Swype being ported to jailbroken iPhones
Swype, the gesture-based alternative keyboard setup popular with Android users, is reportedly being ported to jailbroken iPhones via Cydia, according to MobileCrunch. When Swype was first demoed almost three years ago, we theorized it could be used to make typing easier on the iPhone, but Apple never approved the app for inclusion on the App Store. Android users have sworn by the app's ease-of-use compared to tapping out each letter individually, and it seems some features of the app will finally be making their way to the iPhone, at least if you're willing to jailbreak it first.
It's worth noting that this appears to be an unofficial project by Andrew Liu and not something created by the Swype team. With that in mind, it's perhaps understandable that some of Swype's features are missing from this initial build, such as the little blue line that follows your finger as you swipe across letters. The app also has limited functionality outside of Apple's pre-installed apps, and it's reportedly a bit buggy.
There are, in fact, some alternate keyboard apps for iPhone. ShapeWriter was an early entrant on the store and is similar to Swype, but is no longer available. An alternate keyboard within all your apps is something only jailbreak can make possible. I tried Swype on a friend's Android phone once, and honestly I couldn't wrap my head around it. But people who've grown accustomed to its somewhat quirky UI claim they type much faster with Swype and have missed having it on iOS, and now those users have a chance to try it out on the iPhone.
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Swype, the gesture-based alternative keyboard setup popular with Android users, is reportedly being ported to jailbroken iPhones via...
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September 06 2011 at 5:36 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyNew app for back up or spy an iphone 3g/3gs/4g 100% undetectable . www.omegaspy.com There has anything about app for mobile you need. Hope you fun
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it's not porting, the man made in from scratch
July 09 2011 at 3:31 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplySigh, stories like this make we want to get an Android phone as much as I love aspects of the iPhone. I will admit that Apple's closed architecture makes the iPhone more secure overall than the Android, but if I have to jailbreak the iPhone just to run things like this, then that makes the iPhone less secure than Android at that point.
No wonder the iPhone lost its growth and dominance so quickly after it rose up. People feel too restricted.
Can someone finally finish Graffiti for the iDevices? That is the input device of choice for me.
July 08 2011 at 1:25 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyLike Graffit for Palm? Yeah, that'd be pretty sweet.
July 08 2011 at 2:30 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyWHO CARES!!! Jailbreaking is a stupid dumb idea, and this keyboard is a stupid dumb keyboard too.
Seriously TUAW, you'd be a much better blog if you didn't report on every little jailbreaking story, which most people don't give a crap about.
Wow, yet another person who thinks anyone who doesn't think the way they do is "stupid" and "dumb."
I for one find great use in jailbreaking my iPhone and am very interested in this story. TUAW, please do not listen to negative haters like Ian Charles. They do not represent all your readers.
Jailbreak is easy, but unfortunately, thanks to iOS 5's OTA update, Jailbreak is pretty much going to be difficult. (although jailbreak can be used to disable OTA update, but Apple may find way to force OTA update)
July 10 2011 at 2:24 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate downdon't be super bitter because you too stupid to figure out how to jailbreak your iPhone.
July 08 2011 at 4:49 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyIn the short time I had an Android device, I started checking Swype out. At first I thought what all of you who haven't used it think "My brain doesn't think that way." "I can't wrap my head around it." But after you use it, it just makes sense. Really instead of lifting your finger every time you want to move to a different key, you just slide it on the screen. It makes approximating words really easy. I've since switch back to my iPhone (for good, lest HP out some fantastic WebOS phone which drives developers to the platform) and still find myself wishing I had the option of Swype. Apple is an innovative company. iOS5 has done wonders opening up the operating system, hopefully down the road they'll tap Swype to be a choice of keyboards for iOS.
July 08 2011 at 11:32 AM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down ReplyI've not had the chance to play with Swype, but I can't imagine that I'd be able to adapt to it quickly. My brain just doesn't think that way. Plus, I'm a fast typist already, so I don't feel a need for it.
However, I can certainly understand the desire for it from those who've grown accustomed to it on other phones & are switching to an iPhone.
Gief to non jailbroken iPhones !
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TUAW (or The Unofficial Apple Weblog) is a website devoted to tips, reviews, news, analysis and opinion on everything Apple.
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