SwiftKey are the leaders in the third party Android keyboard game, their app has been around for years and they keep adding cool new features like like Cloud syncing and a pink theme.
Today they’ve released a new beta version that is free for anyone to download, it’s just like the paid version but with some cool new stuff.
So what’s new?
Well here is how they describe the new beta version.
We’ve got an awesome new beta ready for you to download today. It’s a complete rethink on how you present your keyboard — allowing you to “undock” it from the base of the screen, resize it, and present it in a compact, split thumb-typing or regular way. We’ve dubbed this update ‘Layouts for Living’ because we think it’ll help you get more from your mobile devices, regardless of the context you’re typing in.
And here is how it looks, for users of tablets or “large oversized phones” you’re going to be able to change the keyboard to suit you and your device now.
The extra layouts are accessed by long pressing on the SwiftKey icon in the bottom left of the keyboard.
In addition to a host of bug fixes and improvements to the underlying prediction technology, you’ll get access to these three keyboard modes:
Compact: On many larger phones it can be difficult to enter text and hold the phone with just one hand. This new feature reduces the width of the keyboard and allows for easier typing with one hand or gesture typing using SwiftKey Flow. It also frees up more of the screen estate on tablets. You can switch it from the left or right side of the screen by a long-press or by dragging.
Thumb: For those who like typing on tablets in landscape or wide phones, the keyboard can be split into two areas, enabling fast, comfortable typing with both thumbs. Undock it from the base of the screen for even more flexibility.
Full: The traditional full-width keyboard is still available and users with tablets can opt for a layout that is similar to the presentation of a physical keyboard. This layout has left and right cursor keys and the backspace is positioned above the enter key, making it easier to type with two hands when not holding your tablet.
You can download the relevant file from the SwiftKey blog here