In my search for good keyboard that support AMOLED mode, I found out about FlorisBoard which looks perfect to me. It even supports Halmak Keyboard Layout, which I didn’t expect to find at any Android Keyboard.

Which make me ask, How is this keyboard not popular?

  • spit_evil_olive_tips@beehaw.org
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    3 days ago

    How is this keyboard not popular?

    their front page explicitly says “Currently in beta state” and according to their docs installation via Google Play requires joining a beta tester group.

    that means a random user searching “keyboard” on the Play store isn’t going to see it. likewise if a friend told you “I use Florisboard” and you searched for it by name in the Play store. if you’re not already in the beta test group the direct link to the app page literally 404s.

    it’s certainly available to power users who already know they want it, but it’s sort of pointless to ask why it’s not popular at this stage of its development.

    • ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      2 days ago

      WEEEEELLLL that’s what Fdroid is for and my friends with android all already have fdroid because “youtube downloaders be there” is all I had to say.

      They just like the google keyloggerboard.

  • ryven@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    2 days ago

    Serious question: what problems does the default keyboard have that Florisboard is trying to solve? I’ve never looked at the Android keyboard and thought “I wish this worked differently,” except maybe when I switch languages by accident.

    • curiousfurbytes@programming.dev
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      2 days ago

      It depends on the phone’s brand. Samsung’s keyboard is way different from Motorola, for example. The other reasons would be the possibility of customization, and for privacy-minded people, as the keyboard is basically a very sensitive entry point

  • jherazob@beehaw.org
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    2 days ago

    MUCH prefer AnySoftKeyboard as it has niceties like easy switching of language on the fly, arrow keys and other stuff like that, i just wish the autocomplete was not worse than not having any as it actually wastes your time showing you whatever incorrect and extremely unlikely suggestions it wants instead of something that actually follows what you’re writing

  • brisk@aussie.zone
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    3 days ago

    Word suggestions/spell checking are not included in the current releases and are a major goal for the v0.6 milestone.

    I’ve been watching Florisboard since before that text read “v0.5”. It’s a good keyboard but can’t be a daily driver for me without that.

    • leopardpuncher@beehaw.org
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      2 days ago

      Heliboard is fantastic ❤️

      • glide typing.
      • multiple languages at the same time (without switching).
      • extremely customizable in nearly every way.
      • customize long-press options for each key with multiple / list of options. For instance, I’ve extended the number keys row with my most-used emojis, so holding ‘1’ gives me a pop-up with ‘❤️😍😘🥰’, 2 gives ‘🙂😊😃😄’, etc.
      • ‘snippets’ via custom dictionary with shortcuts (typing ‘xx’ shows my primary email for 1-click insertion, ‘yy’ shows secondary email; endless possibilities). Possible with most keyboards, though.
      • and so much more.

      I haven’t found anything that comes even close.

    • Not a newt@piefed.ca
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      2 days ago

      In addition to glide typing, Heliboard also has some of the best layout customization options out there, such as the option of disabling context-dependent menus. I HAAAAAATE how other keyboards change the keys available on the period key menu on URL bars. I use colons and forward slashes way more often than “.com”, which I use… well, never.

  • ORbituary@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    3 days ago

    I’ve become dependent on SwiftKey. Unfortunately, it’s invasive. I block network access on the app. It works great without it. It adjusts sensitivity and accuracy based on your typing habits, fixing mistakes over time that I make incessantly on other keyboards.

  • bonn2@lemmy.zip
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    2 days ago

    I really like the ethos of Florisboard, but their spell check is just not in a state that makes it usable for me.

  • SnokenKeekaGuard@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    3 days ago

    Got a shit tonne of experience with open source keyboards. Literally the only kind of app I can say I have good enough experience to have an opinion on and heliboard has hands down been the best.

  • Lauchmelder@feddit.org
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    2 days ago

    I want a keyboard that can do both, English/German typing, and Japanese IME. So far all FOSS keyboards I’ve tried can do only one of the two well, and I don’t want to switch between different keyboards for those two things.

    I’m open for recommendations if you have any tho! I