It was just about two months ago that we pointed your eyes towards WebShell and its on-screen software keyboard. The browser-based SSH input served more as a tease for our desperate eyes than an actual usable keyboard. But that’s changing, and thanks to webOS Internals we’ve got a native on-screen keyboard looking like a real possibility. By modifying the files that control the SYM pop-up extra characters list, a real on-screen keyboard can be crafted, as seen to the right. The keyboard works in both portrait and landscape orientations and is available as a patch for installation.
Now, before you get your Linux all in a twist rushing over to install this patch, take a moment to calm yourself. As is noted on webOS Internals, this patch is “pre-alpha” and not yet ready for prime time, so you should only use this if you really know what you're doing. There are a number of issues still to be addressed, but it’s simply exciting that progress is being made on this front. We'll be sure to keep you updated on the progress of the onscreen keyboard, hopefully it won't be too long before a truly functional variety is ready.
Mad props to rboatright for the tip and to everybody at webos-internals for the awesome work here!
Comments
"...as seen to the left" ??? :)
Maybe I'm weird, but I don't see how I'd use an on-screen keyboard. I turn on my Pre by opening the KB, and usually have it open as I'm using it, except for watching video and web surfing...in which case opening it up for text entry isn't a biggie.
I guess if others find it useful, then this is a great development!
It would be useful when web surfing in wide view.....
This.
When you're in a text box in portrait mode, you have to scroll to the right, type, scroll to the right, type, scroll to the right, type, scroll to the left (starting a new line), type...
In landscape mode you can view all of the text box and not have to scroll as much.
It's much easier.
I always knew that the pre had it built in function for this, just a matter of time till it was turned on, I think that Pre has lot of funky and great functions built and it is just a matter of time till they are turned on and passed down to us to use.
It's not really turning on something that was built-in. They've modified the menu that comes up for the Sym key to show/send "normal" characters instead of symbols. So it's using the framework Palm provided but it's definitely a mod rather than finding a hidden function that Palm made. It's definitely another win for the WebOS in my book.
you mean even more home phoning functions can be activated? :D
I have to agree with the above...sliding open the pre is the fastest way to turn on the pre and the keyboard is right there. want to make me happy, make it when you close the phone it also hangs up the call.
I disagree. I usually close the keyboard after I initiate a call (I use the kayboard to contact search) - I like to hold it closed. So auto-hang-up would not work well for me.
Cant wait for this, always knew palm had built in the Pre. This is one of the best built in functions, offers both worlds.
Hard keyboard and virtual, totally cool.
I just want it for while in in landscape ,ode. That'd be playaaaaaaa
You guys who keep talking about how you don't see how this can be useful and sliding the keyboard is the fastest way to turn on the Pre.
This is why we want it:
-Landscape web surfing
-Reducing the need to slide open the keyboard when all you going to wrote is "k"
-Making quick responses faster
-More options is better
Per the webOS internals page, they are using the "Sym" key to open the onscreen keyboard. I understand that's just what they're currently using to make it appear -- however, we clearly will want a way to show the onscreen keyboard without having to open the physical keyboard (otherwise, what'd be the point of it?).
Ideally, a custom gesture/swipe of some sort would be great (and custom gestures/swipes in general would be awesome, if they could be assigned to other tasks such as opening apps, turning of the screen, etc.).
FYI: This opens by touching the gesture area... not by pressing the symbol key.
I dont see where it tell you how to open the on-screen keyboard the sym still gives me symbols. How do you activate the function?
if only someone could make this into one single command so us noobs could use it...=(
Why would they make a portrait on-screen keyboard? Makes no sense. Landscape please!!!
Would be great, particularly if the letter touch areas could be larger than the keyboard (? landscape mode). Could help reduce my 10% error rate with the keyboard ;-)
Now if someone would just invent a capacitive stylus that would work with the Pre!
there's already a capacitive stylus... http://www.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=4584689
I said a capacitive stylus that works with the Pre. I don't know about the ecrater product but the Pogo I tried only works occasionaly. Apparently the Pre capacitive screen is different from the Iphone's.
Ten One Design states in the FAQ section of the Pogo that "The Palm Pre can be triggered, but the user experience isn't up to our standards. Like the G-1, it uses a plastic screen."
Has anyone used the one listed on ecrater with the Pre?
This would be awesome, especially for quick text messages & replies! Mad props to those figuring this out.
Very excited about this project, keep up the good work.
