T9 thumb keyboard
 

I wasn't sure where to post this, so if a moderator could put it into it's proper place, that would be great.

So... I was wondering if anybody knew of a T9 (known as "word" in most new phones) keyboard application. No matter what, typing is going to be a lil' slow on the 770 (or n800), but a T9 interface would let us increase key size to something a bit more managable.

From my searches on Meamo, it doesn't exist. Looks like I'm making it. Hooray!

So what's needed?
1) Keyboard overlay
-I've never worked with touchscreens before... Tips?
2) Word list
-I don't want to have to make this...
3) A way to switch between regular keyboard and T9 keyboard.
-Not too hard.
4) Text learning.
-Should it be automatic?
-On my phone, it is. Contacts are also automatically learned.
-I honestly have NO IDEA how to do this. :P
5) Predictive text.
-a simple search function
-easy enough to whip up

Your thoughts? Volunteers?

I've only worked with Java and C. I'll have to use Perl, I assume.

~Tabor

Re: T9 thumb keyboard
 

Which identifies a need that I'm not sure anyone has addressed. Does anyone know of a Bluetooth thumb-board. About the size of a standard cell phone, battery operated, with a back light but which could be paired to any number of PDA type devices including the N800.

It might be a niche market, but I'm thinking I'd buy one.

Re: T9 thumb keyboard
 

I guess something like this needs host mode and a lot of hacking (it's Sony after all ;) ) but I could image that this would be useful if I had N800 or 770..
http://www.madcatzstore.com/store/vi...idCategory=114
OK, it's not numeric pad with large keys but it's cheap & wireless :)

Re: T9 thumb keyboard
 

Something like this maybe?

http://www.cell4you.com/Product.asp?intProdID=11403

Has anyone seen it?

Re: T9 thumb keyboard
 

Yeah, these are really good. I don't know how they work with ItTs, but I had one for my Palm Lifedrive.

Meh. It would take an eccess amount of physical hacking to get it to work. I have no desire to do that...

But actually, what I meant was a T9 ON SCREEN keyboard. :P I should've made that clearer.
Again, using a T9 keyboard cuts the amount of keys needed in half. Lets us make the keys a LOT bigger.

Re: T9 thumb keyboard
 

I agree.
We are use to mobiles to write sms and we are quite speedy.
Having that option to write on the n800 would be great :)

Re: T9 thumb keyboard
 

So, I've hit a setback. Mostly involving the actual ownership of a device... :P
But if anybody can isolate the code for the keyboard, that would be super-duper. :D
I figure I can just manipulate that into what I want. Euugh. But that would mean a reflash is requisite to install... Hrm...

Need ideas. Has anyone made an alternate on screen input? Maybe what you did for your app?

Re: T9 thumb keyboard
 

Maybe this link has some clues?

http://www.jw-stumpel.nl/stestu.html

There was something about GTK in it.

Re: T9 thumb keyboard
 

I have been DYING for a way to use my Nokia E70 as a keyboard for the N800. It's a great keyboard, it's backlit, and its always in my pocket. If someone wrote a keyboard driver for series60v3, I would pay in a heartbeat.

Re: T9 thumb keyboard
 

As for the keyboard someone linked to, I've read that it's not so hot. Here are some reviews:

http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/revie...i_keyboard.php
http://www.pocketnow.com/index.php?a...reviews&id=725

Re: T9 thumb keyboard
 

If you read those reviews they actually think the actual device is great if you want a keyboard that size, but that a so small keyboard is no easy thing to master. The second link especially rate it very nicely at 4/5.

Just so no one gets turned away from this keyboard without actually reading the full reviews...

