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OpenBoard – FOSS Keyboard for Android which respects your privacy

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Re: OpenBoard – FOSS Keyboard for Android which respects your privacy

#91
post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't see any reason why someone would use OpenBoard over AnySoftKeyboard. It would of been nice if there was an explanation of what differentiated it. If someone just wanted a different looking keyboard they could just have created a new theme for AnySoftKeyboard. AnySoftKeyboard also is the only open source keyboard for Android that has gesture typing. Which is something I grew to love from when I used Gboard.

Swyping didn't work reliably when I tried one year ago, so I switched back to one of the keyboards of my phone (SwiftKey because I find it slightly better than Samsung's one.) Did they improve it in the last releases?

For me, it just doesn't do the job. I love ASK but this feature isn't competitive with the closed source alternatives.

Alas, I wish it were. This is all that's missing IMO.

Re: OpenBoard – FOSS Keyboard for Android which respects your privacy

#92
post #60

Holy crow, the feature where you can move the cursor by swiping back and forth on the spacebar is AMAZING. Seriously, I have always struggled with moving the cursor in text on either android or ios. This is great!

On iOS hold down the space bar and it becomes a mouse cursor.

On iPad, use 2 fingers on the keyboard and the keyboard becomes a touchpad.

Re: OpenBoard – FOSS Keyboard for Android which respects your privacy

#93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't see any reason why someone would use OpenBoard over AnySoftKeyboard. It would of been nice if there was an explanation of what differentiated it. If someone just wanted a different looking keyboard they could just have created a new theme for AnySoftKeyboard. AnySoftKeyboard also is the only open source keyboard for Android that has gesture typing. Which is something I grew to love from when I used Gboard.

The search function on FDroid is atrocious. I find all the language packs for Anysoftkeyboard but not the keyboard itself.

I concur, Foxy Droid works much better for me.

Re: OpenBoard – FOSS Keyboard for Android which respects your privacy

#95
post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

https://f-droid.org/packages/com.menny.android.anysoftkeyboa... I think the search function is working fine, the app is just called "AnySoftKeyboard 3D Theme" in the F-Droid app but not on the website for some reason.

Then why I can't find it even with your keywords? The other possibility is that it's not present for me because it might not be compatible with GrapheneOS? But I have problems with search even for other apps. I'm OK with it it because FDroid is very good otherwise.

It shows up for me on GrapheneOS. I don't think the F-Droid search is OS-dependent anyways besides maybe the major Android version number. As the GP noted, for some reason the name is listed with the "3D Theme" addendum in the app which is a little bizarre. Does your browser support opening the link in an app, i.e. F-Droid?

Re: OpenBoard – FOSS Keyboard for Android which respects your privacy

#96
post #60

Holy crow, the feature where you can move the cursor by swiping back and forth on the spacebar is AMAZING. Seriously, I have always struggled with moving the cursor in text on either android or ios. This is great!

Yes, it's amazing. And this also works on the default Android/iOS keyboards too.

It does not work on the default iOS keyboard. You can't just slide your finger around the spacebar, you have to long press on the keyboard and hope you don't trigger the alternate character popup instead. Then while you're moving the cursor around, half the time it will just start selecting text. Moving the cursor sucks on iOS.

Re: OpenBoard – FOSS Keyboard for Android which respects your privacy

#97
I can only use the SwiftKey keyboard for physical reasons. I have a big 6.7" device, and this keyboard allows me to type with the keyboard closer to the middle of the screen. If I type on the bottom, it's harder to hold the device and it becomes unbalanced.

If they haven't already done so since last time I checked, I encourage the FOSS keyboards to consider adding a "raise the position" of the keyboard feature.

Re: OpenBoard – FOSS Keyboard for Android which respects your privacy

#99
post #60

Holy crow, the feature where you can move the cursor by swiping back and forth on the spacebar is AMAZING. Seriously, I have always struggled with moving the cursor in text on either android or ios. This is great!

Yes, it's amazing. And this also works on the default Android/iOS keyboards too.

Hm, tried it, but it doesn't seem to work that way on the AOSP keyboard (LineageOS/Android9 here). Either hits '.' or the language change button, or I get the "select keyboard layout" pop up due to a long press on space.

Will check out OpenBoard, because this sounds like a great feature.

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