Eric Gaudet and the WebOS Internals crew have done awesome work on the Virtual Keyboard for the Palm Pre and also provided instructions on how to install it in our forums (which have already made the rounds). The folks from WebOS internals and preware.org wanted to make things a little easier. They have an app installer called Preware that is able, as of last night, to safely install (and remove) patches. The first patch they've made available is the keyboard.
The keyboard works passably well, but it's definitely got a kink or two that needs working out (symbols aren't working for me yet). You can see it in operation above [direct YouTube Link for Pre users] - just double-tap the gesture area to toggle it whenever you have a cursor on the screen.
Update: Gaudet schools me on how the keyboard works: "the symbols unlock the scroller. He has to scroll the keyboard to see the symbols below it when the sym lock is on." Update 2: For everybody that's asking, you an get 5 columns of apps on your launcher via an option inside WebOS Quick Install, under Tools->Tweaks.
After the break we'll tell you how to get it done. We said in the title that it was possible for mere mortals and that's true, but we still need to caution you that you're applying a patch and so things can get dicey and you will need to ensure you've uninstalled the patch before any webOS update.
Installing Preware is a bit more laborious than installing fileCoaster, but not much. First you need to put your Pre in development mode, plug it into your computer and launch WebOS Quick Install (Make sure you have the latest 2.01 version!). Now you'll click that button that loads repositories
That will open up a dialog, within which you're want to choose the WebOS-Internals Feed (all) respository:
Now you want to download one file, install it, then download a second file, and install that. It's important do you do it in that order, so:
- Select "Package Manager Service"
- Click download, then close
- Click "Install" on the Main WebOS Quick Install Page
- Click the feeds button again
- Go back to the WebOS Internals (all) feed
- Select "Preware"
- Click download, then close
- Click "Install" on the Main WebOS Quick Install Page
After that, you can unplug your Pre. You may want to do a quick reboot at this stage just to make sure everything's kosher. Now you should have Preware in your launcher - launch it! Once it finishes loading, select "Available Patches" and then Virtual Keyboard. It will give you a warning, but don't panic:
Click Ok here and wait - your Pre will reset the GUI (it looks like a normal reset). If you're the coding/paranoid type, you can even click view here to see just what the patch is and what it does.
After that, you can double-tap the gesture area whenever you see a cursor on screen (it won't just work anywhere, so you can use it to start Universal Search, for example).
Just be sure to use Preware to remove the virtual keyboard before you apply any webOS update! To do it, just open up Preware again, go into the patches section, select the virtual keyboard, and tap remove. Go though the warning screen again, and done (I had to try it twice, fyi).
Happy typing!
Comments
Sorry but this seems dumb to me. They wasted all this time creating something Palm has either already created or will create.
Palm already stated they want webOS on multiple devices including keyboard-less ones so they're obviously going to build this in at some point.
It would have been nice if they concentrated on a really cool application or two or some games.
Oh well. At least this will be useful for a few months.
"Dumb" and "waste of time" are the last two things that come to mind about this. I don't want to feed the troll, but give me a break.
Maybe you missed the point? The Preware app is very useful. The onscreen keyboard is just one patch that can be applied.
does it have a landscape mode?
yes
u r a moron. if you knew anything about the great work that is going on over at webos-internals you would know that THIS IS an included funciton of webos and the guys over at webos-internals have simply found it and made it available. keep your useless comments to yourself.
Erm, the last time webos-internals talked about this, they had said they built it themselves. It IS NOT an included widget in webOS.
YOU are a bigger moron! This IS already inside of webOS! click on your Sym button -is that not a 'virtual keyboard' ???? Stop being an idiot & do a little more research!
This IS useful for THOSE WHO WANT IT!!! If you don't want it, DON'T USE IT!!!
This is only ONE way they are showing what they have found, and can do in the webOS for now. Baby steps end up climbing mountains -get over your limited thinking & shortsided views!
