[Android] How is Florisboard not popular?
In my search for good keyboard that support AMOLED mode, I found out about FlorisBoard which looks perfect to me. It even supports Halmak Keyboard Layout, which I didn't expect to find at any Android Keyboard.
Which make me ask, How is this keyboard not popular?
FlorisBoard
An open-source keyboard for Android which respects your privacy. Currently in early-beta.FlorisBoard
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BCsven
in reply to King • • •Axolotl
in reply to BCsven • • •SanctimoniousApe
in reply to Axolotl • • •BCsven
in reply to Axolotl • • •Axolotl
in reply to BCsven • • •leftascenter
in reply to King • • •like this
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Not a newt
in reply to leftascenter • • •Fortatech
in reply to Not a newt • • •Not a newt
in reply to Fortatech • • •Fortatech
in reply to Not a newt • • •leopardpuncher
in reply to leftascenter • • •Heliboard is fantastic ❤️
I haven't found anything that comes even close.
N0x0n
in reply to leopardpuncher • • •Is that an option to enable somewhere?
Mora
in reply to King • • •King
in reply to Mora • • •Keybee Keyboard | Open Source - Apps on Google Play
play.google.comsem
in reply to Mora • • •Mora
in reply to sem • • •Once you get used to it, it is pretty ideal for typing with both thumbs. The core principle is that the buttons are bigger and less used buttons are placed further outward from the center and at the bottom.
(In this example I've highlighed all letters from the bottom 2 rows which are slower to type due to thumb movement. Keep in mind that I am using a german layout for english text, the other layouts place some letters differently.)
It is also great because it causes visible confusion to people seeing my screen or even worse wanting to type something on it.
But most importantly: it works for me. Back when I switched to Typewise open source keyboards did not have swiping (or it wasnt great). And the default keyboard layout is not great for typing with my fat thumbs. Typewise worked so well for me that I do not miss swiping at all. Of course it is a matter of preference.
SnokenKeekaGuard
in reply to King • • •AstralPath
in reply to King • • •King
in reply to AstralPath • • •I think FUTO is very shady company from my reading about it.
I am not saying they are evil, but they are very sus.
EstrangedMoistness
in reply to King • • •sem
in reply to EstrangedMoistness • • •smeg
in reply to AstralPath • • •like this
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AstralPath
in reply to smeg • • •smeg
in reply to AstralPath • • •limerod
in reply to smeg • • •It does not use proprietary typing data. So, it can be slightly worse.
But, you can always contribute some data here: swipe.futo.org/
smeg
in reply to limerod • • •sem
in reply to smeg • • •smeg
in reply to sem • • •spit_evil_olive_tips
in reply to King • • •their front page explicitly says "Currently in beta state" and according to their docs installation via Google Play requires joining a beta tester group.
that means a random user searching "keyboard" on the Play store isn't going to see it. likewise if a friend told you "I use Florisboard" and you searched for it by name in the Play store. if you're not already in the beta test group the direct link to the app page literally 404s.
it's certainly available to power users who already know they want it, but it's sort of pointless to ask why it's not popular at this stage of its development.
Installation - FlorisBoard
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uhmbah
in reply to spit_evil_olive_tips • • •TVA likes this.
ArcaneSlime
in reply to spit_evil_olive_tips • • •WEEEEELLLL that's what Fdroid is for and my friends with android all already have fdroid because "youtube downloaders be there" is all I had to say.
They just like the google key~~logger~~board.
ComradeSharkfucker
in reply to King • • •ReallyZen
in reply to King • • •ORbituary
in reply to King • • •like this
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warm
in reply to King • • •I also use FlorisBoard, it's the best one I've tried. I don't use spell checking or suggestions so lack of that didn't bother me, the general functionality and design was just better than other options.
Development has recently started on it again, so these missing features will probably be implemented soon, which will probably help it's adoption!
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fonix232
in reply to King • • •There's a very simple explanation to every "how is (niche technological thing) not more popular?" questions, and that is simply... Most people are perfectly happy with the defaults.
Don't take this Fediverse instance and the people who interact with it as an example. Even Reddit's tech subs are very niche serving, most of the responders will be people who live and die with tech... which does NOT represent the great majority of people.
Said great majority is perfectly happy with their phones as is. The default keyboard is 99% of the time perfectly usable. So people don't even feel a need to change. Therefore niche keyboards will have very little popularity. Even big ones like SwiftKey.
redjard
in reply to King • • •Try my oled theme.
It was on the florisboard theme page but the dev took it down because I made it in florisbord not in a repo
FlorisBoard OLED theme
redjard.orgxylight
in reply to King • • •ryven
in reply to King • • •curiousfurbytes
in reply to ryven • • •The other reasons would be the possibility of customization, and for privacy-minded people, as the keyboard is basically a very sensitive entry point
Hemingways_Shotgun
in reply to ryven • • •bonn2
in reply to King • • •Lauchmelder
in reply to King • • •I want a keyboard that can do both, English/German typing, and Japanese IME. So far all FOSS keyboards I've tried can do only one of the two well, and I don't want to switch between different keyboards for those two things.
I'm open for recommendations if you have any tho! I
cockmushroom
in reply to King • • •I, for one, prefer Unexpected Keyboard because it has alt, ctrl, fn, and easy access to all the symbols i need for English and Portuguese. Sadly, it lacks some emoji, but i never used them much beforehand; just feel like i'm missing out lol.
the basic idea is that you tap a key, and drag towards an optional character you want to use, to enter it. here's a preview:
jakobmn
in reply to cockmushroom • • •jherazob
in reply to King • • •bonenode
in reply to King • • •LiveLM
in reply to King • • •swelter_spark
in reply to King • • •