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Swype vs QWERTY: FIGHT!!!!!
Blindingly Fast Touchscreen Text Entry System Gets a Push By Creator of T9

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kagekiri
11/24/09

In reply to Swype vs QWERTY: FIGHT!!!!!
Honestly, if you're using the phone like this video (aka using your index finger), you're still using two hands: who puts down a cell phone to enter text?

I suppose they didn't use the thumb because it would occlude the screen more, but it'd be a much more "honest" test if they showed actual use (holding it in one hand and using a thumb, or two hands and using one index finger) rather than this setup. Also, the way they used it, it was using the wrist and arm more than the finger itself, which itself seems a bit more tiring and awkward.
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Geisrud
11/24/09

In reply to Swype vs QWERTY: FIGHT!!!!!
So, many of you find that you're faster on your iPhone than this guy on Swype. That says nothing; it's comparing two sets of disparate things.

Compare how fast YOU type on Swype vs iPhone, then report back. Faster or not, that's the comparison that needs to be made.
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drsquirrel
11/24/09

@Geisrud: Compare how fast you type on QWERTY and DVORAK and tell us which is faster for you...

Doesn't mean it is the best unless you have had equal practice with both...

What we come down to, is how fast you can learn and make a good enough speed improvement to continue using it to become even better.

This looks like it is VERY easy to learn, if nothing at all.

T9 is good, T9 is great if you learn how to quickly switch words, deal with punctuations, switch to tap mode to insert (and add) new words/names... sadly most people don't do this because they are stupid shits and prove this by typing in "text" speak. Mix T9 and auto complete sweet... not the best on touch screens that have shitty feedback/feeling.
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Geisrud
11/24/09

In reply to Swype vs QWERTY: FIGHT!!!!!
How would this work for people using the Columbus method of typing (ya know - Search and Land)? They'd end up with gibberish as they swirl their finger looking for where the damn "R" is
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UnderLoK
11/24/09

In reply to Swype vs QWERTY: FIGHT!!!!!
First off to all the people talking about how they beat the guy on the iPhone, yes he is slow, but it doesn't change anything.

In order for you type you have to lift your finger and press down your finger for each letter (even if you drag) which makes it slower. There is no getting around this.

For each letter on the iPhone's (any phone qwerty phone actually) standard interface you have to locate the letter, press, release, locate, press, release (even if you know where the keys are). With this method you press, locate, locate, locate, and so on.

Like T9 (no coincidence this guy also invented T9, also note Swype's patent is from 01-19-2003) if you are proficient at it, it can't be beat, but for most of us, we could care less.

Personally, I will be using it because waiting for the phone to flip to landscape is annoying. Odds are I will try it for a week, hate it, and go back to being annoyed.
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Badongadoodle
11/24/09

@UnderLoK: did you see the video? Swype won. Thanks.
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UnderLoK
11/24/09

@Badongadoodle: Huh? I just got done saying Swype's method is faster. Maybe I should have name dropped more rather than referring to Swype as "it".
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Edited by UnderLoK at 11/24/09 12:17 PM UnderLoK was starred UnderLoK was unstarred

Phil Phan
11/24/09

@UnderLoK: just cuz you lift a finger doesn't mean its that big a deal. under your logic, cursive would be more commonly used by everyday people than regular print because its more efficient without "lifting."
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UnderLoK
11/25/09

@jinkuwata: This is meant for one hand though. I don't think it can compete in landscape (2 handed), but in portrait one handed I think it's definitely faster.

@Phil Phan: Cursive IS faster...
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dimsum4u
11/24/09

In reply to Swype vs QWERTY: FIGHT!!!!!
Still not to sure how it works. Will it recognize words that you haven't typed before? I want to assume that they did it a few times so the phone remembered the word, ie the word Swype was prepopulated with a cap. It looks cool, I'm guessing it would take a little bit getting used to before you could be fluid but thats how the qwerty was. I have to say though I def type faster than the guy in the video on the iphone.
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stre
11/24/09

@dimsum4u: i think it's safe to say Swype comes in the dictionary, just as typing "iphone" in the iphone automatically capitalizes the P: iPhone, despite it not being a "real word". otherwise, i'm sure it uses the standard dictionary like the iphone does when it corrects your errant taps. this is essentially the same interface except you don't pick your finger up between keys.
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dimsum4u
11/24/09

@stre: interesting. I'd def have to test it out the not picking up your finger btwn the keys seems a little awkward especially since we are all used to the normal picking up the finger, wonder if it would be easier if when you swype your finger over the letters the letter gets bigger so you know which one you are landing on. Oh well thanks for the clarification.

#tips
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tande04
11/24/09

In reply to Swype vs QWERTY: FIGHT!!!!!
I thought this had already hit android?