I'm going to have to agree here.. I understand everyone excited about package management, but seriously I can think of a million other useful applications to be working on besides this one.. Oh well, its great work for those who worked on it! Not knocking the developers efforts, I'm just looking for more practical applications. I do understand trying to do things to see if you can do them, and its a great way to learn, so more power to em - it's just going to take more useful applications to get this thing out to more of the masses. - D2G
Please name just one in a million that you are talking about. You dorks are just upset because you can't develope a damn peanut butter and jelly sandwich. These developers are awesome and this is just one app that makes the phone all that more competetive among others. Tell me genius, what do you want this phone to do. Instead of crying like a six year old who's never happy about anything, just say what it is you want in plain english so you can at least make a contribution instead of taking up space on these blogs. I'm sure these developers can make anything your simple mind wants in a cell phone.
Is this dude high?? This is AWESOME!
This is pretty great. I love the hard, keyboard, don't get me wrong, but when browsing in landscape, a virtual keyboard would be handy.
its not dumb. its an option. you no lik? get over it.
i think youre dumb and you posting is definitely a waste of everyones time. you ignorant fool, you probably are using the keyboard right now.
Can we keep this discusion to use not functionality please i want to hear about how the keyboard works not someone's useless opinion whether it's usefull or not. Keep the message blog stuff on your FB or MyS.
I think im missing something. Im trying to download this "STUPID" onscreen keyboard but its not letting me. I cant do it off webos, it tells me theres an error. and i cant do it off pre-ware because its not in the patches...what am i doing wrong?
I am trying as well to install it. I unsinstalled Preware and reset my phone because i was having problems. Now with the new update i have reinstalled preware and am unable to install the keyboard. I have installed many of the other pathes without problem but this particular one does not work. I get the message(Error Installing: See IPKG Log)
Can anyone help?
i just installed preware on my Pre and am trying to instal the OSK but i keep getting an error message..i've already installed apps and themes but the OSK is the only thing im having a hard time with..help anyone...????
do you know what to do if error is happening?
Deiter -- You may want to include instructions on how to remove the patch as well!
Awesome, I'm doing it right now.
Great work! But before I install, does it work in landscape mode? That was kind of the entire point, not having to flip the phone over to enter text. Nevertheless, this is still pretty darn awesome! Thank You
Yes it does!
is there a trick to getting it in landscape mode, i tried just turning my phone and that didn't work...help
how do you get 4 columns of apps instead of 3?
Yes, the multi-column display was more interesting to me than the on-screen keyboard right now. I can wait for more bugs to be ironed out with that. But five columns of apps looks very useful...
It's available as a "tweak" in WebOS Quick Install. open WebOS Quick Install (as indicated in the directions above) and click on Tools - Tweaks. check out the forum thread for more info
http://www.webos-internals.org/wiki/Patch_Launcher_To_Allow_More_Icons_P...
Yes, i made that patch and it is available inside jason's quick-install app, along with it being available through the quilt method of patching..
I will be releasing one for 4x4 as well, along with updating the 5x4 one to fix a few issues that I have managed to work out over time..
I was happy to see dieter using it in his video though :D
So how do I remove the keyboard when and if I want to update my Web OS?
Yes, can someone please tell us how to uninstall it so we can do so before we do the update. Also, thank you all very much for all the hard work. :)
see: http://forums.precentral.net/homebrew-apps/194832-webos-quick-install.html
Palm has not created it.
The next WebOS device is a candy bar with a centro-like keyboard and no landscape mode.
We needed this now for landscape mode.
Plus, it demonstrates how open the Pre actually is.
Also, don't be a downer man. Eric did a hell of a job!!!
Fyi, the next device will be a little bit of a lower resolution (smaller screen). I hope they're testing for that.
It works in landscape mode.
It works in all text and search fields.
Go read the details: http://www.webos-internals.org/wiki/On_Screen_Keyboard
@Kasracer you have 2 choices get it or not, but don't complain man Homebrew crew is doing an excellent job with all these apps. So judt don't comment if you going to say things like you said
Reply fail :)
Not complaining, just think it was a waste of time.
I respect your opinion, but remember everyone spend their time the way they think is right and for me something like this is not a waste of time at all
Yeah. Please include that it works in landscape!
