yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] eucalyptic:
Same problem

I have the same phone and using here in the US and I have the same problem with the keyboard. Since the number keys don't work as letters the lower bottom half of the phone is basically useless. I have searched all over and found only this thread so I guess I'm out of luck. :eek:
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] E-Chan42:
Yeah, sorry I've taken my time to respond, but here's what I've been trying with this phone.

I reinstalled the official lenovo rom with the keyboard app they ship it with. I CAN use the keyboard to type but it's a huge waste of time, because I can't activate non dictionary input and the sugestions it gives are pretty terrible. To the point where it recommends he'j'lo before hello.

I tried another keyboard https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.nyanya.android.traditionalt9&hl=en wich promissed t9 input and cycle key (like press twice the 2 key for b, thrice for c) but for some reason it doesn't work correctly on this phone, and only outputs the desired keys when you type at a snail pace.

So, to anybody considering this phone, consider another optionor develop a keyboard app.

Anybody got any idea on how to get this working? I'll upload a couple of pics so you get the general idea of what's going on.

http://s24.postimg.org/89dlf2k5h/Screenshot_2014_01_01_00_13_04.png

http://s24.postimg.org/89dlf2k5h/Screenshot_2014_01_01_00_13_04.png

http://s28.postimg.org/dci7xmbp9/Screenshot_2014_01_01_00_12_13.png
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] E-Chan42:
I was thinking on trying to get my hands on a Samsung Galaxy Golden ROM and extract the keyboard apk, probably it will have international support but I can't find one anywhere
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] dcomx:
If you don't mind me asking, where did you find all your info (The official lenovo rom, etc)? I just received the phone and while I do like it a lot I would love to use the keyboard, even if it's snail typing.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] E-Chan42:
Yeah, sorry I took my time, but I've been hella busy, here's a link I uploaded to mega with all the stuff related to this phone, flashing software and ROMs included https://mega.co.nz/#!mkAUHabD!ADPmm3AJzI0fIrLgIaS-AWJj51OtjPWXAfhqa-cA6bc

If anybody wants a mirror just ask
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] IB2k7:
I've taken the time to write down my experiences on how to flash the device with a stock firmware by Lenovo, root with SuperSU, CWM recovery and Google apps. You can read it here: myrl.net/article/43

As for the keyboard, the best app I found so far was indeed the one [MENTION=3229824]E-Chan42[/MENTION] already suggested: Traditional T9 Keypad IME - play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.nyanya.android.traditionalt9

Getting it directly from the Google Play store doesn't work however as the phone is not listed as supporting this app. Try to google for an apk (be careful where you go) or compile it yourself from the official source code: github.com/Clam-/TraditionalT9

Unfortunately I can't directly link to outside URLs and I just spent about 10 minutes posting this due to ****ing unreadable reCAPTCHAs. Thanks xda-developers!
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] E-Chan42:
That tutorial is spot on! I finally have my CWM backups back! I'm so happy!

Do you have any experience with the a588t dropping calls as soon as they're dialed? I can't get mobile data running either, my service provider is correctly displayed on my statusbar as well as my signal strength.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] protogenxl:
confirmed IB2K7 methods,

you will need to manually enter APN settings for carrier, I use cricket that piggybacks on the AT&T network and have not had a dropped call.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] E-Chan42:
Yeah I set my APN as soon as I powered on my phone, still I think it's strange I my phone identifies my provider's name but can't dial out, same happens with every SIM card I've tried for different companies
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] protogenxl:
Make sure your IMEI numbers match the label on the inside back of your phone. I fixed mine using imei tool from youtube watch?v=c_SRdyZ7DAk but there are a bunch of different methods
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] E-Chan42:
Thanks! That really worked! Somewhere along the lines of so much flashing I lost my IMEIs
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] exile1:
Hi ya,

I've just received my A588t and having the same problem re-numeric only on keypad ! Did you ever manage to sort it, so the keypad functioned for letters as well as numbers ??!! Have to say it's doing my head in trying to get it to work !!! :) Kevin
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] zuein:
Is there any new updates in regard to this? I just got the phone myself and found this thread. It's quite annoying to find that the keypad isn't fully functional.

