Adding sliding qwerty keyboards to modern Android phones
 

Hello. I haven't posted much recently on this site, since unfortunately having to move away from N810 and N900 some years ago. I went to Android, and a Sony Xperia Pro, which also has a sliding keyboard, but that hardware is showing its age now too.

I've been looking into the possibility of adding landscape sliding qwerty keyboards to modern Android phones. I realise this site isn't about Android, but it is very keyboard friendly, unlike most sites out there!

There are a few people who have taken Bluetooth sliding keyboards, usually designed for iPhones, and adjusted them to fit Android. E.g. http://www.vopmart.com/media/catalog.../ia1012514.jpg and see http://forum.xda-developers.com/mi-4...r-diy-t3303280

Has anyone here done anything like this and wants to chat about it here?

The keyboard I've tried isn't perfect, more clicky than the N900 and Xperia Pro's one, and a bit flat making it hard to type without looking at it. It would be good if it could connect via USB (ideally with an internal connection) rather than Bluetooth, as BT takes a few seconds to connect each time you want to use the keyboard, and uses battery in the keyboard.

I'm aware of TOHKBD, Neo900, and the What's the best Handheld gnu/linux machine for 2016? thread, but this thread is a little different.

Re: Adding sliding qwerty keyboards to other phones
 

Inspiring post!

Re: Adding sliding qwerty keyboards to other phones
 

Some people have all the luck!

http://www.igeeksblog.com/best-iphone-6-keyboard-cases/

Re: Adding sliding qwerty keyboards to other phones
 

I've been looking into the possibility of adding landscape sliding qwerty keyboards to modern Android phones. I realise this site isn't about Android, but it is very keyboard friendly, unlike most sites out there!

This post remembered me this

It depends what device you have, but
There is for Samsung Galaxy s7

also Samsung S5
http://i.imgur.com/lHaJKQi.jpg

Also LG G4 users have their own
http://imgim.com/lgg4bluetoothkeyboardcase.jpg

Re: Adding sliding qwerty keyboards to other phones
 

Most of the cases in that thread seem to be basically the same, with different branding. There seem to be a couple of designs, with slightly different buttons.

One case that does look different to the others, and which I like the look of, is one particular Boxwave Keyboard Buddy (they made several) which has five rows, with what looks like decent separation between the keys hopefully making touch typing possible. See: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/01vklCjQUMI/maxresdefault.jpg and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01vklCjQUMI

Unfortunately, unlike some of the other generic unbranded keyboards, this particular Boxwave one doesn't seem to be cheaply available in bulk on ebay etc.

Even if I could get hold of it, as I wouldn't want to use an iPhone, I'd have to try and mod it to fit a similarly sized Android.

Re: Adding sliding qwerty keyboards to other phones
 

$80 is kind of pricey... Needs tab and Ctrl key!

Re: Adding sliding qwerty keyboards to other phones
 

And cursor keys IMHO otherwise it's useless.

Re: Adding sliding qwerty keyboards to other phones
 

It has cursor keys already, in the bottom-right. I agree those are necessary.

For tab or ctrl, using an Android app called External Keyboard Helper you can remap keys, so could remap, for example, the top-left square (Apple home button) key, or the caps lock key, to tab or ctrl. Ideally, one would like to physically relabel the keys, but I don't know how easy that would be.

Re: Adding sliding qwerty keyboards to other phones
 

The problem with the LG case is that it is not at slider. The keyboard attaches to a flap using velcro. Not very stable. Does have tab, ctrl and arrows though...

Re: Adding sliding qwerty keyboards to other phones
 

Yes, there are a number of these leather flip-out cases with keyboards in one half, which you wouldn't be able to use while walking around for example. Still, the keyboard themselves may be useful for parts, if one can fashion some kind of sliding mechanism.