Very very nice feature. I'll definitely give this a closer look.
Ummm... Two words... Thank you Seriously! You guys are awesome!!!!
That is just TOO COOL! Worked like a charm for me in just a few seconds
2 questions tho, an operational one and an OS one.
1. Is there an issue with the backspace key not working while in a search box on a web site, ie; google?
2. You say to uninstall before an OTA update. What IF we forget? What will happen?
Thanks to ALL who made this happen NOW, not later.. ;)
Please go read the wiki...
Yes, when on WEB PAGES backspace does not work. :-(
The browser exposes only "insert character at cursor" we have found NO CALL to the browser to accept a backspace.
We are looking at injecting keystrokes lower down into Linux to make it work in the browser. But this sort of "THIS IS HARD" stuff is a big part of why we think that Palm hasn't written this yet. It's NOT GOOD ENOUGH for commercial distribution 'cause it's not the SAME as the real keyboard.
That's a good bit away.
Go look at the wiki....
Yea, I believe the backspace in a search area is a bug.
I would love to know about question 2 as well.
The problem with backspace inside a web page field is not a bug in the on-screen keyboard. It's a bug in Palm's implementation of WebKit 3 browser, in that it does not express any way for us to PASS the browser a backspace. :-(
Regarding update, the largest possibility if you do not uninstall before update is that --- NOTHING BAD WILL HAPPEN --- To date, when palm updates the Framework file, they simply download a REPLACEMENT FOR IT. When that happens, the modifications to install the OSK will simply not be in the new version.
HOWEVER, note that after a version update, the OSK will have to be MODIFIED to work in the new version, which may take anything from a few hours to a couple of days.
Also, we have not YET found a brave soul to test the OSK on a new Bell Canada Pre.
I am a Bell Canada customer, and just installed the virtual keyboard. Process was simple to follow and the keyboard works in both regular and landscape.
I hope I'm not stating the obvious, but you can just use the backspace key on your keyboard....
Doesn't that kinda defeat the point of an on-screen keyboard?
It's just a workaround for when you're browsing. It works perfectly for texting and notes. Good job to all the developers. It gives us the choice to use whatever we feel like at the time, physical, or virtual keyboard. Thanks!
If Palm updates continue the way 1.1 came, I believe that the whole OS is overwritten. I had modified my Pre before the 1.1 update. Then after updating, the Nascar app was back, and Mods to .json files had been reverted. Correct me if I'm wrong, this was just my experience.
Got it done. Thanks to Webos internals I can now show off my phone to my buddy and laugh at his iphone keyboard.
Be sure to tell your iPhone friend how your keyboard won't backspace in a web address, how Palm couldn't deliver a virtual keyboard themselves and how Palm leans on the efforts of other developers to make their phone more functional (iTunes, virtual keyboard, etc.).
Loser iSheep... all I hear from you losers is B-A-A-A-A-A-A! Run along now with your overpriced toy...
Oh, forgot (at least) two other points, you don't have auto correction and you may crash your phone if you forget to uninstall keyboard before an update (but no one seems to want to officially comment on what happens if you update over this).
What an idiot! At least we have a choice. I'll tell my iphone friend how much I like having a phone made by a company that doesn't dictate to me how to use it. I'll tell my iphone friend how much I like having custom wallpapers, not just on the opening screen. I'll tell my iphone friend how much I enjoy pooping, reading precentral, and listening to Pandora, AT THE SAME TIME. Why hate? I don't know of any Pre owners pissing in your garden, why can't you keep your crap out of ours!
You mean like Apple can't come up with a physical keyboard, can't run multiple apps, and copied MOST of their 'achievements' from the TREO?
Think about threaded text messages... stolen from Palm.
I forget though, iPhone users only send 100 text messages a month...
I think the Treo had Copy and Paste what 5 years ago?
With the exception of backspace any thoughts on whether this keyboard is better than the iphone's. I want to say yes, because I like how the keys really pop up so I have a better feel as to what I'm typing. Still needs some work, but its assume to have on the pre, and in landscape mode too!
