Sometimes typing on a touchscreen device can be a pain since it doesn’t reproduce the feeling of typing as the physical keyboard. T9 predictive text system is there to help, but it still requires a minimal number of typing to be done. A lot of different ideas has been put into production for the text input alternative on smartphone, especially on the Android and iOS devices, such as Swype, the 8pen, SwiftKey etc., and all of them are designed to minimize the input from the user to the touchscreen, and produce the most accurate and precise text input.

I have been a big fans for Swype since Windows Mobile 6.1 as I do find typing on the resistive touchscreen is awful. The time just about right for this to come when I have recently shifted to Android device. Previously Swype for Android is only available for certain devices only, although you can easily have it installed on your Android device if you know where to look for (eg. forum.xda-developers.com).

If you are new to Swype, it is actually a gesture-based keyboard which can easily speed up your text input rate with minimal error. Check the video below for a better picture:

So, if you own an Android device and isn’t too comfortable with the conventional keyboard, give it a try. For a limited time, you are just require to register yourself at http://beta.swype.com/ and the link of Swype for Android installer will be sent into your inbox after the account confirmation – doesn’t take more than 5 minute of your time. The link will be only usable if you access it on your Android device though, so download the installer via WiFi or 3G/4G services.

Swype is also available for Symbian 60 5th devices, Windows Mobile 6.1 and 6.5 (look for your device). S^3 (Nokia N8, C7) and iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch) version still in the development, but they should be available quite soon I believed.

“Why type when you can Swype?”