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> The default keyboard selection on Android seems to be good, but configuring and installing new ones is probably not straightforward for many casual users. I

by cryptoz 14y ago

> The default keyboard selection on Android seems to be good, but configuring and installing new ones is probably not straightforward for many casual users. I think you're missing the point. What features does the default Android 4.2 have that make it so awesome? It has the excellent three-word prediction which is a direct copy from SwiftKey. It has the one finger swipe typing which is a direct copy from Swype. The only reason the Android's default keyboard is so good is because they opened the ecosystem and let hundreds of developers experiment and play with keyboard apps until they got really, really amazing. Edit: And "configuring and installing new ones is probably not straightforward for many casual users"?! Do you think "Apps" are a difficult concept? Keyboards are apps; they're found in Google Play for download just like Angry Birds is. Anyone who can install Angry Birds can install a keyboard.

danso 14y ago
I don't disagree with you...I do prefer an open ecosystem. However, for the scope of the argument, I'm just leaving it as: "Android keyboards are far, far superior to iOS's seemingly left-behind keyboard". Whether iOS's keyboard problem stems from a closed ecosystem or not is somewhat orthogonal, because iOS has some pretty amazing features despite the closed ecosystem. As for the difficulty in configuring the keyboards...well, part of it is that you need to configure them all. As an experienced systems user, it didn't take me long to figure out where the config menu is and what the implications were...but that's not going to be the case for a lot of users. As for the difficulty in installing apps: well, again, it may not seem hard. But I'll point to the awkward history of the Google Play/App store as an example of how yes, even app purchasing/updating is hard, which is why Apple and Google spend a significant amount of time on the workflow of buying and installing apps.

by cryptoz 14y ago

danso 14y ago

I don't disagree with you...I do prefer an open ecosystem. However, for the scope of the argument, I'm just leaving it as: "Android keyboards are far, far superior to iOS's seemingly left-behind keyboard". Whether iOS's keyboard problem stems from a closed ecosystem or not is somewhat orthogonal, because iOS has some pretty amazing features despite the closed ecosystem. As for the difficulty in configuring the keyboards...well, part of it is that you need to configure them all. As an experienced systems user, it didn't take me long to figure out where the config menu is and what the implications were...but that's not going to be the case for a lot of users. As for the difficulty in installing apps: well, again, it may not seem hard. But I'll point to the awkward history of the Google Play/App store as an example of how yes, even app purchasing/updating is hard, which is why Apple and Google spend a significant amount of time on the workflow of buying and installing apps.