Answered my own question. Went back to my ipod touch and would have to say apple's is indeed better, but still a great effort and its nice to have both a virtual and real keyboard.
The more that the community develops for this phone, the more I like. It gets better every day!! Keep up the good work.
quick question does this also work in landscape b/c i think that is prolly the only time i would really need it..??? :-D yay i'm super freakin' excited can't w8 to get outa work to install this.... :-D
Yes, it does indeed work in landscape! :D
Not sure if this is planned but:
This feature would highly benefit from vibration / haptic feedback through the vibration service. Set it to 50ms and it will rock the on-screen keyboard.
It's actually already in there. It requires a bit of modification to the code (via a text editor of your choice) to enable it, but it's pretty simple. Go check the thread/page for instructions.
One other questions. What happens if you fail to remove the keyboard patch before a WebOS update?
I would like to know also :/
Does the virtual keyboard have--or is it planned to have--spellcheck?
Please check the wiki. Autocorrection is a known problem. The level at which OSK is injecting characters appears to be AFTER the spellcheck function has already happened. :-(
The WebOS internals channel hosts a LOT of discussion about how to inject at a lower level. So far, epic fail.
But it's on the list.
You guys rock! I was going to install this by watching the YouTube video, but was really hesitant. Now I can't wait to get the office and install it this way. Keep up the great work! Thank you!
-Marcus
Http://aafeders.com/blog
I installed the keyboard a couple days ago. I must say it does need some work. I think I will use it once it’s a polished product. I might be a little biased in my decision, I have only had physical keyboard smart phones. Others may find the virtual keyboard just fine. I think I will only wind up using the keyboard in landscape mode.
There have been lots of positive comments about this on here but let me add to them by saying this is an excellent and very responsive move.
For a first cut it looks very good and it proves that this device is increasing in value every day. With the supposed updates to cut and paste on their way this is quickly becoming more than a great phone its becoming a real user WOW!
Its clear that this thing is like those stars on talent shows such as "so you think you can dance" it just keeps getting better and better.
The PALM PRE is a real star and the development community are making it shine.
Bravo
I like this - I've never rooted my Pre, and now I can have access to a keyboard in landscape mode. This will be useful, notwithstanding the whiners.
I also like that the Pre can more easily have a screen keyboard mod than the iPhone can have a physical keyboard :D
X2
X3
From the "WebOS Internals (all) feed", check and download "Virtual Keyboard".
Then, if you're using a Pre, switch to "WebOS Internals (Pre) feed" from the dropdown box. Download the "GNU Patch Binary".
Close the Ipkg Repository Viewer window then hit the "Install" button. That's it :)
Alternatively, if you're using the emulator, you'll need to download the "GNU Patch Binary" from the "WebOS Internals (Emulator) feed"
Also, Dieter, you got some updating for your Pre :p All those "++" marks indicate the file on the feed is newer than the one on your Pre ;)
Jason -
Just tried this and got an error message installing each file. Does it assume other WebOS internals files are already on your Pre? Thanks!
Maker sure developer mode is on.
I'm a little disappointed the the video didn't show the keyboard in landscape mode. That's a major reason most people would want a virtual keyboard on the Pre. I watched the video and wrote it off as not worth the trouble to install because I assumed it only worked in portrait mode. It wasn't until I read the comments that I saw that it works in landscape mode.
I agree, that was the VERY first question to come to my mind... and reading through the threads- apparently every else's minds too.
The next question was vibrate feedback? And people asked that too.
Crew- this is excellent work! Kudos!!!!!! Palm should be really embarased now! I will probably wait a bit before installing this one, though, cause of no backspace in browser and lots of caution on the remove before update thing...
way cool. I think I like the real keyboard better. But there are times that I really don't want to slide it open.
Good job guys!
Awesome job.
How hard would it be to change they look of the keyboard/buttons to make something like this? http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/06/02/crocodile_keyboard/
"...each triangular key has significantly more dead space around it than you’d find on a standard Qwerty layout. Consequently, users are more likely to press the correct key each time they tap.
