts a month.

Are you sure you aren't going over the 1000 sent messages?

If I am incorrect about receiving texts in the US, then I stand corrected.

 

[RedTomato]

i dont think a slide out keyboard would ever be seen on an iPhone because it would mean that the touchscreen wouldnt be used. it also costs more and more can go wrong. but the biggest thing is that you would only be able to use it horizontally or vertically, not both since the keyobard would only slide out in one way (i guess).

Most HTC qwerty slider phones work both horizontally and vertically in all apps - the screen flips. (like the iTouch I think) And they all have touchscreen.

Most functions can be called both through poking the touch screen or via the qwerty keyboard. The touchscreen and keyboard actually work together pretty well - its nice having both options.

One fly is that there are several keyboard shortcuts thats are visible (and can't be turned off) in Windows Mobile's menu items, but can't be activated with the keyboard as HTC didn't include any of the windows meta keys. Grr. And there isn't a key for right-click/context menus either, so right click functions can only be done on the touchscreen. Grr x 2.

That's due to the OS and the HW designers being several thousand miles distant. Wouldn't happen with Apple.

 

[zeptov]

I'd like to see a slide-out keyboard - it's the only reason I got a TyTN instead of an iPhone last year. I don't need my laptop traveling, and I frequently find myself writing documents and long emails on my phone. Add that onto an iPhone and I think it would be awesome. When it's integrated, it's great - I use the touch screen and soft keyboard for lots of stuff, then the keyboard when I'm writing something longer.

As for text costs -- I used AT&T for several years then T-Mobile for the last 4 or 5; AT&T never charged for received email, T-Mobile always has. It depends on your carrier. (Turns out it doesn't make much difference - the cost of 1 received and 1 sent on T-Mobile was the same as 1 sent on AT&T.)

 

[iGeRmAn]

I do not see apple going one step back. So, sorry but there will never be a mechanical keyboard on a product named iPhone.

 

[jarjarblinks]

It will look atrocious and totally defeat the purpose of having a touch screen.

Atrocious because gone are the smooth svelte shape of a "unibody" iPhone that characterizes it without any "lines" to break the aesthetics.

Anyways its 4 weeks to WWDC and we'll know for sure then (hopefully!).

 

[Knolly]

Would absolutely love a slide out keyboard.

I know they will never ONLY have a model with a keyboard, but I've always been hoping that they'll introduce two models of the iPhone, one with and one without the keyboard.

 

[patrickdunn]

I think slide out keyboard would be the opposite direction that apple wants to go.

See: new iPod shuffle sans buttons and the new keyboard with no number pad.

 

[maflynn]

I'm not a fan of slider phones and has done such a good job with their "virtual" keyboard that adding anything to the current iPhone would destroy the nice lines and looks w/o really adding a lot functionality.

I can see palm doing it from a marketing/product differentiation perspective but that doesn't mean apple should embrace it.

 

[iPhoneFreak17]

as much as i like qwerty keyboards on phones,i dont want it to happen to the iphone,i just want it to stay the way it is....sexy touch screen phone

 

[The General]

No. Absolutely not. There is no elegant way to have a physical keyboard on a phone. Having a physical keyboard would mean Apple would have to make a different phone for every language that has a different keyboard as well. Currently, they just have to make a new keyboard layout in software.

It will never happen. Ever. Don't get your hopes up.

 

[janstett]

What they need to do is allow for landscape typing for all apps. That is so much easier for me.

QFT, I think people having a hard time adapting would warm up with a landscape keyboard. I still hunt-and-peck on the iPhone at decent speed, but I can't do the two-handed thing on it until we get landscape mode and false hits should all but disappear because of the wider keys.

 

[janstett]

How about something that slides into the dock connector and gives you a Palm/Blackberry style physical keyboard?

 

[fireshot91]

A slide out keyboard requires buttons.

Steve Jobs wouldn't go backwards in technology and sink to buttons


Also, I don't think we need a physical keyboard. Once you get used to typing on the iPhone, it becomes natural. I can't type on a T9 keyboard anymore, or a actual physical QWERTY keyboard.

 

[TheSpaz]

Please please please no. Please do not ruin my iPhone with a slide out keyboard. Ugh. I would stop buying iPhones if they came with a physical keyboard.

 

[Randman]

Uhh, no.

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

why do people pick up these old threads that are over a year old??

 

[Consultant]

Yes as mentioned by Apple the software keyboard allows better usability.
However it would be convenient if an iPhone can pair up with say the apple bluetooth keyboard.

why do people pick up these old threads that are over a year old??

Lol. Using SEARCH for newbies...
Damned if they do, damned if they don't.

At least the one who resurrected the thread used the search. Give him a break. =)

 

[english06]

No thank you. I like the iPhone keyboard. I'm good at typing on it. I don't want the extra bulk of a slide out keyboard.

I don't even understand what that means. I know plenty of professionals that use the iPhone. I'd say the bigger problems are the lack of Exchange Support (coming soon), push email (also CS), BCC, cut/copy and paste, and the ability to edit docs.

Push will be here in a month. Along with cut, copy, and paste. Oh and BCC is completely already here. So your concerns will be fixed soon. Minus the whole edit docs thing...

 

[John T]

No, I can't ever see the iPhone having a "physical" keyboard. Two reasons for starters; It would destroy the thin profile of the iPhone and it would be pointless on a touch-screen 'phone.

The iPhone has been launched primarily at the "younger generation" who want, in addition to a 'phone, a music player, web browser a big/small boy's toy. Professionals - the press etc, who use their 'phone primarily as a pocketable laptop replacement/communication tool will always prefer a RIM type machine. To them, a physical keyboard is a prerequisite.

 

[Surely]

Push will be here in a month. Along with cut, copy, and paste. Oh and BCC is completely already here. So your concerns will be fixed soon. Minus the whole edit docs thing...

Um, you do realize that you quoted and responded to a comment of mine from April 22, 2008?

You consider that soon? It's been over one year since the day I posted that comment.

 

[english06]

Um, you do realize that you quoted and responded to a comment of mine from April 22, 2008?

You consider that soon? It's been over one year since the day I posted that comment.

Oh... I didn't realize this thread was brought back from the dead... Sorry just saw the April and ran.

 

[Surely]

Oh... I didn't realize this thread was brought back from the dead... Sorry just saw the April and ran.

That's okay..... I had a feeling you didn't notice the year.

On the plus side, at least the person who brought this old thread back actually did a forum search instead of starting a new thread. Searching doesn't happen often around these parts.....


I still don't think that Apple will revert back to a hard keyboard for the iPhone- slide-out or not.

 

[kdarling]

Well, as long as the thread came back from the dead...

Something like what the Verizon Versa has would be interesting: optional I/O accessories in an attachable case.

The Versa can be used standalone, or with a keyboard case attached, or with a gamepad case.

I think the iPhone could really use at least an optional gamepad. And many people ask for a wide physical keyboard for typing because of the size of their fingers.