Video: Pre virtual keyboard developing rapidly, gets easy install method

We know you just can't wait to get typing on the Pre's lush touchscreen, and the folks at WebOS Internals must feel the same way as they've been hard at work making their on-screen keyboard a functional reality. Installation has been made a breeze thanks to the Preware app, and usability seems to have improved markedly since the pre-alpha version, but a few kinks remain that need to be ironed out. Still, if you're willing to put up with some buggy behavior and the potential for your Pre to melt into a puddle of fiery lava, then slide past the break to get educated on the how, what and where to download.

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[Ed T Posted Aug 31st 2009 10:34AM]

This is what happens when engineering runs ten miles ahead of product marketing. Customer feedback is telling the marketing guys the keyboard sucks. So they scream at engineering to "do something, and do it fast". Now we get a cobbled-in virtual keyboard, something that was never intended and probably runs afoul of a patent or two. Proves once again that desperate people (and companies) do desperate things.

I predict Steve Ballmer will make an offer to acquire Palm by years end.

[BaDZeD Posted Aug 31st 2009 10:50AM]

PALM is NOT writing this. This is a COMMUNITY project, ya dillweed.

[Puggs Posted Aug 31st 2009 10:57AM]

Won't happen... completing platform with WinMo7. Besides, if it did. Microsoft would get investigated for monopolization again!!

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 31st 2009 11:09AM]

It never ceases to amaze me at the amount of stupid people that comment here.

[donytanza Posted Aug 31st 2009 2:16PM]

thanx for the info sweet greggo...I'm up and running now i even installed that stupid virtual keyboard... not saying that it won't get better, but right now it really has some problems i really appreciate that my pre looks so sweet now!!! and why the hell do i keep rhyming?

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 31st 2009 11:14AM]

Anyone know if the pre has a quickscroll like feature when viewing websites and PDFs.

[Perspective Posted Aug 31st 2009 11:26AM]

The comment about Palm marketing to more than demographic is comical. The point is to sell, regardless of the demo. The big difference between Apple an Palm is that Apple sells, and Palm does not, which is why we STILL haven't heard device sales numbers from Palm. Though it has a fairly strong OS, the Pre is looking more and more like this year's Instinct.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 31st 2009 11:46AM]

Really? I don't get that impression at all. I'm sure you've done some extended investigating in the matter though, and are willing to give us a detailed report as to why you think this. I'd love to hear it.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 31st 2009 11:52AM]

I don't know what you're dreaming, but the Pre has been sold out for months straight now. I was just in my local Sprint store on Saturday and they sell out of their stock the day it comes in, every week. It's just like the Wii, they can't make enough to meet demand. I remember when I got my Wii, it was the last one on the shelves, and I had to beat back a family of 5 and a pair of lesbians for it. My Pre, I managed to get the day it was released back in June by camping out in front of the Sprint store for a few hours.

[donytanza Posted Aug 31st 2009 12:08PM]

WHO GIVES A CRAP ABOUT THE KEYBOARD I WANT MY ICONS TO LOOK LIKE THAT!!!!

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 31st 2009 12:50PM]

Download webOS Quick Install (link provided in another comment)

Another (and the best IMO) tweak is the ability to add launcher pages... up to 10 I believe.

[deck82 Posted Aug 31st 2009 12:23PM]

You need to download Quick Install if you want the 4x4 icon lay out. There are a few other "tweaks" you can do with Quick Install like landscape MMS, add/remove launcher pages, ect.


http://forums.precentral.net/homebrew-apps/194832-webos-quick-install.html

[Mitchell R Posted Aug 31st 2009 1:59PM]

I'm also workin on a listview launcher page.
I'm tired of the 5x4/4x4 that I made :D

[Nismode Posted Aug 31st 2009 1:42PM]

I wanna see it work in landscape mode. And possibly a keyboard switcher like in WinMo, giving us the option of Qwerty, T9, and maybe a 'Graffiti' like interface from the Palm OS days.

[EpsilonNot Posted Aug 31st 2009 1:46PM]

I can't imagine Graffiti is much fun without a stylus, though. (The closest comparison I can think of is the iPhone OS's Chinese character input system, which isn't terrible but I would never choose it for writing Latin characters)

Of course, options are always good...

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 31st 2009 1:50PM]

It does indeed work in landscape mode. The devs are working on adding t9 and autocorrect as well.

[dmccall Posted Aug 31st 2009 2:15PM]

UGH! The #1 thing I hate about my iPhone is that damned keyboard.

[The Prince Posted Aug 31st 2009 4:02PM]

does it work in landscape though, I have no use for a portrait one but a landscape one would be great

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 31st 2009 8:47PM]

"Pre will have an “Application Store” preinstalled, just like iPhone and Android, but they will also allow users to download and install Palm Pre applications from other sources over the air or via USB cable from your home PC."

This is what former CEO of Palm Ed Colligan told investors back in February. If you weren't so freaking stupid, you could have found this all by your little lonesome and saved yourself a world of embarrassment on the internet. Now please shut the fuck up and crawl back into your hole. I'm sure Zak is feeling a little lonely.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 31st 2009 8:51PM]

I hate this commenting system. I really, really do.