Re: T9 thumb keyboard
 

Regarding a software implementation of T9, I believe there are some intellectual property obstacles. A similar discussion appeared on the Slim Devices forum, where a member suggested using T9 technology for item selection on the Squeezebox music player. If the concept had been legally clean, I'm sure we'd have seen it in slimserver by now. Bummer... :-(

Re: T9 thumb keyboard
 

It's not a unique concept. Dozens of phone manufacturers use the same technology, each with their own branding. I'm planning on coding this myself, so they can't do anything. Hooray! Now, if I were to copy the code from a phone, then I get in trouble. Just gotta call it Tabor9, or something like that. :D

Thanks for the link! It'll take me a while to slueth through all that, but it should have something.

Re: T9 thumb keyboard
 

This looks like just the ticket, but appears to be just a tad bit spendy. Looks like it should work with Marvin, but I'm not sure I'm willing to drop sixty-five bu' on it to find out it doesn't.

If I had another use, like a PDA, I'd go for it. But my PDA-phone already has a thumb-board.

Anybody tried one of these with an N800?

Re: T9 thumb keyboard
 

Looks like no one has tried these with an N800, so I went ahead and dropped the hammer on one.

I'll let everyone know how well it works, and my impression of how useful it is when it comes in.

Re: T9 thumb keyboard
 

I think I'm gonna grab a frogpad soon. I really want to get the software T9 working, but unless I can find some source code to work with, I can't. I'm also away from a computer the entire summer, so no work will be done then.

Honestly, I think something like the frogpad is best for me, for notes (in class). Though the T9 would be great for quick emails and whatnot. It all revolves around how long you will be typing.

Another upside with the frogpad is that it will work nicely with my compy. It'll be interesting to learn, too.

:D

Re: T9 thumb keyboard
 

My FrogPad arrived today, and extrapolating info found elsewhere in this forum regarding keyboard pairing I was able to get it up and running on my N800 fine (without the need to download any drivers). I expect the learning curve will be steep at first, but it handles and feels great -- but, oh, the cost of the thing!

Re: T9 thumb keyboard
 

While researching the Mini Freedom thumbpad I ran accross this: http://freedominput.com/site/index.p...d=13&Itemid=30 . Sure does look slick, but at this point it's only available to OEMs, and other than it's SPP I can't tell what kind of interface it's got.

Re: T9 thumb keyboard
 

SPP is the serial port interface. N800 only supports HID out of the box.

Re: T9 thumb keyboard
 

I'd be fine if I could use my Blackjack as the keyboard for the 770 :)

Re: T9 thumb keyboard
 

Well, the freedom mini keyboard arrived yesterday, and it works with Marvin ... sort of.

By that I mean it pairs up just fine, and when I type with it something comes up on the screen. Exactly what comes up is somewhat more problematic. It seems that the shift/numlock/function/alt keys don't quite work as advertised.

1. When I press the numlock/function key I get some kind of input menu instead of the alternate key assignments.
2. Sometimes the shift/capslock key sometimes I get shift, and sometimes I get capslock.
3. Sometimes the Alt key gives me alternate characters and sometimes it doesn't
4. And all the time, the repeat time is much too short, and I get frequent multiple letters.

I'm not sure if I have a faulty mini keyboard or the N800 interface is the culprit, but all in all it's been a disappointing experience, not to mention a wast of perfectly good money.

On the plus side, freedominputs has been able to stuff a lot af characters into just 39 keys. Here is an example

"GGGFgggaaa fff FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF XXX_S___fgghGGHHTTTTTTHFFGGGhhhhhhZZZzzzÆÆÆÆÆÆXXX© ©©VVBBÑÄÅÄÅÉ®ÞÜÚÍÓ ÖÁßÐFGHHJKØÆX©©VBÑ ¶¶¶¶"

The last ones are with the Alt key pressed, and I could not get the numlock/function key to work.

As you can see there are a very many repeated keystrokes.

Re: T9 thumb keyboard
 

Hi all - anyone know of any progress on a t9 entry method for the n800? I'm wondering has anyone created an alternative keypad for entry? (soft key pads, on screen). Thanks. - Eric

Re: T9 thumb keyboard
 

Yes.
______