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BlindType has been acquired by Google

blindtype.com

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Re: BlindType has been acquired by Google

#11

Post by icegreentea »

noamsml wrote: post #6

What does this mean for BlindType on the iPhone?

The original implementation of BlindType (the one in all the demos) cannot be used on current iOS devices cause it violates Apple's terms. Apple doesn't want people replacing the default keyboard... so yeah.

They mentioned originally that they would submit to the App Store knowing that it would be rejected, but wanted to force Apple to look at what they were banning due to their conditions.

Once Apple allows it? I have no idea what would happen. Google does release a lot of iPhone apps, but those all tie into Google services. This does not. At all.

Re: BlindType has been acquired by Google

#12

Post by stackthat »

csallen wrote: post #10
points wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> "do your rainy weekend work and sell to Google, then pleas submit to HN." Since when was life fair or work rewarded based on merit. These things are more about who you know than what you create.

That brings up another good question (in addition to my earlier question about how much money is typically involved): Are these super early-stage acquisitions usually a result of the buyer spotting a diamond in the rough and reaching out with an offer? Or are they usually a matter of the early-stage startup just knowing the right people? I suspect the latter, but it's purely a guess. This is one area of Startup Land…

I think spotting, for example lookout outlook plugin acquired by MS, which seems clearly to me MS needed such solution and lookout already solved it nicely. So why re-invent the wheel and spend more money when you got a safe choice.

Re: BlindType has been acquired by Google

#14

Post by ryanpetrich »

stackthat wrote: post #12
csallen wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That brings up another good question (in addition to my earlier question about how much money is typically involved): Are these super early-stage acquisitions usually a result of the buyer spotting a diamond in the rough and reaching out with an offer? Or are they usually a matter of the early-stage startup just knowing the right people? I suspect the latter, but it's purely a guess. This is one area of Startup Land…

I think spotting, for example lookout outlook plugin acquired by MS, which seems clearly to me MS needed such solution and lookout already solved it nicely. So why re-invent the wheel and spend more money when you got a safe choice.

I think Lookout was a talent acquisition. The current implementation of Outlook search is much worse than Lookout was.

Re: BlindType has been acquired by Google

#15

Post by mildavw »

What will happen if it becomes a standard for input and you have users grow up with it who never learned QWERTY? It's premise--that you're typing with a QWERTY layout in mind--then becomes broken.

Someone can then invent QwertyType: an actual keyboard on the screen. This will be faster for these users because they won't have to guess where the software thinks they think the keys are.

Re: BlindType has been acquired by Google

#16

Post by geluso »

hbz wrote: post #5

Now all we need is BlindSwype. The functionality of both products aren't mutually exclusive!

Exactly! I was disappointed to see this last part in their mission statement:

"With current systems, focus on the keyboard is always needed. It is almost impossible to slide the finger on letters without paying attention on the screen. Focusing elsewhere, even for a split second makes it extremely difficult to resume the word in-progress."

This is the exact assumption they are battling with tap typing. I wish they would realize that their same system could infer tap points given a swipe path.

Let the users type how they want, whether tap or swipe, and let their algorithms figure out the rest.

Re: BlindType has been acquired by Google

#17

Post by extension »

icegreentea wrote: post #11
noamsml wrote: post #6

What does this mean for BlindType on the iPhone?

The original implementation of BlindType (the one in all the demos) cannot be used on current iOS devices cause it violates Apple's terms. Apple doesn't want people replacing the default keyboard... so yeah. They mentioned originally that they would submit to the App Store knowing that it would be rejected, but wanted to force Apple to look at what they were banning due to their conditions. Once Apple allows it? I ha…

It will drive Apple nuts if Android ends up with an obviously superior typing experience than the iPhone. This could be a turning point in their patent war.

Re: BlindType has been acquired by Google

#18

Post by stackthat »

ryanpetrich wrote: post #14
stackthat wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think spotting, for example lookout outlook plugin acquired by MS, which seems clearly to me MS needed such solution and lookout already solved it nicely. So why re-invent the wheel and spend more money when you got a safe choice.

I think Lookout was a talent acquisition. The current implementation of Outlook search is much worse than Lookout was.

They didn't integrate into the Outlook though, they did integrate into Windows Desktop Search

Re: BlindType has been acquired by Google

#19

Post by ryanpetrich »

stackthat wrote: post #18
ryanpetrich wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think Lookout was a talent acquisition. The current implementation of Outlook search is much worse than Lookout was.

They didn't integrate into the Outlook though, they did integrate into Windows Desktop Search

Outlook search is powered by Windows Desktop Search I think.
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