A hot download on Google Play, the Swype-like SlideIT Keyboard app promises users a faster and easier way to enter text on their Android OS phones. Here, we examine the app to see how well SlideIT actually performs.
Overview
The basic idea behind SlideIT Keyboard is fairly simple. Instead of tapping keys individually, you slide your fingertip from one letter to the next. While it uses a full keyboard, SlideIT does qualify as a form of "predictive input," because it's making assumptions about what you mean to type. You can't slide your finger from "e" to "e" when writing "guarantee," for instance. So it guesses that that's what you meant to type when it gets "guarante" from you.
The most famous input system along these lines is Swype. But Swype is only available pre-installed on some devices, not for sale via Google Play (the download site previously known as Android Market). This gives SlideIT a major advantage over the alternative.
Aside from predictive input, SlideIT also offers some extra features such as speech-to-text and handwriting recognition functionality.
The app comes in two flavors. The full version costs $7, whereas the "free" version is a demo only good for up to 15 days. After that, you've got to either give it up or fork over the money.
Performance
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SlideIT, though, actually works far better than the competition. Due to its full keyboard, you're giving it a lot more information to work with in figuring out what you're typing. You can concentrate on what you're trying to say instead of fighting with the device.
You also don't have to worry too much about being extremely accurate with your input. I have fairly big fingertips, and even working on the relatively small four-inch screen of my Samsung Epic, I manage to correctly (and quite comfortably) enter text.
Even if your finger isn't perfectly centered on every letter, SlideIT seems good about predicting what you want to say. Sometimes you'll accidentally get "its" instead of "is", but that's life.
Granted, SlideIT is not perfect. For starters, like any predictive input, it's geared strictly towards words, so ent
ering something like a URL, email address, or user name requires you to use it like a regular keyboard. Fortunately, however, this doesn't require you to switch input methods. You simply tap instead of slide.
Punctuation is a bit difficult too, since anything other than a period or a comma requires you to hit a separate button for
more characters. That's really the biggest annoyance. It would be great to be able to do a question mark without three additional key presses.
The Extras
Of course, SlideIT does more than just predictive input, but the other features aren't too mind-blowing.
The speech-to-text functionality is a nice addition. However, frankly it's not going to outmatch Google's own implementation. You can actually switch to Google Voice input -- but then again, you can do that with the regular keyboard too.
SlideIT Keyboard is also fully skinnable. So if you'd like to add a little more flashiness to your typing, that's an option.
Yet these skins don't extend the option of actually changing available keys -- such as giving yourself question marks without an additional key press -- beyond the alternate keyboard layouts like QWERTZ, AZERTY, DVORAK, etc.
SlideIT's built-in handwriting recognition can definitely come in handy if you're a stylus person, or if you're using an Android OS tablet.
When it comes right down to it, SlideIT Keyboard offers a fairly compelling input option. It's fast, relatively easy to learn, and accurate. It won't outdo a hardware keyboard, but it offers a lot of potential for people using touchscreen-only devices. I think it's going to find a permanent home on one or more of my own gadgets.
