Show HN: Android keyboard, keeping screen for app (i.e. termux)

#1

Post by morphles » Wed, Mar 13, 2024, 2:17 PM UTC

I have created Android on screen keyboard, that takes no screen space and allows apps to utilize full screen. Should be particularly useful for apps involving heavy text, terminal/termux would likely be of particular interest for this sites audience :). And it also allows simple use of modifier combinations like Ctrl+Shift+Left and similar.

Show HN: Android keyboard, keeping screen for app (i.e. termux)
play.google.com

Re: Show HN: Android keyboard, keeping screen for app (i.e. termux)

#2

Post by Newtonip » Wed, Mar 13, 2024, 2:57 PM UTC

It says it is not compatible with neither my phone (Android 12) nor tablet (Android 11).

What Android API version did you target?

Re: Show HN: Android keyboard, keeping screen for app (i.e. termux)

#3

Post by morphles » Wed, Mar 13, 2024, 3:01 PM UTC

Newtonip wrote: post #2

It says it is not compatible with neither my phone (Android 12) nor tablet (Android 11). What Android API version did you target?

33, as I think PlayStore demanded it. I had it working on quite old devices as the project was "sitting on shelf" for long time. I'll look if I can somehow publish "backports" via PlayStore.

Re: Show HN: Android keyboard, keeping screen for app (i.e. termux)

#4

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Mar 13, 2024, 3:05 PM UTC

Newtonip wrote: post #2

It says it is not compatible with neither my phone (Android 12) nor tablet (Android 11). What Android API version did you target?

[deleted]

Re: Show HN: Android keyboard, keeping screen for app (i.e. termux)

#5

Post by morphles » Wed, Mar 13, 2024, 3:14 PM UTC

Newtonip wrote: post #2

It says it is not compatible with neither my phone (Android 12) nor tablet (Android 11). What Android API version did you target?

Rebuilt min api 29 (Android 10), hopefully it gets approved soon by google. Quite an oversight on my part here :) .

Re: Show HN: Android keyboard, keeping screen for app (i.e. termux)

#6

Post by KomoD » Wed, Mar 13, 2024, 8:03 PM UTC

I really like the idea, just takes some getting used to.

These are not a big deal, since you can "unfocus" pretty easily but:

If I'm focused on a text field I can't use gesture navigation to go back.

I also cannot press "X" to clear text field if I'm focused (example: Google Play Store's search field has it, happens with the "back" button too), also cannot press any of the "recent search results" in the settings app

Both open/enable the keyboard instead, not sure if that's something that can be solved.

Re: Show HN: Android keyboard, keeping screen for app (i.e. termux)

#7

Post by morphles » Wed, Mar 13, 2024, 10:02 PM UTC

KomoD wrote: post #6

I really like the idea, just takes some getting used to. These are not a big deal, since you can "unfocus" pretty easily but: If I'm focused on a text field I can't use gesture navigation to go back. I also cannot press "X" to clear text field if I'm focused (example: Google Play Store's search field has it, happens with the "back" button too), also cannot press any of the "recent search results" in the settings app…

There is more detailed usage video in intro video description (if you open it on youtube), in short you can minimize keyboard, by double tapping on left side and choosing thick down arrow. I think that should be sufficient, it is quite similar to androids close keyboard thing, but without loosing focus of field.