Gingerbread keyboard works ! (Android 2.3)

[daniel.weck]

EDIT: landscape screenshot courtesy of another fellow XDA member ("paulshields", scroll below to see his post):

Please note that I use LCD Density of 200 instead of the standard 240.

- Requires ROOT -

There are several sources where the Gingerbread keyboard APK and SO library can be downloaded from (e.g. [1], [2], [3], [4] and [5]), but personally I used this one:

http://fabdroid.com/goodies/Fabolous_GBKB_Fix.zip

IMPORTANT NOTE: this ZIP file is a ClockWork Recovery update file ==> DO NOT USE IT !!! (it will remove your system odex files) Just unzip and grab the APK and SO files.

Because the Galaxy Tab doesn't ship with LatinIME.apk and libjni_latinime.so by default, there is normally nothing to backup. DOUBLE-CHECK to make sure this assumption is correct !! (/system/app/ and /system/lib/) MAKE BACKUPS if necessary.

I used Root Explorer to transfer the APK and SO files from my SD card into their respective system folders, and I fixed the file permissions.

I then went to the system preferences, looked at all the settings for "Android Keyboard" (by the way, haptic feedback/vibration doesn't seem to work). IMPORTANT: select your language in the list and get familiar with the keyboard options BEFORE using it. Then I set the keyboard as the default input method (instead of Smart Keyboard Pro, which I normally use).

I then opened the note-taking app to test the keyboard. It's all working very well, no Force-Closes/crashes. There's a little more latency than Smart Keyboard Pro (I feel), but it's no big deal. It could be related to the handling of multitouch typing. Otherwise the auto-completion / word prediction is nice, so are the popup keys.

I still prefer Smart Keyboard Pro (I might as well, given I paid for it ), but Gingerbread's keyboard is a definite improvement over the stock Froyo one !!

Cheers, Dan

EDIT: when using APKs extracted from the emulator image (system.img, 50MB, download links can be found on XDA), it is recommended to edit /system/build.prop and change "ro.build.version.sdk" to 9 instead of 8 (and reboot).

[1]
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=863571

[2]
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=863584

[3]
http://www.droidforums.net/forum/dr...bread-2-3-keyboard-w-working-predictions.html

[4]
http://www.droid-life.com/2010/12/06/download-gingerbread-keyboard-for-rooted-devices/

[5]
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=863969

 

[maxtcee]

i still wish we had a back and fwwd arrow button also would love to see a keyboard hide button like in sence keyboard why caant android do that for us

 

[daniel.weck]

i still wish we had a back and fwwd arrow button also would love to see a keyboard hide button like in sence keyboard why caant android do that for us

You mean the "arrow keys" (LEFT, RIGHT, UP and DOWN) ? That's one of the many features from Smart Keyboard Pro that justify its purchase

EDIT: finger-swipe left or right on top the Smart Keyboard Pro, and press the bottom left corner key => this should show the arrows keypad (also check the preferences to see if it is activated).

 

[maxtcee]

You mean the "arrow keys" (LEFT, RIGHT, UP and DOWN) ? That's one of the many features from Smart Keyboard Pro that justify its purchase

i have smart keyboard but its not there is there a special way to turn them on?

Edit I figured it out

 

[Garret]

i still wish we had a back and fwwd arrow button also would love to see a keyboard hide button like in sence keyboard why caant android do that for us

? My Greek Galaxy Tab has a hide keyboard button. Stock Vodafone Rom.

 

[le3ky]

daniel.weck can you take a screen in landscaper view pls?

 

[firesq38]

I hit the little setting button on the keyboard and turned on vibrate on keypress

 

[paulshields]

daniel.weck can you take a screen in landscaper view pls?

I like the new editing options and it has nicer colours, though find the keys a bit small. Shame they can't be increased like in smart keyboard pro. Will run with it a bit longer to see if I can get used to it.

[edit] removed pic as daniel has added it to his first post.

 

[daniel.weck]

I added the landscape screenshot to the 1st post, thank you !

Please note that I use LCD Density of 200 instead of the standard 240. I'm not sure how the keyboard looks with other settings.

 

[paulshields]

I added the landscape screenshot to the 1st post, thank you !

Please note that I use LCD Density of 200 instead of the standard 240. I'm not sure how the keyboard looks with other settings.

I use LCD density of 200 too so our captures match up .

Can't get it to do haptic touch despite setting it, but it's not something I usually turn on so no biggy.

 

[je2345]

well i installed the keyboard like u directed in the Verizon Galaxy Tab and it works perfect. Only downfall is the font is pretty small for a 7in screen. I dled the LCD Density app from market that requires root and changed it to 200 from default 240 and all my font for the whole device went much smaller but the keyboard did look better. Is there anyway to just change the LCD density for the keyboard to make that font bigger and not shrink the Whole Tab's font. Thanks for your help!

 

[plasmathrower]

Confirm +1. No haptic. 2/3 the size of Samsung keyboard. Easier to use if you're used to an iphone or something with baby keys. Personally I need the bigger keys so its keyboard pro for me.

Sent from my SGH-T849 using XDA App

 

[crater]

i still wish we had a back and fwwd arrow button also would love to see a keyboard hide button like in sence keyboard why caant android do that for us

The Menu button on every android phone can be held to either show or hide the on screen keyboard.

 

[jay_jay_n]

The Menu button on every android phone can be held to either show or hide the on screen keyboard.

i wish with every firmware i've tried it doesnt =\

 

[Uprightmusic]

I love this keyboard but why do the keys show up so small on the Galaxy Tab? Is there a way to make the keys larger?

Thanks

 

[natious]

pros cons on this over the standard one?

At the moment im using better keyboard