Or at least through rooted phones.
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Badongadoodle
11/24/09

@tande04: I used it on a G1 early this year. It was good, but buggy. Seem to really fly now. My G1 was not rooted.
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tande04
11/24/09

@Badongadoodle: I thought it was.
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EndlessMike
11/24/09

In reply to Swype vs QWERTY: FIGHT!!!!!
I tried this on my iPhone while he was doing it. With having to look up to see what they were typing, as well as correcting a couple errors here and there, I was only about a second behind him.
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Kaiser-Machead
11/24/09

In reply to Swype vs QWERTY: FIGHT!!!!!
I type considerably faster on my touch than that guy does. With predictive typing on I could probably keep up reasonably well with Swype.
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Homerjay is utterly alone.
11/24/09

In reply to Swype vs QWERTY: FIGHT!!!!!
This is apples and oranges. They're comparing Swipe's ability to predict words but they have iPhones prediction shut off.
LAAAAME.
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Homerjay is utterly alone.
11/24/09

@Homerjay is utterly alone.: I think... Now that I look at it again, I may be wrong but they definitely have iPhones predictive typing shut off.
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OMG! Ponies!
11/24/09

In reply to Swype vs QWERTY: FIGHT!!!!!
This is total bullshit. The reason the iPhone uses the keyboard input it uses is because it's the best method PERIOD.

Apple knows how to make stuff that works. What's more, they make stuff that works better than everything else. If you're looking for the best, just look for the Apple logo.

Want the best sound? You get an iPod.
Want the best HTPC? AppleTV.
Want the best cloud-computing? MobileMe.
Want the most reliable phone? iPhone.

Everyone whines about allegedly-missing features but the features that aren't in the iPhone aren't in there because they suck and no one with half a brain uses them.

If Swype was half-decent, Apple would have invented it long ago. The fact they didn't proves that it's a piece of crap.

People need to stop trying to improve on Apple because Apple is the best there is.
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TheSonOfKrypton
11/24/09

In reply to Swype vs QWERTY: FIGHT!!!!!
For touchscreen inputs, this is puuuurrreeeeeee win.
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TheSonOfKrypton
11/24/09

@TheSonOfKrypton: But still, that guy on the iPhone was soooooooo slow. Just gimme the phone dude and get the videocamera ready....
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Gregg Symington
11/24/09

@TheSonOfKrypton:
I agree. Not a fair fight. The guy on the iPhone was a noob. I'd keep up
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bleek
11/24/09

@Gregg Symington: I don't even like the iphones input when it's squished like that, I like to type when it's sideways, much better :<
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Thomas West
11/24/09

@TheSonOfKrypton: Yea when i saw this i grabbed my iphone and played the video again and raced them both. I had to stop 2 times because i forgot what they typed exactly and had to wait for the swype guy to catch up so i could continue. and i still won. This might be good for some people that cant get used to the iphone, but not for me,
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TheSonOfKrypton
11/24/09

@bleek: it's funny how people differ on that man. I am so much faster in portrait than I am in landscape its not even funny.

#tips
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bleek
11/24/09

@TheSonOfKrypton: I always end up hitting more than 1 key at a time when it's in portrait :/ Landscape gives me more room to work with ;x

#tips
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Justin Clark
11/24/09

@bleek: I thought i would, then when we finally got it I realized I llike the portrait keyboard better. your fingers do less moving.
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Patrick O'Neill
11/24/09

@TheSonOfKrypton: Are you a carny?
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Redrum4breakfast
11/24/09

@Justin Clark: I use the keyboard in portrait, too... You're right, your fingers do less moving, and if you've had some practice, you don't really make any mistakes, so it totally wins. That said, whenever I get decently intoxicated I have to go the landscape route or I'm useless ...
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Asherek
11/24/09

@TheSonOfKrypton: Likewise. I find it so much faster to type on the vertical screen layout for some reason. The keys feel too spread out on the landscape for me.
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TheSonOfKrypton
11/24/09

@Patrick O'Neill: Carny? If you misspelled your word and intended to ask me if I am a Kryptonian, then why yes, I am.

#tips
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Patrick O'Neill
11/24/09

@TheSonOfKrypton: Do Kryptonians also have unusually small hands?

#tips
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Bassem B.
11/25/09

@TheSonOfKrypton: purée win?
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TheSonOfKrypton
11/25/09

@Patrick O'Neill: lmao. Would you like a photograph of my hand to show you how large it is?

Yet still, I'm curious how you came to the conclusion that I have small hands. Keep in mind you could have also deduced that I have more nimble fingers, coordinated by 10^3 more motor units than you do.

#tips
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Patrick O'Neill
11/26/09

@TheSonOfKrypton: Simple, you can't type in widescreen ergo carny hands...
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Patrick O'Neill
11/26/09

@TheSonOfKrypton: If I knew you better I would ask if your mother went to carnivals back on Krypton...but I don't so I won't. ;-)
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Patrick O'Neill
11/26/09

@TheSonOfKrypton: Thanks but no thanks for the offer on the pictures of your hands...lol
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Swype vs QWERTY: FIGHT!!!!!

Blindingly Fast Touchscreen Text Entry System Gets a Push By Creator of T9

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