Although originally designed as a physical keyboard for the Palm Pilot – the project was speared due to manufacturing costs"
It would be nice to bring back an old Palm idea in to webos.
Dan
Dan, that is an excellent post. Good find. Of course without testing it I can only theorize but the idea definitely has solid logic. I hope the devs take notice of your post.
Regarding what happens if you forget to remove the keyboard before an OTA update:
http://forums.precentral.net/showthread.php?p=1852706
-- Rod
Thanks!
I saw how to remove, but nothing about what happens if you don't. I read the original post and the next page. What happens if you forget to remove before update?
the load repositories button is not loading anything for me. any suggestions?
update your version of quickinstall
yes im writing this from my virtual keyboard now!!!
OMG I love you people!
This is freakin awesome! Take that iPhone!
Take what? The fact that Pre has an inferior (patched) onscreen keyboard? LOL .. call back when Palm delivers this, when it has spell check and when you don't have to worry about crashing your phone when you update WebOS.
iPhone has the superior keyboard -- and iPhone users don't want a physical keyboard. Apple knew their customers and didn't force chiclet keys on them.
If Pre users wanted a physical keyboard so much, why are they clamoring for a on-screen keyboard? I guess Palm should have included two physical keyboards, one for portrait and one for landscape modes - LMFAO
The fact remains that iphone has been out for a long time and has had a long time to get polished and re-polished on both the hardware and the software. Pre has been out for a couple of months and look how far it has come. I personally am impressed with all the great things, even though people might think they are simple and useless, the homebrew community has given us.
I am not taking away from the iphone, just stating how they have a lead on this race and palm is catching up fast.
One question though. Can you darken the keyboard and how would you go about it? I find it a little too transparent. Aside from that, AWESOME patch. I love having an option of using physical or virtual keyboards now. =)
EDIT: I found how to darken the keyboard. Now it looks great!
Jeez, what a tool.
You're what... an aging hippie fan-boy? Or - judging from the above post - 15 years old? 16, maybe? (The "LMFAO" kind of gives you away.)
The point is that open development always works in the consumers' favor. Apple developers face a closed system.
Palm launched early - granted - and incomplete, but left access open for WebOS developers. Palm's user base is used to a physical keyboard and no keyboard while in landscape mode is obviously a hindrance.
At the very least applaud Palm for allowing developers this kind of access and b!tch-slap Apple for closing it.
We - the consumers - win in the end.
OH GOD!! My eyes is all misty.. JOY! JOY!!!
I Love this SITE!!
**So what about that question; Should we uninstall before the next update?!?!
No, uninstall is not necessary. The 1.2 update will overwrite modified files.
Because of this, though: you WILL need to reinstall tweaks (including the virtual keyboard if it's not included in 1.2) AFTER the OS update. And only IF they are compatible.
Check the developers' page for more details.
These guys are doing yeoman work on this device. Truly amazing stuff. Thanks very much from this user.
Love the homebrews, and the spirit of Make. This is what the whole WebOS promise is all about.
BTW:(related note) I'd like to see the physical keyboard swivel down for landscape. (Heck, it's almost loose enough now to do it now, eh?)
;-)
It is beyond me. When I open the IPKG Repository Viewer in the WebOS Quick Installer it says:
Error Downloading Package Feed
I click OK and then it pops up and says:
ERROR: Invalid Feed URL
It gives me the same error for every feed. Any suggestions?
why do i need to uninstall this virtual keyboard befroe i do any palm pre updates??..what if i forget?..lol
When I click the loads repositories button I get an error message saying "please connect device then hit ok." Can anyone help me?
uninstall**
uninstall**
I love it!! First thing I did when I got to work this morning. And the "Tweaks" from the WebOS Quick install, I didn't even know they were there!