This is awesome, I was just at the Sprint store today b/c my keyboard wasn't working... They couldn't fix it and I definitely thougjt they were going to say water damage. I was hoping that a virtual keyboard was comimg soon to hold me over until I got another Pre. Lo and behold they ordered me a new one for free, and by some miracle my keyboard started working right after I left the store... (can we say 2 Pre's? Possibly)
The work they have done is exactly how I was going to attempt it. I would just add a link to virtual keyboard in the edit menu that is in every app. It looks like that menu is a default in webOS
I hope it looks more like the keyboard in the webshell. I'm not real big on the appearance on the keyboard above. I also think a gesture movement would be great for opening it.
a movement gesture or a double tap to the circle button on the bottom of the pre would be a pretty easy way to open it up. & I hope it comes with a space bar, lol.
That made me take a second look... I think those 4 S's at the bottom are for the space bar?
I wonder if they'll be able to include predictive text entry as well?
Two words...KICK @ss! This will make Pre the *perfect* web tool! (Eat that "iZombies"! :P)
LOL you dumbass Pretard
Two words...KICK @ss! This will make Pre the *perfect* web tool! (Eat that "iZombies"! :P)
If they improve it, maybe make it a little bit bigger, I'd use it in a heartbeat...or however long it is for me to figure out how to get it working. lol
Replying to comments...
1) It already works in landscape. It inherits that behavior from the Palm SYMBOL on screen keyboard.
2) You do not have to open the kb to bring it up, a tap to the gesture area WHEN YOU ARE IN AN EDIT BOX brings it up.
3) It's as big as it CAN BE in portrait mode. It fills the screen from side to side.
4) if you want to style it differently, that's just editing the CSS. Go for it
5) The second version, (see the wiki) on 13 Aug has symbols for enter, backspace, orange, uparrow, shift. and blank keys for space.
What's on the to do list? SEE THE WIKI !!!!!
but:
a) Make the kb bigger when in landscape mode
b) make the kb work in SEARCH boxes (email address etc)
c) make the kb respond ONLY to taps not to swipes
and more. SEE THE WIKI
Now, regarding making this into a filecoaster-installable-app
Short version: Not any time soon. This modifies deep programming in the framework of WebOS. It will ALWAYS be an os-specific version specific patch. Can patches be installed easier than we are now? Yes, but for Goodness Sake people, the webos internals team has had less than 2 months to work on this stuff.
-- Rick
(rboatright)
Absolutely a big PLUS. Just another example of adding what was needed by many people in a relatively short timeframe.
I know its Beta but YEAH!!!
What a drag opening the keyboard and trying to type in landscape! Or opening the keyboard when I just want to type a few words in an SMS.
It will help reduce the wear and tear on the device. Did you see the post that stated how many times a typical user opens the keyboard !!
this is simply amazing work. Its pretty shocking to me that the dev community would come up with a virtual keyboard solution sooner than palm.
I mean don't get me wrong, i love the hardware keyboard, and i'm sure Palm put a lot of effort into making it integral to the pre experience, but i think being able to use a virtual or hardware keyboard on the device would be a major selling point.
4) if you want to style it differently, that's just editing the CSS. Go for it
i aint got no pre but would love to work on a different style.
can anybody hit me up with the needed files ??
or well im goin to check their site ;)
damn people here i got something fresh:
did you know that the QWERTY keyboard we use today is still the same keyboard [b]which was made-up 1868[/b] by Christopher Latham Sholes(1819-1890)??
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bltypewriter.htm
aint that great? some things will never change :)
but well, i do like that keyboard right here:
http://www.itypefastr.com/
Did you know the qwerty keyboard was made up in order to SLOW typists down... and we still use it today!?
if i understand this right then they didnt want to slow down the typist. in my case i first understood "the person who is writing" but the typist should be the small metal things which made the letters. they jammed because they were too fast.
"The type-bar system and the universal keyboard were the machine's novelty, but the keys jammed easily. To solve the jamming problem, another business associate, James Densmore, suggested splitting up keys for letters commonly used together to slow down typing. This became today's standard "QWERTY" keyboard."
Well, I hope that if a virtual keyboard does come to the Pre there will be multiple types of keyboards, i.e. qwerty and traditional t-9 capable keyboards. Further, it may have already been mentioned but has anyone heard if a virtual keyboard will work in landscape mode?
re landscape -- read the wiki page. Read the thread. Read the other comments. RTFM. ]
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i'd like this to happen.
i'd like the option of having on screen keyboard when i don't want to slide out the pysical keyboard.
on-screen software keyboard is an exciting discovery. Thank you for this news.
Nice posting. Thanks for sharing the new knowledge. Very valuable one. Thanks.
This is awesome..
Thanks for the new idea. This must be very useful one to all. Thanks.
how do you get it?
Its great for me since i can text with one hand that way. I had the HTC and love their virtual keyboard
Will there be a Virtual keyboard in release 1.2??
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