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HTC keyboard on DROID -non-root-
- Thread starter RinTinTigger
- Start date
arty2hottie
Member
Just pres and hold the prediction box untill it vibrates and then you can move it anywhere
I have been hoping for an improved keyboard and when I saw this thread I was quite excited this morning. But as I have manage to use my Droid quite well I have to be honest the set of instructions left me very confused, as I really prefer to download directly to my Droid rather than having to use my computer.
I did a bit of searching and found a much simpler set of instructions at least they were for me. Hopefully it is ok if I post them here.
They were at Droid-life here:
new htc ime keyboard for motorola droid | Droid Life: A Motorola Droid Blog
You can download directly to your Droid by opening the above link on your phone.
So for me this was a much easier way and maybe it might be for others here.
I did a bit of searching and found a much simpler set of instructions at least they were for me. Hopefully it is ok if I post them here.
They were at Droid-life here:
new htc ime keyboard for motorola droid | Droid Life: A Motorola Droid Blog
You can download directly to your Droid by opening the above link on your phone.
So for me this was a much easier way and maybe it might be for others here.
By the way I understand this is not a replacement for the excellent installation instructions given on the first page of this thread, just something that might be good for some that are not as familiar with some of the more technical elements of that download and still want to try this htc keyboard.
Great info JLB09!
One of the problems with that "simple" set of instructions where you can download the apk directly is that it might not get you the latest version. The developers page over at xda-developers.com always has the latest... but it is a zip. And it's a good thing to learn how to install apk files which you download as zips, so here is my set of easy to follow instructions for people who aren't as experienced as others:
A. First, download and install a file manager:
1. Go to the Android Market
2. Search for AndroZip (it's my favorite, although there are many others such as Astro, for example).
3. Download and install it.
4. No need to launch it now... you will use it later.
B. Second, download the zip, unzip the apk files and move them to your phone
1. First download the zip to a location on your computer which you can find again (like a mydroidappsdownloads folder).
Here is the developer's site, where you will find the latest version (currently 19):
[APP MOD] HTC_IME Keyboard (26th March) v19: Lowres! , Custom smileys - xda-developers
2. Next unzip it..... if you don't have WinZip then do a Google search for it and install it on your PC.
3. When you unzip it, the command is called "extract" on the WinZip menu, navigate to put the apk files (plus it has other two files) being unzipped into that same new directory you created.
4. Now connect your Droid to your PC with a USB cord.
5. Once connected, a notice will show in the notification bar (top left of your Droid main screen).
6. Swipe down on that bar to reveal your notifications.
7. You will see one called USB connected. Click on that.
8. A box pops up which says
9. Choose Mount.
10. On your PC, open two Windows Explorer windows (right click on the Windows start symbol and choose "Open Windows Explorer" to do that (do it twice).
11. Size the windows so that you can see the two side by side.
12. In one window navigate to your mydroidappsdownloads folder.
13. In the other window click on the Removable disk link (under Computer, it will be shown as a new Drive... maybe D or E.
14. You will be looking at your sdcard link on your phone.
15. Drag and drop your two apk files over to your sdcard.
16. In the mydroidappsdownloads folder open the file called .htcme with your Notepad and put the # sign in front of all languages except English (or your language). Save it.
17. Drag and drop the .htcme file onto your sdcard.
18. Unplug your usb cord. It will automatically unmount your card to make it accessible with your file manager.
19. Launch your new AndroidZip file manager (or Astro or whatever). You will see your sdcard folders (you should be at the sdcard root).
20. Click (quick tap) on the apk files one by one and choose to "Install."
21. After install is finished go to your Droid main screen.
22. Go to Menu, Settings, Language & Keyboard. Select Touch Input and enter Touch Input settings.
23. To change keyboard (from standard), do a long press on lower left key on stock keyboard or any input field.
----------
Let me know if you have other questions.
A. First, download and install a file manager:
1. Go to the Android Market
2. Search for AndroZip (it's my favorite, although there are many others such as Astro, for example).
3. Download and install it.
4. No need to launch it now... you will use it later.
B. Second, download the zip, unzip the apk files and move them to your phone
1. First download the zip to a location on your computer which you can find again (like a mydroidappsdownloads folder).
Here is the developer's site, where you will find the latest version (currently 19):
[APP MOD] HTC_IME Keyboard (26th March) v19: Lowres! , Custom smileys - xda-developers
2. Next unzip it..... if you don't have WinZip then do a Google search for it and install it on your PC.
3. When you unzip it, the command is called "extract" on the WinZip menu, navigate to put the apk files (plus it has other two files) being unzipped into that same new directory you created.