Not that serious, There is a reason i don't own an iphone
Nice work guys, preware makes the process much easier than quilt :)
i love this site : ) It says the virtual keyboeard is installed but i cant find it on my phone..yes i am new to all of this..hehehe Thanks
I installed Preware and i get this message when I open it "org.webosinternals.ipkgservice is not running". I have uninstalled it twice and no luck. Also tried it with DevMode on and off. Any suggestions?
ipkg service is a SEPERATE APP
You must install it BEFORE installing preware. If you install it after, you will need to reboot your phone
I just want to make sure I understand this so i dont mess anything up. Before I go to updates on my phone for palm to update my phone, I need to delete the patch for the onscreen keyboard? And if so how do you go about doing this? is it the simple orange key and tap the icon and select delete?
Thanks Alot I love this site!
Zach
Exactly!!!!
Installed it...and loving it!.I love this phone and the people that continue to discovery it's flexibility. Told all my die-phone friends!! Now I can use either the virtual or hardware keyboard!!! Hear that APPLE??????.....CHOICE!!!!!!!!
It sure is an awesome phone. even better because of the people on this site. Hat's off to the hard workers. You say you have it up and running, where the heck do i find it after it is installed? lol
When you have a cursor open on a text field, double-tap the gesture area. That should open the keyboard.
It's a two step process......first you install Preware, which is a stand alone app. After Preware is installed you then tap to launch it and then go into the Patches dialog and tap to install the virtual keyboard. Once it is installed it will appear to reboot. To be certain it is working just go into memos, open a new one and double tap the gesture area and it should pop up.
Read thru the directions carefully and all should be well. i did, hence anyone can do it.
I can't believe the first post was wasted on that dude...
For those of you having trouble loading up the feed list in WebOS Quick install, do the following to get Preware installed:
1) Go to http://ipkg.preware.org/feeds/preware/all/
2) Download the latest version of the org.webosinternals.ipkgservice.ipk (0.7.7 as of now)
3) Download the latest version of Preware (org.webosinternals.preware_0.7.7_all.ipk)
4) Install the ipkgservice ipk that you downloaded in step 2, through WebOS Quick Install.
5) Install Preware from step 3, through WebOS Quick Install.
6) Launch Preware and proceed.
thanks!
Dieter,
Virtual keyboard is one of your best blogs ever!
FYI: The link to instructions on
"how to install it in our forums"
http://forums.precentral.net/web-os-development/198051-screen-keyboard-b...
goes to page 26 instead of page 1.
The link should be:
http://forums.precentral.net/web-os-development/198051-screen-keyboard-b...
I got everything installed up to when i click on the install for the patch. I don't get the warning/script pop up. it just says installed, but it won't pop up?? Any ideas?
Uninistall the patch and reinstall. Wait about 5-7 seconds for the prompt. Hit okay. Done.
Ok tried again getting error on installation
I get the error:
error: an error occured while attemptin to install org.webosinternals.patch_2.5.9.2_armv7.ipk
Any help?
so awesome! I've been waiting for this! I'm donating to you guys. I really hope this program continues to advance and autocorrect, as well key helpers are made.
ok so should I delete filecoaster and then go and download preware? Don't they do the same thing now only preware is much better?
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!
I LOVE IT!!!
Its nice to not have to always slide the keyboard open in order to respond. Now I have the option to chose what I WANT TO Do and what to USE!!!!!
I think I like the on-screen keyboard someone already developed and put on youtube better. Its the exact keyboard on the pre, just on the screen. check out the black keyboard in the related videos after the video in this thread ends.
That is this same keyboard, using one of the other themes. Three themes ship with the keyboard.
See the wiki http://www.webos-internals.org/wiki/On_Screen_Keyboard
How do you get your icons small and five in a row like in the video here?
ok so when I put my phone into mode would that be the whole ( upupdowndownleftrightleftrightbastart) and then when I plug my phone in do I use (just charge) ? those steps were not outlined and I want to make sure that I'm doing it right.
thanks!
