[KEYBOARD][4.0+] NextApp Keyboard: AOSP-derived Keyboard with Arrow, Function Keys

The NextApp Keyboard is a derivative of the AOSP keyboard found in Android 4.4 KitKat, with added arrow keys and other special keys, and a slightly tweaked QWERTY layout that is closer to that of a PC Keyboard.

This keyboard is intended as an "everyday use" keyboard. While I'm a fan of "Hacker's Keyboard"'s full PC layout for serious hacking, its larger number of keys requires that individual keys be smaller, reducing accuracy. The AOSP keyboard and the various popular aftermarket keyboards, while having large enough keys, are lacking in quick access to fine cursor control abilities and developer features (some more than others).

The design goals of this keyboard are as follows:

1.) Maximize the size of key basic typing layout: top row contains only QWERTYUIOP and extends from one edge of the screen to the other (on phone-sized devices).
2.) Maximize screen area while typing.
3.) Provide quick access to full cursor control, function, control, and special keys.



This keyboard includes a function key ("Fn") toward its lower left corner which can be used to access many additional keys typically found on a PC or Mac keyboard, including:

* Cursor Arrow Keys
* Page Up / Page Down
* Insert, Delete, Home, and End.
* Function F1-F12.
* Ctrl and Alt
* Tab
* Escape

Additionally the function keyboard mode includes twelve symbols found on a PC/Mac keyboard which are not accessible from the Android first-level symbol keyboard. They are included on the function keyboard such that you do not have to visit the second-level symbol keyboard to access them. This reduces the number of key-presses required to type these keys from three to two. This can be useful when writing technical documents or code.

The fundamental QWERTY keyboard layout has been very slightly tweaked to mimic that of a PC keyboard. Specifically, the size of the left shift key has been reduced such that the third row (ZXCVBNM) is no longer overly shifted to the right. The shift key is now a standard sized key. This modification only applies to phones (the AOSP keyboard already uses this layout for tablets).

A comparison of the main keyboard layouts of the NextApp keyboard (first image) vs. the stock AOSP on which it is based (second image):


And the standard PC typing keyboard layout, for comparison:


Google does not include the "gesture typing" feature in the AOSP keyboard, though they did modify the design of the AOSP keyboard significantly to accommodate it as a plugin. The gesture-typing functionality is packaged in a shared library which is distributed only to OEMs and via the Play Store. I've added a facility (in Settings) in the NextApp keyboard to accommodate such plugin libraries should you wish to install one. This feature will always be considered experimental.

This version of the keyboard is free to use. I will be adding it to the Play Store soon, but wanted to get feedback here first.

I may create an enhanced paid version with more features. The paid features might include some more advanced options in the "Fn" mode, more configruation/personalization, theming capabilities, and a couple of accuracy-related ideas I've been testing out.

This keyboard uses the same permissions as the AOSP keyboard, which is quite a number of them. The worrisome ones are of course the "read contacts"-related items. These are used by the autosuggest contact names feature (part of the AOSP keyboard).

Installation Instructions


Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nextapp.inputmethod.latin

Direct Download: http://android.nextapp.com/keyboard/r19/NAK_r19.apk

1.) Install the APK.
2.) Open your device's Settings menu, select "Language & Input".
3.) Check NextApp Keyboard.
4.) Tap the "Default" item and select NextApp Keyboard as the default.

This keyboard does NOT currently add a launcher icon that links to the automated setup, but that will likely change soon.

Thank you for any feedback, bug reports, and suggestions!

Additional screenshots:

Portrait orientation:


Symbols layout:

The symbols layout is slightly modified from stock, and I'm possibly looking at adding '<' and '>' (less-than and greater-than) keys here as well, and then removing them from the Function keyboard.

Known issues:

• ConnectBot support is poor, I believe it's limited to arrow keys only. (e.g. Ctrl and Tab do not work)

mdalacu said:

Come on, if you have Note 3 just add an option to make it a 5 row keyboard, you have a lot of screen estate. A lot of us have numbers in their passwords

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In portrait I agree, but in landscape I wish there were more space. One thing I did look into extensively was key height with various keyboards, and I think Google really nailed it with the default on the AOSP keyboard. I found that when I reduced basic key height (to add space for a 5th row while not killing screen real estate) my errors went up significantly. With keys of this size, on any 5"+ phone, I can quasi-touch type (with thumbs or index fingers) with the phone in landscape orientation.

While I wouldn't personally enable it, I 100% agree a number row and user-configurable key height should be options (optionally independently for portrait and landscape orientations).

Nucleotide said:

@tliebeck - you've made the front page already.

http://www.xda-developers.com/android/get-the-best-parts-of-the-aosp-keyboard-with-nextapp-keyboard/

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Thanks had no idea, now I need to get this up on the Play Store ASAP!

pemell said:

To be honest, why would you need the functions keys on an android device?

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The actual F1-F12 keys are pretty unimportant, and I'm leaning toward making them available via a single, possibly double-wide "Function" key that pops up F1-F12 when pressed. They take up a lot of space that could be used by more important keys (e.g. "word left" and "word right" that fire Ctrl+Left and Ctrl+Right").

F1-F12 can be useful with remote desktop/VNC apps, but those apps tend to already have the ability to easily send those keys built-in.

retiredtrebor said:

Just downloaded this app, haven't actually used it yet. However, I noticed that in the screen shots there is a comma to the left of the space bar. I have a microphone looking symbol, no comma. Would that be because speech to text (or something like that) is enabled on the phone?

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The keyboard retains the option of a voice input key (and it's on by default). Just make sure your Google Search application is up-to-date (via Play Store). The Mic key will appear where the comma key is.