4. Now connect your Droid to your PC with a USB cord.
5. Once connected, a notice will show in the notification bar (top left of your Droid main screen).
6. Swipe down on that bar to reveal your notifications.
7. You will see one called USB connected. Click on that.
8. A box pops up which says
9. Choose Mount.
10. On your PC, open two Windows Explorer windows (right click on the Windows start symbol and choose "Open Windows Explorer" to do that (do it twice).
11. Size the windows so that you can see the two side by side.
12. In one window navigate to your mydroidappsdownloads folder.
13. In the other window click on the Removable disk link (under Computer, it will be shown as a new Drive... maybe D or E.
14. You will be looking at your sdcard link on your phone.
15. Drag and drop your two apk files over to your sdcard.
16. In the mydroidappsdownloads folder open the file called .htcme with your Notepad and put the # sign in front of all languages except English (or your language). Save it.
17. Drag and drop the .htcme file onto your sdcard.
18. Unplug your usb cord. It will automatically unmount your card to make it accessible with your file manager.
19. Launch your new AndroidZip file manager (or Astro or whatever). You will see your sdcard folders (you should be at the sdcard root).
20. Click (quick tap) on the apk files one by one and choose to "Install."
21. After install is finished go to your Droid main screen.
22. Go to Menu, Settings, Language & Keyboard. Select Touch Input and enter Touch Input settings.
23. To change keyboard (from standard), do a long press on lower left key on stock keyboard or any input field.
----------
Let me know if you have other questions.
squished KB
I installed files v19 low res per instructions and the keyboard is scrunched to the left side (ie. not full size like stock key board). It is scrunched in both portrait & landscape mode. Is there a setting I need to check/uncheck? (I have tried checking/unchecking left align pref, that doesnt do anything. I have also uninstalled and reinstalled any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I installed files v19 low res per instructions and the keyboard is scrunched to the left side (ie. not full size like stock key board). It is scrunched in both portrait & landscape mode. Is there a setting I need to check/uncheck? (I have tried checking/unchecking left align pref, that doesnt do anything. I have also uninstalled and reinstalled any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
What the current version looks like...
@esmortz -- Using the terms "squished and scrunched" give a rather unrealistic understanding of the way this keyboard appears, at least to me. Yes, the layout (for now) is that the keyboard is positioned to the left during landcscape mode, but the portrait mode seems to be very well located. On landscape, that left positioning only means that the top row (beginning with the Q) is flush left. All the other rows are proportionated and centered. It is possible that a new version will make that landscape positioning more centered and even larger, but it now works great for me.
Here is a good image of the portrait mode:
Here is a fuzzy image of the landscape mode:
Later when I have access to a better camera, I will redo the landscape mode for better clarity, but for now, it illustrates the way the keys look. That Q is over to the left (and that upper right button says "Done"), but it works fine and even if they don't make it any better (athough they probably will), I am happy with it now.
@esmortz -- Using the terms "squished and scrunched" give a rather unrealistic understanding of the way this keyboard appears, at least to me. Yes, the layout (for now) is that the keyboard is positioned to the left during landcscape mode, but the portrait mode seems to be very well located. On landscape, that left positioning only means that the top row (beginning with the Q) is flush left. All the other rows are proportionated and centered. It is possible that a new version will make that landscape positioning more centered and even larger, but it now works great for me.
Here is a good image of the portrait mode:
Here is a fuzzy image of the landscape mode:
Later when I have access to a better camera, I will redo the landscape mode for better clarity, but for now, it illustrates the way the keys look. That Q is over to the left (and that upper right button says "Done"), but it works fine and even if they don't make it any better (athough they probably will), I am happy with it now.
I cannot say enough good things about this keyboard. The keyboard options on my Droid was really the only thing I have not been pleased with. I text a fair amount but I also like to be able to post on message boards like this one when I am on the go and I found myself dreading that because of the keyboard. I really do not like the qwerty one and I was forever hitting the wrong key on the virtual keyboard. I did like Swype and used it for a week but it was hard with Swype to change to a different character screen, at least it was for me.
When I saw this thread here I was hopeful and it has surpassed my expectations. One thing I have found is the accuracy of the voice to text. I find it better than any yet. And I would think some will really like the prediction for physical keyboard So this really is a great little keyboard and I give it a very complementary review.
When I saw this thread here I was hopeful and it has surpassed my expectations. One thing I have found is the accuracy of the voice to text. I find it better than any yet. And I would think some will really like the prediction for physical keyboard So this really is a great little keyboard and I give it a very complementary review.