[Steve]

Swype is a QWERTY keyboard, but instead of tapping the screen to select letters, you swipe your finger over them. Here's a demo vid: -



If you want to try it, download it here: -

http://uploaded.to/file/sw914q

That particular version is only for the Desire or Nexus 1, so don't install it on other Android phones as it just won't work due to the screen resolution.

Unzip the .apk file to your phone's memory card, then use Apps Installer (free app from the Market) to install it. Once installed, go to Settings - Language & Keyboard and check the box next to Swype. If you click on Swype Settings on the same screen, you'll also find a tutorial which I suggest you run through.

When you go to compose a message on your phone, do a long press where it says "Tap to compose" and you can switch the input method between the standard Desire keyboard and Swype. It will remember which keyboard you chose for further messages.

This is a beta version of Swype and like past beta versions of this app, it may be time limited, so don't get too attached to it! No doubt a final version will hit the Market at some point, but for now there is no full version available to download for free or buy.

[iexist]

i must admit that I was intrigued by this new technology of typing on your phone.
i thought it was going to become the norm for certain phones though..

is this just an additional app?

[Steve]

Some phones in certain countries come with it. This is just an additional app, but it does fully replace the keyboard on your phone so it acts no differently than if it was pre-installed and you have the option of removing it and/or switching back to the standard keyboard at any time.

The company's reasons for not selling it yet are that they are only a small company and feel they can't offer the level of customer support required, and because it takes a long time to get it running perfectly on each particular handset and they're just not ready to being it to market yet. It won't be coming to the iPhone because of Apple's restrictions on the type of apps that can be sold, but it should be released for certain Android-based handsets at some point.

[iexist]

Steve, on 29 July 2010 - 03:52 PM, said:

Some phones in certain countries come with it. This is just an additional app, but it does fully replace the keyboard on your phone so it acts no differently than if it was pre-installed and you have the option of removing it and/or switching back to the standard keyboard at any time.

The company's reasons for not selling it yet are that they are only a small company and feel they can't offer the level of customer support required, and because it takes a long time to get it running perfectly on each particular handset and they're just not ready to being it to market yet. It won't be coming to the iPhone because of Apple's restrictions on the type of apps that can be sold, but it should be released for certain Android-based handsets at some point.

i remember seeing they guy break the fastest text messaging record.
it's pretty amazing how accurate it is, but i bet it takes some time to get used to.