11 ms·

Do newer Android devices have keyboards?

by mattl 5y ago

sp332 5y ago
Bluetooth keyboards are pretty common. When I was using one with an Android-based set-top box, I really missed having keyboard shortcuts in Firefox.
- mattl 5y ago
  I’ll check it out. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29236519 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29236519
dredmorbius 5y ago
I'm using an external Bluetooth keyboard. I'd originally bought the device with a paired self-supporting case/keyboard combo. That ... was already failing from purchase. The current keyboard doesn't mate with the device, but if used on a desk is acceptable. (Logiteck K480, multi-device, PC/Mac, fairly decent reviews, chicklet keys though. I'm ... dealing with that.)
- mattl 5y ago
  I hadn’t thought about using a keyboard with my phone but I’ll check it out. I have a new Logitech (can’t keep track of model numbers) and iOS.
  - dredmorbius 5y ago
    It's a huge boost in productivity. My estimate is that trying to use a soft keyboard drops my effective intelligence by at least half. Typing is slower and far more error-prone. I'm staring at the keyboard rather than what I've typed, so if there's an error, I don't see it as it occurs (which would enable me to correct it immediately), and navigation is exctremely imprecise. My error / typo rate with a software keyboard is through the roof. With a keyboard, all of that is much more fluid, and I can focus on what I'm actually trying to say. Being able to toggle between apps and access application hotkeys is another huge bonus. Downside is that many applications literally don't know what the fuck to do with a keyboard. Apparently keyboard entry is not a consistent low-level Android feature. - The Pocketbook e-book reader interprets spaces when writing notes or search expressions as "page scroll" events. This is always delightful. - The Mozilla Pocket app loses focus on each motherlovin' keystroke when entering tags. My enthusiasm for this behaviour is utterly without bounds. - Depending on the keyboard and perhaps Android version, input of escape (hullo, vim), function keys, and other modifier keys ... is variable ... with Termux. The Logitech keyboard largely functions as advertised, though there are some workarounds required for function key usage (say, with Midnight Commander). I'm sure you'll discover other fun surprises in your own preferred apps / workflow. That it's easier to write longer pieces with a keyboard may or may not be a feature, though on balance I'd consider it a plus. Using Termux or remotely accessing a Linux / *nix system with a real keyboard is also a huge improvement over soft keyboards. Termux (Linux userland available through F-Droid) remains the one thing on Android that does not precisely suck.

Do newer Android devices have keyboards?

by mattl 5y ago

Do newer Android devices have keyboards?

Bluetooth keyboards are pretty common. When I was using one with an Android-based set-top box, I really missed having keyboard shortcuts in Firefox.

mattl 5y ago
I’ll check it out. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29236519 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29236519

dredmorbius 5y ago

I'm using an external Bluetooth keyboard. I'd originally bought the device with a paired self-supporting case/keyboard combo. That ... was already failing from purchase. The current keyboard doesn't mate with the device, but if used on a desk is acceptable. (Logiteck K480, multi-device, PC/Mac, fairly decent reviews, chicklet keys though. I'm ... dealing with that.)

mattl 5y ago
I hadn’t thought about using a keyboard with my phone but I’ll check it out. I have a new Logitech (can’t keep track of model numbers) and iOS.
- dredmorbius 5y ago
  It's a huge boost in productivity. My estimate is that trying to use a soft keyboard drops my effective intelligence by at least half. Typing is slower and far more error-prone. I'm staring at the keyboard rather than what I've typed, so if there's an error, I don't see it as it occurs (which would enable me to correct it immediately), and navigation is exctremely imprecise. My error / typo rate with a software keyboard is through the roof. With a keyboard, all of that is much more fluid, and I can focus on what I'm actually trying to say. Being able to toggle between apps and access application hotkeys is another huge bonus. Downside is that many applications literally don't know what the fuck to do with a keyboard. Apparently keyboard entry is not a consistent low-level Android feature. - The Pocketbook e-book reader interprets spaces when writing notes or search expressions as "page scroll" events. This is always delightful. - The Mozilla Pocket app loses focus on each motherlovin' keystroke when entering tags. My enthusiasm for this behaviour is utterly without bounds. - Depending on the keyboard and perhaps Android version, input of escape (hullo, vim), function keys, and other modifier keys ... is variable ... with Termux. The Logitech keyboard largely functions as advertised, though there are some workarounds required for function key usage (say, with Midnight Commander). I'm sure you'll discover other fun surprises in your own preferred apps / workflow. That it's easier to write longer pieces with a keyboard may or may not be a feature, though on balance I'd consider it a plus. Using Termux or remotely accessing a Linux / *nix system with a real keyboard is also a huge improvement over soft keyboards. Termux (Linux userland available through F-Droid) remains the one thing on Android that does not precisely suck.