08-19-2002, 09:04 PM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,350
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Spb Full Screen Keyboard
http://www.softspb.com/press/pressreleases/2002/aug19.html
Spb Software House has released their new input method "Full Screen Keyboard" today. This program can be used as one of your regular SIP input methods, and is best described as an "On Screen Thumbboard". The program is skinnable, and adjustable to different key layouts.
I've tried a beta version of this product, and I was amazed about how fast I could accustom myself to the use of this input method. As the keyboard covers your complete screen, and does not show the underlying program (you just get to see one line of typed text). You can assign the Full Screen Keyboard to a hardware key and have another input method as your primary input method. When you need Full Screen Keyboard (long text), all you have to do is to press this hardware button to get the Full Screen Keyboard to appear. When you press it again the entered text is inserted and the previous input method is restored.
One of the programs people think of when they think thumbboards is Messenger. In my experience, this might not be the best solution for that program, as in Messenger you're interacting with another party through the program, and that would be hidden behind this input method. But for longer text entries, for instance in Pocket Word, this can be a very handy tool that no longer requires you to carry an add-on hardware thumbboard with your Pocket PC.
You can download a test version, or order the full product for $9,95, at Handango [affiliate link].
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08-19-2002, 09:31 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 384
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Turn your Pocket PC ...
Into a LabelMaker. Or .... Perhaps a Speak and Spell.
It takes up 90% of your screen. On a PC, this would be the equivalent of using a teletype.
This software is novel, however without a foldover second DISPLAY, it's doomed to failure (in which case a mechanical keyboard would have worked better anyway).
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08-19-2002, 09:35 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 54
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Any difference between this keyboard and Typango? It looks about the same to me.
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08-19-2002, 09:47 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 60
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I'm using the same type thing by Kilmist, and I love it. I rarely ever use the iPAQ Micro Keyboard anymore.
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08-19-2002, 10:06 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 74
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Difference
Main differences between Spb Full Screen Keyboard and other full screen keyboard for Pocket PC are:
1. Spb Full Screen Keyboard is a standard input method while other are not. So you cannot open others in SIP and enter text in the current cursor position. You have to go to Programs, open the corresponding keyboard program, enter text, copy it to clipboard, go back and paste it. No all applications support paste from clipboard.
2. Spb Full Screen Keyboard supports text selection in the input field (some other does not)
3. Spb Full Screen Keyboards supports editing of selected text. You can select text in Pocket Word, open Spb Full Screen Keyboard and this selected text will be shown and you can edit it. In other keyboard it is impossible. Other does not support this feature.
4. Buttons are pressable (in some other they are static pictures).
There is a trial version (is some other there is no).
Vassili Philippov
MS-MVP Mobile Devices
Spb Software House
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08-19-2002, 10:11 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 60
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The press release claims that the app is available from Handango, but it's not. It appears to be available from PocketGear.
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08-19-2002, 10:34 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 60
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I just tried the trial version and I immediately bought the full version from PocketGear. Question though: where do I input the registration code that PocketGear sent me? I don't see how to do it and the developer's site does not give any info. I don't want the thing shutting off on me in 30 days.
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08-19-2002, 10:49 PM
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Philosopher
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 533
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Wow....novel idea! I guess I've been sleeping, as I've not seen anyhting like this.
I agree, primary uses would be in Pocket Word and for email.....perhaps maybe url entry in Pocket IE.....depended on how quickly virtual keyboard appeared / disappeared.
Might not be able to *completely* replace an external keyboard (i.e. Messenger), but comes close. Its primary advantage is its *always* with your PocketPC, where your external keyboard might not be. One downside: more frequent screen cleaining? :roll:
-Brian
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08-19-2002, 10:56 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 159
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Hey this really looks great and the price is right but have you guys tried typing on it? It is definitely for thumbs, but there is no way to press a key unless you use your fingernails and that doesn't work well for me. For some of you folks who really like it are you using some kind of thumb stylus? If the developer is here, I would also like it to cap automatically at the end of a period and space.
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08-19-2002, 11:02 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 60
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TomB, I'm not having that problem. My fingers are fairly big too.
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Linear Mode
