One important thing missing from Nexus One multitouch
by Volker Weber
Google does not claim multi touch capabilities in the Nexus One software update. They say "pinch-to-zoom mechanism in the phone's Browser, Gallery and Maps applications". What's really missing is key rollover on the soft keyboard.
You can test this on an iPhone and a Nexus:
- Hold down one key, like "W" for instance
- Now press a second key, like "L"
Different results: the Nexus will give you another W, while the iPhone recognizes the L. This is the reason why the iPhone keyboard is faster than the Nexus. You can type the next letter without having raised the finger from the last one you typed.
Comments
Given the size of the devices, does that really matter? I would imagine in most cases one would hold the device in one hand and type with the index finger of the other hand. Or do you really type with more than one finger on such a small keyboard layout?
Well, I always type with both thumbs... especially in landscape mode... thats on the iPhone... 3G...and it is sometimes a bit slow catching the letters, probably need to reboot it more often...
Yes, this is a critical thing for accuracy with soft keyboards. The real speed with iPhone typing comes when you start typing fast enough so that two keys are almost always being pressed. That plus the excellent auto-correction means at this point I can actually type fairly quickly while walking and only occasionally glancing down.
You should wear a helmet though.
I don't think that these devices are for fast typing, but if that is needed: the Nexus accepts bluetooth keyboards and there is an Android app called Keypro so you can type large texts fairly fast. You can even drive your neighbours crazy when you activate "sound emulation" and choose a typewriter sound..... --Detlef
The Blackberry Storm 2 has key rollover too.
Indeed, it has. And that was one major improvement over the Storm 2. However, there was a hardware change to make this work. The Storm 1 had ONE mechanical switch under the screen, where the Storm 2 has four piezo-sensors.
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