In my search for good keyboard that support AMOLED mode, I found out about FlorisBoard which looks perfect to me. It even supports Halmak Keyboard Layout, which I didn’t expect to find at any Android Keyboard.

Which make me ask, How is this keyboard not popular?

  • fonix232@fedia.io
    3·
    56 minutes ago

    There’s a very simple explanation to every “how is (niche technological thing) not more popular?” questions, and that is simply… Most people are perfectly happy with the defaults.

    Don’t take this Fediverse instance and the people who interact with it as an example. Even Reddit’s tech subs are very niche serving, most of the responders will be people who live and die with tech… which does NOT represent the great majority of people.

    Said great majority is perfectly happy with their phones as is. The default keyboard is 99% of the time perfectly usable. So people don’t even feel a need to change. Therefore niche keyboards will have very little popularity. Even big ones like SwiftKey.

  • ORbituary@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    4·
    3 hours ago

    I’ve become dependent on SwiftKey. Unfortunately, it’s invasive. I block network access on the app. It works great without it. It adjusts sensitivity and accuracy based on your typing habits, fixing mistakes over time that I make incessantly on other keyboards.

    • Not a newt@piefed.caEnglish
      3·
      2 hours ago

      In addition to glide typing, Heliboard also has some of the best layout customization options out there, such as the option of disabling context-dependent menus. I HAAAAAATE how other keyboards change the keys available on the period key menu on URL bars. I use colons and forward slashes way more often than “.com”, which I use… well, never.

  • warm@kbin.earth
    3·
    3 hours ago

    I also use FlorisBoard, it’s the best one I’ve tried. I don’t use spell checking or suggestions so lack of that didn’t bother me, the general functionality and design was just better than other options.

    Development has recently started on it again, so these missing features will probably be implemented soon, which will probably help it’s adoption!

  • brisk@aussie.zone
    4·
    4 hours ago

    Word suggestions/spell checking are not included in the current releases and are a major goal for the v0.6 milestone.

    I’ve been watching Florisboard since before that text read “v0.5”. It’s a good keyboard but can’t be a daily driver for me without that.

  • spit_evil_olive_tips@beehaw.orgEnglish
    6·
    4 hours ago

    How is this keyboard not popular?

    their front page explicitly says “Currently in beta state” and according to their docs installation via Google Play requires joining a beta tester group.

    that means a random user searching “keyboard” on the Play store isn’t going to see it. likewise if a friend told you “I use Florisboard” and you searched for it by name in the Play store. if you’re not already in the beta test group the direct link to the app page literally 404s.

    it’s certainly available to power users who already know they want it, but it’s sort of pointless to ask why it’s not popular at this stage of its development.

    • ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      1·
      23 minutes ago

      WEEEEELLLL that’s what Fdroid is for and my friends with android all already have fdroid because “youtube downloaders be there” is all I had to say.

      They just like the google keyloggerboard.

  • SnokenKeekaGuard@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    6·
    5 hours ago

    Got a shit tonne of experience with open source keyboards. Literally the only kind of app I can say I have good enough experience to have an opinion on and heliboard has hands down been the best.

  • BCsven@lemmy.ca
    3·
    5 hours ago

    Most common letter E is too far right to be useful as single hand Typer (LH)

  • Mora@pawb.social
    21·
    5 hours ago

    I just got attached to Typewise (despite not being Open Source sadly). It is one of few apps, where I bought an expensive lifetime option.