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Swiftkey Keyboard Android is now free

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Re: Swiftkey Keyboard Android is now free

#41

Post by drdaeman »

crazypyro wrote: post #38
drdaeman wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The SMS permission is so that it can read your SMS messages Either it's a bug in a Play Store, or we're talking about different permissions. For me, it says (in Russian, no idea how to switch language) "Отправка SMS и MMS (может взиматься плата)" which translates to "Sending SMS and MMS (fees may apply)". Unless Google broke something with their recent permission revamp, I assume it's SEND_SMS, not READ_SMS permiss…

Appears to be a localization error? Here's what it looks like in English.[1] [1] http://i.imgur.com/li8jHu2.png

Interesting. No idea, but guess so.

Or maybe they have separate builds (doing A/B testing, having region-specific versions or something like that). But I guess localization error is a more probable version. Where do I report one?

Re: Swiftkey Keyboard Android is now free

#42

Post by rayiner »

drdaeman wrote: post #27

Another keyboard that requires network connectivity, profile/contact data, call state, access to photos/recordings (eh?) and even wants to send SMS[1]. Do users really don't care and blindly ignore all security warnings? Just wondering why keyboard makers don't provide "restricted" builds of their software, that intentionally lack some features, but still serve their purpose by providing an efficient method to type a…

> Do users really don't care and blindly ignore all security warnings?

Whenever I install an app on my Nexus 5, I click through the "this app wants XYZ permissions" dialog without reading it. Not only do I not read it, I get a little angry each time because I can't do anything with the information and it's just in my way.

Re: Swiftkey Keyboard Android is now free

#43

Post by hahainternet »

rayiner wrote: post #42
drdaeman wrote: post #27

Another keyboard that requires network connectivity, profile/contact data, call state, access to photos/recordings (eh?) and even wants to send SMS[1]. Do users really don't care and blindly ignore all security warnings? Just wondering why keyboard makers don't provide "restricted" builds of their software, that intentionally lack some features, but still serve their purpose by providing an efficient method to type a…

> Do users really don't care and blindly ignore all security warnings? Whenever I install an app on my Nexus 5, I click through the "this app wants XYZ permissions" dialog without reading it. Not only do I not read it, I get a little angry each time because I can't do anything with the information and it's just in my way.

> I get a little angry each time because I can't do anything with the information and it's just in my way.

I don't install apps that require permissions I'm not happy with. Don't be so callous with your own security.

Re: Swiftkey Keyboard Android is now free

#44

Post by inthewoods »

I guess this is part of the continued move away from paid apps - but as a user, I found this confusing.

Swiftkey states that their goal is to get as many people using the app as possible, so they're making it free - but nowhere do they define for their users how they are planning on making money.

That leaves me thinking the one of the following: you'll be selling my data, you'll be doing in-app purchasing, you've found some other magical revenue source, or you'll be going out of business. I don't want to spread FUD here - my point is that as a paying customer this is not a good way to communicate. I have no idea what the strategy is - but if you want me to remain a customer, I personally would like to understand what is going on.

Re: Swiftkey Keyboard Android is now free

#45

Post by wldcordeiro »

ivanche wrote: post #12
cliveowen wrote: post #8

Isn't the same thing already available on stock Android? I don't use it because I find it pretty inconvenient, but every time I swipe on the keys it appears.

Well, not exactely. When you try stock Android keyboard and then switch to Swiftkey, you realize that Swiftkey is intelligent. Stock keyboard becomes... hmm, ok, at best.

The only reason I continue to use the Google Keyboard over Swiftkey is the built-in emoji menu.

Re: Swiftkey Keyboard Android is now free

#46

Post by [deleted] »

inthewoods wrote: post #44

I guess this is part of the continued move away from paid apps - but as a user, I found this confusing. Swiftkey states that their goal is to get as many people using the app as possible, so they're making it free - but nowhere do they define for their users how they are planning on making money. That leaves me thinking the one of the following: you'll be selling my data, you'll be doing in-app purchasing, you've fou…

[deleted]

Re: Swiftkey Keyboard Android is now free

#47

Post by dmix »

They are essentially a keylogger when the 'cloud' service is turned on. It uploads everything you type but tries to detect password fields and avoid them. They insist their security and cryptography is quality, but we've heard that a lot recently.

Their lack of an obvious business model is a bit worrying.

Re: Swiftkey Keyboard Android is now free

#48

Post by Jacqued »

rayiner wrote: post #42
drdaeman wrote: post #27

Another keyboard that requires network connectivity, profile/contact data, call state, access to photos/recordings (eh?) and even wants to send SMS[1]. Do users really don't care and blindly ignore all security warnings? Just wondering why keyboard makers don't provide "restricted" builds of their software, that intentionally lack some features, but still serve their purpose by providing an efficient method to type a…

> Do users really don't care and blindly ignore all security warnings? Whenever I install an app on my Nexus 5, I click through the "this app wants XYZ permissions" dialog without reading it. Not only do I not read it, I get a little angry each time because I can't do anything with the information and it's just in my way.

Yeah this popup really lacks a way to accept/refuse some permissions based on what seems logical for the app.

I would typically uncheck a lot of permissions on some apps, but since I can't do that I'll just click through if I really want it or cancel if I don't.

Re: Swiftkey Keyboard Android is now free

#49

Post by drdaeman »

dmix wrote: post #47

They are essentially a keylogger when the 'cloud' service is turned on. It uploads everything you type but tries to detect password fields and avoid them. They insist their security and cryptography is quality, but we've heard that a lot recently. Their lack of an obvious business model is a bit worrying.

They do send raw unprocessed texts? Thanks for warning.

From my understanding, unless some really tricky and CPU-savvy math's in works, it probably would be more efficient to update language model on-device then push the change. Not only it would somehow avoid (not really, but at least obscure a bit) revealing the exact typed texts, but also lower the necessary server-side processing.

Re: Swiftkey Keyboard Android is now free

#50

Post by Karunamon »

inthewoods wrote: post #44

I guess this is part of the continued move away from paid apps - but as a user, I found this confusing. Swiftkey states that their goal is to get as many people using the app as possible, so they're making it free - but nowhere do they define for their users how they are planning on making money. That leaves me thinking the one of the following: you'll be selling my data, you'll be doing in-app purchasing, you've fou…

you'll be selling my data

Not mentioned anywhere, not even in the EULA. FUD.

you'll be doing in-app purchasing

Err.. did you miss the announcement of the IAP theme store? Because that's exactly what they're doing.

my point is that as a paying customer this is not a good way to communicate. I have no idea what the strategy is

Sounds like give away the base app and sell value adds. A perfectly legitimate business model.

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