A look at WritingPad

As of now WritingPad is unavailable from the App Store, but before it disappeared I had a chance to install it and test it out. Bottom line? The "guessing" it does worked surprisingly well, but a few glitches (like trying to add a question mark, which you'll see near the end of the video) marred the intelligence of the autocorrection.

The results of pitting the standard input versus WritingPad, however, weren't great. I found that if I trust Apple's built-in keyboard and autocorrect, my typing is faster. Plus, by smearing your finger around the screen the hand you're holding the iPhone with can get fatigued. I tend to either one-finger type or use both thumbs delicately perched above the keyboard. Also, you have to think a bit more when typing with WritingPad, which sometimes messed me up as I "spelled" the words with my finger. You may type by pressing one letter at a time, however. Guesses appear three at a time below the text entry area. Moving the cursor around is harder because it doesn't magnify the screen as Apple does (so you guess a bit). When you do finish typing you can email the text to yourself or save it inside the app.

WritingPad is a very nice tech demo, but I don't see it usurping Apple's virtual keyboard entry method any time soon. Perhaps a larger screen using similar technology makes sense?

UPDATE: WritingPad is back in the store. (iTunes link)

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As of now WritingPad is unavailable from the App Store, but before it disappeared I had a chance to install it and test it out....

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Jason

I'm willing to bet that Apple pulled it after the fact due to:

(1) The nonstandard keyboard layout (specifically: the special characters menu).
(2) The fact that the magnifying glass doesn't appear in order to aid in cursor positioning.

Why this happened /after the fact/, who knows...

September 18 2008 at 12:34 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

superpixel

You can find more music by this artist here:
http://opsound.org/artist/jamesshuttleworth/

September 18 2008 at 11:36 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

mark

arright Victor, what is that song in the background? Shazam couldn't figure it out...

September 18 2008 at 11:16 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Thanh Nguyen

I still have it. I don't know if removing it will cause any major changes to those who already have it.

I use TextGuru more, though.

September 17 2008 at 8:54 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

TonyRockyHorror

Swype was getting all this hype before, even though WritingPad did the same thing and has been there from the beginning. that puzzled me.

September 17 2008 at 8:40 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

namdnal siroj

It would be awesome if you could use both at the same time.
The iPhone might be able to distuinguish whether your finger is sliding or pressing, well enough to enable both method simultaneously?
Otherwise a kind of "shift"-button could change the method of typing?

September 17 2008 at 8:02 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

namdnal siroj

I like it a lot and think it is very intuitive.
Anyone know if this was an original idea? Because I had never seen this method of typing on a touch screen before.
I won't be surprised if Apple pulls a Cover Flow with this app.

September 17 2008 at 7:58 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to namdnal siroj's comment

KeynoteKen

I'd be surprised if Apple adopted this as I don't see what benefit or coolness it would bring. I can already type faster than this on the iPhone and I'd rather tap with two thumbs than drag a finger baaaack and foooorth across the screen.

September 17 2008 at 8:11 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

pmup

From their website:
ShapeWriter WritingPad is temporarily unavailable in the App Store/iTunes.
However an improved version 1.0.4 has been submitted and is currently in review status so it should become available shortly in the App Store.
We appreciate your patience.

September 17 2008 at 6:55 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Wanderance

Ok seriously, when did TUAW become TUIW (the unoffical iPhone blog)? The iPhone is great and all, but there are plenty of other resources for that device, and it is far from the only thing Apple makes. Is there really nothing else going with Apple?

September 17 2008 at 5:55 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

4 replies to Wanderance's comment

grull27

I got it the day the App Store came out.Why was it removed?

September 17 2008 at 5:54 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to grull27's comment

iPhoneinator

any way for you to upload/email it to me?

September 17 2008 at 7:59 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply