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TouchType app for iPhone, iPod touch offers landscape keyboard for email

Wednesday, October 8, 2008 · 10:20 am · 24 Comments

TouchType is a new application from Micheal Schneider that allows users to compose and reply to email messages in either portrait of landscape mode.

Once typed, messages are then sent to iPhone’s and iPod touch’s Mail application for sending.

TouchType costs US$0.99 and can be found via iTunes’ App Store here.

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader "Jason" for the heads up.]

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Comment Feed

24 Comments

Argelius

Wednesday, October 8, 2008 - 10:30 am · Reply

There’s also another app that does the same thing called “Sideways”. It costs more ($1.99) but looks to have a bit more functionality. Waiting to see some reviews to see which one to buy.
NeverFade

Wednesday, October 8, 2008 - 10:35 am · Reply

I still don’t understand why Apple doesn’t have this in there by default. They already have it programed for Safari… there’s no reason why they shouldn’t have it for email. It makes no sense.
auren

Wednesday, October 8, 2008 - 10:44 am · Reply

I just bought it and my typing improved immensely with the larger keyboard layout. At .99 it is worth every cent.
And yes, I’ll bet Apple puts it into the software at some point, I just couldn’t wait to have this feature.
haha

Wednesday, October 8, 2008 - 10:47 am · Reply

And it’s just been removed as a duplicate function for “keyboard”
R2

Wednesday, October 8, 2008 - 10:47 am · Reply

I don’t know whether these applications are good or bad. Good in that they’ll draw Apple’s attention to the problem or bad in that Apple will think the problem has already been solved.

I, and probably everybody else with an iPhone, would prefer a system wide solution that simply allows you to have a landscape keyboard when you tilt the phone horizontally. It’s not a complicated thing, folks! It could also be used for notes and text messages.

That’s what an accelerometer is for, neat things like the ability to have a landscape keyboard whenever you need it. RIM gets the message with the BlackBerry Storm so why can’t Apple?
Nic

Wednesday, October 8, 2008 - 10:54 am · Reply

While it would seem that many disagree with me, I much prefer the narrow keyboard because the keys are closer together and my thumbs don’t have to travel as much distance. Hasn’t anyone else noticed this benefit? Initially, I thought it was a bummer that the wide keyboard was only available in places where I don’t do much typing. But I have seen the light, and I believe that this is why Apple has not offered the wide layout across the board. Having said that, it certainly would be a nice option for those who prefer it. I would just keep my Mail in portrait orientation.

MW: Southern, as in “I prefer to keep my keyboard at the southern end of the screen.”
Rudge

Wednesday, October 8, 2008 - 10:56 am · Reply

Thank you Micheal Schneider for your excellent work. I hope that you make a bundle of money for giving us something that the iPhone and iPod Touch really needed. Good job.
Cin

Wednesday, October 8, 2008 - 10:59 am · Reply

@ NIC – The keyboard would still be at the “southern end of the screen” if it was landscape.
Confused

Wednesday, October 8, 2008 - 11:00 am · Reply

When I first heard about the iPhone and multi touch and all that, this was the input system that I invisioned in my head. It just made the most, practical, sense. When the iPhone came out and we got to see it, typing interface was a WTF moment. It made no sense, you have a big wide screen touch input system and you restrict the interface to a small part of the screen, with tiny keys, making it less than easy to type.

Take note Apple, change the typing interface. It sucks and can be made so much better by just flipping it 90 degrees!
Gleep

Wednesday, October 8, 2008 - 11:05 am · Reply

Me, I like WritingPad. It doesn’t do the “tap” thing, it lets you glide your finger from letter to letter and figures out what you are trying to say. It is “free”, so it is worth a try at the very least…
Sony's proprietary adapters

Wednesday, October 8, 2008 - 11:10 am · Reply

I think we all know that Apple has cut and paste and landscape keyboard ready to release when they choose. Now that Blackberry has those functions, I think we will see them sooner rather than later.
It is so cool that most issues can be solved with a software update? The power of multi-touch.
Lucky Dog, Silicon Valley

Wednesday, October 8, 2008 - 11:20 am · Reply

I was at conference a few years ago and met the Project Head for Aperture. He said that his team often worked on enhancements based on how many people requested it. If you really want a feature go to http://www.apple.com/feedback/ and keep requesting it.
Rob

Wednesday, October 8, 2008 - 11:42 am · Reply

I just used the link above, and don’t forget to request:
Missed call/new voice mail reminder (beep)
R2

Wednesday, October 8, 2008 - 12:46 pm · Reply

Really, could there be a greater sign of demand for a landscape keyboard than a slew of apps that add the functionality? Surely the presence of the apps, the reviews that cite the improvement in typing and the purchase of them should act as more of a message than anything else.

