Type Faster On Your iPhone/iPod Touch
I've had my iPod Touch for nearly a year now and I have definitely found that the most frustrating thing about it is getting information into it! I get almost all the information into my iTouch via synchronising it with my Mac, but even that's a bit of a pain since I have to sync with iTunes, 1Password, and Things each separately. But the pain of synchronisation is nothing compared to the pain of manually entering data!
Typing on the iPhone is something that people have complained loudly about since they were released. Recently, there was an external keyboard called the iTwinge announced by Mobile Mechatronics. It fits over the part of the screen that shows your iPhone Keyboard and looks similar to a blackberry keyboard. Mobile Mechatronics claims that you'll be able to type faster because of the tactile feedback of the keyboard.
The iTwinge was originally designed just for iPhone typing practice, but is now being sold as an add-on keyboard for regular use. I think the annoyance value of having to stop and attach the keyboard before typing, then taking it off so you can see the screen when not typing, will stop it being useful for anything except entering large amounts of text though. Shipments are scheduled to begin on the 19th of November.
On a more immediately practical level, MacWord has published an excerpt from the Take Control Of Your iPhone ebook which aims to help you to avoid iPhone navigation and typing hassles. The first section is about gestures but the second half of the article is about typing, and how to get the best out of your iPhone typing. Somewhat overlapping but with extra useful information is 11 iPhone Typing Tips from Art Of The iPhone.
With a slightly opposite point of view, this great video from iPhonePOV.com shows how you can type faster by using both thumbs and ignoring your mistakes - trusting that the iPhone will correct them for you:
(ignore the bit at the end where he says there's no cut, copy, or paste function - the video was made before those were added)
I'm not physically able to use both thumbs, so I can't tell you if this one works for me - does it work for you? What other strategies do you use to get information into your iTouch or iPhone faster?
- Ricky Buchanan
ATMac on Typing Faster On Your iPhone/iPod Touch http://is.gd/3U4QW
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New ATMac post: Type Faster On Your iPhone/iPod Touch http://tinyurl.com/yafktz3
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RT @atmacjournal: ATMac on Typing Faster On Your iPhone/iPod Touch http://is.gd/3U4QW
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Type Faster On Your iPhone/iPod Touch http://bit.ly/JxEUN
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Type Faster On Your iPhone/iPod Touch http://bit.ly/JxEUN
Mac.alltop.com
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There is something called a frogpad and they do a bluetooth version that is meant to work with anything that has bluetooth.
would that work with iphone?
@Kati: Unfortunately, bluetooth keyboards don't work with the iPhone. This "external" keyboard only works because it functions like a pogo stylus with each key touching the screen. I got excited about that too, but no go.
Type Faster On Your iPhone/iPod Touch http://tinyurl.com/ya5u5dx. It is actually a good demo on typing!
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It’s an interesting accessory for those who need it. RT @atmacjournal: ATMac on Typing Faster On Your iPhone/iPod Touch http://is.gd/3U4QW
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Type Faster On Your iPhone/iPod Touch http://tinyurl.com/ya5u5dx
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ATMac’s info on typing faster on your iPhone iTouch - http://bit.ly/hloOQ
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This is why I was unenthusiastic when I heard Apple's aim to bring out a Tablet. I hate typing on glass. As the article said, there is no tactile feel. I am still regularly missing letters on the iPod touch glass screen. Also, who wants a keyboard on a tablet that takes up half the screen, leaving only the top half for useable screen real estate for doing the proper work.
I just wanted a Netbook Pro from Apple - but Apple can't do anything predictable and useful for users -- they have to do something that no one ever did before, so they go for a tablet.
I just want my Apple netbook that has a tactile keyboard that enables me to write MS Word or other word processor documents for serious work on the go when travellingl. I don't want a tablet. I don't want to type on glass. I want to use the full screen for actual work, not just typing on.
@JJJ: I hear your frustration! Would a 13" laptop be small enough for your needs? The only way to have a true netbook running OS X at the moment is to use a Hackintosh which breaks the license of OS X (part of what you agree to is only running it on Apple hardware). Google it if you're interested, though.
I think typing on the glass is fun and works very well. You just have to push down on the buttons a little bit harder than you might be. Ive found that pushing just a bit harder works wonders.