I just have to say to the Homebrew community, and Dieter (For this Wonderful site) Thank you so much for making this the best experience I have ever had with a phone! Your hard work makes my life so much easier, and my phone so much freaking cooler... SO THANK YOU!!!!
it just isnt working for me and i'm sad. :( downloaded the latest quick install but its giving me no response when i click on the repositories button.. nor any response if i click on anything else.. its not frozen because the button turns blue when i click it and when using the drop-down menus i can click on stuff.. it just does nothing.. i just dont know where to go from here. :(
This puts my phone in "Offline" mode and I can't seem to take it off. Any suggestions?
put your phone into airplane mode, then take it out and all will be well
ok so how do i remove the patch for the keyboard when im going to update the phone?
I think all you need to do is go to the Preware app and go to patches and choose remove for the virtual keyboard.
To the idiot that posted this is useless...DON'T USE IT.
Even IF Palm comes out with a built in update that is clean, nice and works better, I am VERY happy to have something in the mean time.
I don't play games often, and certainly not on my phone, so this is way more useful than a "cool game".
Thanks for working on this, much appreciated!
Keep up the good work homebrew community, we are (mostly) all grateful for the good work.
Hey Dieter,
I notice in your video you have smaller icons on your Pre and have 5 across instead of the normal three across. How did you get that to happen?
Now patches/tweaks don't void warranty, does it? I have the $7/mo one with Sprint.
Pardon me for the double post, but can we turn Developer Mode off once we are done installing the tweaks?
Dieter, Your the Man... This is what we all have been waiting for. With this.. Choices are what we have.. And with the landscape for SMS happening as we speak.. I am really stoked... I will be able to do everything without having to open the keybd....
You guys here at homebrew are amazing...
Donate, Donate, Donate.
I don't care which developer you donate too..
Just make sure you donate...
These guys are just amazing to make our phone the awesome device it is...
Love ya..
This is a great addition. It just need more time for improvement.
you guys rock! i have been wanting an on screen keyboard since i got my pre!
If there was ever a reason to try any homebrew stuff this is it. A must have on every pre.
"back gesture closes virtual keyboard"
Can you use this to install other patches like add/delete launcher pages, etc.?
ok. wow. the number of comments on this article make it obvious that despite what some naysayers are yapping about, the OSK is quite the belle of the ball.
the directions in the OPs article worked great (thanks for the reminder to update WebOs quickinstaller, I was working off an old one.
the keyboard leaves abit to be desired, but WE HAVE AN ON SCREEN KEYBOARD!!!!
And in Landscape mode!! oh lordy lordy how i wanted this so bad. so bad.
THANKS so much to the WebOS internals group, and the PreCentral folks for helping me learn, grow and break free to use technology how I want to... instead of waiting for glaringly lacking features to trickle down to us.
Amazing... with all this great Pre community stuff I almost am willing to put down my pitchfork and torch, and to wait before storming the Palm gates for more features.
OK I realize I am rambling now, but I dont want to shut up because the great features keep rolling in and I can't figure out how to show my appreciation (except donate a few times, and that seems woefully inadequate here).
in a nutshell... OSK rocks, and reaffirms my belief that this is gonna be a fun phone platform to see grow/develop!!!
THANKS!
Perhaps Palm should be donating since the homebrew developers are delivering functionality that should have been in place at launch?
Palm has a fixed number of developers. Every single feature takes effort. Every single feature introduces a potential delay in launch. Either you wait until everything is perfect and ship later or you get it good enough with a few key differentiators (e.g., synergy, multi-tasking) and ship earlier. Not only are you shipping earlier but more importantly you are meeting your promise to investors to ship by the date promised.
One of the palmcasts asked a great question "what feature of WebOS would you have given up to get the feature you want"? (don't count the NASCAR app since it was developed by Sprint). It is difficult to answer -- so you see the dilemma. I think Palm hit the sweet spot of features.
The best 'feature' of all was their decision to keep the phone open to allow the community to fill in the gaps.
I dont have a third button on web OS QuickInstall...downloaded most recent version and it still isnt there...what do I do?
delete old version from pc... Then install new version. That should clear up the problem for ya
Installed it, it rocks.. Now my wife is hounding me about installing it... Got to install it on hers... You guys make life much better..
I love Homebrew... developers rule...
Apps are awesome... and how you guys are moving.. it is off the chain...
I love MY Pre... :-)
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