Then again, Apple gets a cut of every sale and each download is another step toward a new App Store milestone that they can tout in a press release. So maybe jerking us around by making us pay $.99 or $1.99 for the simplest of functionalities that should’ve been there since June 29, 2007 is all apart of the plan.
ping

Wednesday, October 8, 2008 - 12:46 pm · Reply

I found the upright keyboard much more practical. It leaves more room for the actual message or web page and I can quite easily type single-handed on it.

The wide keyboard feels awkward and impractical for me. I guess it’s okay not having to turn the device back to the upright position when typing into a web form in landscape format, but other than that I wouldn’t miss it.
YoYo

Wednesday, October 8, 2008 - 1:05 pm · Reply

Just use the WritingPad and get over with it,. U can type easily 30-40 words per minute.
Anonymous©

Wednesday, October 8, 2008 - 1:15 pm · Reply

I didn’t much care for landscape keyboards, because one, you could only see one line of type, which this app fixes, but two, I found it harder to type. With the portrait keyboard, I could easily one finger type, without moving my hand. With a landscape keyboard, I have to move my hand around. Of course, perhaps I’ll have to adapt and use two hands to type, but I was typing fine with just one.
Tormod

Wednesday, October 8, 2008 - 1:47 pm · Reply

Spelling Michael Schneider’s name correctly would be a polite thing to do.
Captain Rum

Wednesday, October 8, 2008 - 4:40 pm · Reply

“I much prefer the narrow keyboard because the keys are closer together and my thumbs don’t have to travel as much distance. Hasn’t anyone else noticed this benefit?”

You have a Woman’s Hands!
Alex Mckenna

Wednesday, October 8, 2008 - 5:36 pm · Reply

I prefer two-handed typing. That’s why I STILL haven’t got my iPhone. I keep going to the Apple shop and trying the typing, but it still comes out like Superman’s arch-enemy MKLMYZ saying his name backwards…
Help us Mr Jobs!
Randian

Wednesday, October 8, 2008 - 6:26 pm · Reply

Actually, his name was Mr. Mxyzptlk, Alex.
Michael Cheung

Wednesday, October 8, 2008 - 10:00 pm · Reply

I agree with R2 about the universal landscape keyboard. It shouldn’t be that hard to implement given that it already exists in Safari. Having it there means its optional for users, some prefer two-handed typing for accuracy while others prefer portrait for on-the-go action.
But why stop there? Have you noticed that it seems strange to view the photo album in landscape, then tap the screen to delete a picture, but all the icons and bars are still in portrait mode? I find that abit odd, like its an oversight from a company that normally excels in attention to detail.
R2

Thursday, October 9, 2008 - 12:17 am · Reply

You make a good point, Michael Cheung.

The universal landscape keyboard is a symbol for what should be a more landscape oriented interface, period. You can’t have a landscape keyboard in the SMS app, for example, without the app itself twisting to take on a new horizontal form like in Safari.

Apple, perhaps for the sake of uniformity, designed the iPhone around a portrait orientation. Everywhere we go outside of Safari it’s not just the portrait keyboard but the way Apple seemingly wants us to use the phone only in its vertical position. Take the App Store for example, the iTunes Store, etc. or the photo gallery. Like you mentioned, after pressing the screen with a photo in landscape, the controls are off because they pop up in the portrait position. It’s as if Apple didn’t think this through.

What makes the BlackBerry Storm attractive is that they designed their interface from the ground up to take advantage of a landscape orientation via the accelerometer. Even the Storm’s home screen takes a different form when you turn it sideways.

So perhaps it’s more work than a simple landscape keyboard. Perhaps it requires a retuning of the operating system to handle the “landscape lifestyle” that the Storm provides. Whatever the case, the iPhone would be a much better device if we had the option.
kydthomas

Saturday, April 4, 2009 - 3:15 am · Reply

“I much prefer the narrow keyboard because the keys are closer together and my thumbs don’t have to travel as much distance. Hasn’t anyone else noticed this benefit?”
———————————————————————————————–KydThomas
Realty