If ever I wanted to make it work, do I need to do everything that IB2K7 said? When I got the phone, it's already in english and I could access the play store.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] IB2k7:
There is no need to flash the phone again if it's already English and has Play store installed. The only reason I did this was because mine didn't have Play store installed. So far I haven't found any better solution than what I've written before:
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Jom014:
I got mine last Monday (Sept. 21, 2015).. and I found this thread with the same issue--physical keyboard/keypad. I installed the Traditional T9 but the 0(zero) buttton doesn't function as "space".. Hope the app developer update this to add additional support for physical keys..
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] XtremeRampage:
I recently received A588T phone, but it seems I can't install Traditional T9 Keypad IME application properly. I downloaded via 1MobileMarket because Google Play refused to install the app. After the application was apparently installed, I couldn't launch it and there isn't any T9 app logo on the main menu. I've tried to uninstall and reinstall several times but to no avail. The app was not detected and couldn't open.

Is anyone willing to give a guide on how to properly install the app? It is infuriating not being able to type letters with the buttons/keypads, and search on Chinese-language sites on A588T also yielded similar results about this particular phone's inability.

Thanks a lot.

edit

: apparently I need to activate T9 via Settings > Language and Input then change Keyboards and Input Methods to "Traditional T9".

After that, I can use the keypads to type letters.

[MENTION=6960216]Jom014[/MENTION]: For spacebar you need to press the # keypad and not the usual zero.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] zuein:
Thanks!

"Thanks a lot.

edit: apparently I need to activate T9 via Settings > Language and Input then change Keyboards and Input Methods to "Traditional T9".

After that, I can use the keypads to type letters.
[MENTION=6960216]Jom014[/MENTION]: For spacebar you need to press the # keypad and not the usual zero."

This worked! Thank you so much. I'm not a techy person so I had a difficult time navigating through the phone.

Does your T9 crash due to excessive inputs? My T9 is crashing when I'm putting the letters at a semi-fast rate.

* I downloaded the Traditional T9 APK through 1mobile market.*
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] XtremeRampage:
You're welcome! So far, T9 app worked without crashes here, although I typed at slower pace with keypads than normally (compared to previous phones).

I'm not sure how to solve the crashing problem, but I've sent an email to the app author inviting him to visit this thread and join.

The last app update was dated at 30 March 2014 at Google Play and there doesn't seem to be much activity at GitHub page either. Hopefully the author will take notice, and together we can help the app author to improve the T9 app.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] clam_:
Hi,

For those that are interested, the latest build of TraditionalT9 can be found here: nyanya.org/android/TraditionalT9-git-9458c58.apk

I was waiting for feedback from French and German users about the French and German support before I made that build the active Play Store build.

Personally I usually use dictionary mode, so I didn't notice that typing super fast makes ABC mode act strange at times. I can reproduce some oddities, so it's probably something I need to look in to fixing, sorry.

Also because it's been asked multiple times, the A588T isn't compatible with the Play Store version because Lenovo hasn't given Google Play correct information about the handset. Google Play thinks it doesn't have a 12key keypad, when it does. I've tried contacting Google Play about it, but only the manufacturer can correct those details.

The restriction applies so I don't get waves of feedback from people trying to use the IME on normal touchphones, which it wasn't designed for. I hope you understand and sorry for the inconvenience.

You can try contacting Lenovo to get them to update the information on Google Play.

To the person asking about Space and 0 and such, there's a wiki with some basic documentation: github.com/Clam-/TraditionalT9/wiki/Hotkeys

Anyone can add to it if there is missing information (which there probably is.)

Hope that helps somewhat.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] XtremeRampage:
Hello Clam_, thank you very much for posting and giving information here! I (and pretty sure folks here) really appreciate your efforts.

Me too, I'm not a super fast typist. Though sometimes when I'm trying to type something in a hurry, I notice the oddities like you mentioned, for example if I want to type "radio" : I could press keypad 7 fast for three times to insert letter "R", then press keypad 2 and 3 in fast succession to insert "a" and "d" , however when I tried to type keypad 4 three times fast to insert "i", the phone would instead insert letter "g" (first letter on keypad 4) then automatically move to the next letter. To be able to insert letter "i" after "d" I needed to wait a bit.

I feel that you have done a lot and therefore no need to apologize because creating a Typing app which makes the keypads on Lenovo A588T finally useable and useful are already a great achievement (and an embarrassment on Lenovo part for shipping such keypads). I might try to contact Lenovo and see what they will do regarding Google Play.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] saqibkhan:
you have indeed written an amazing Tutorial about Rooting and installing Google Apps .. just wanted to know a little bit more .

when I install Google apps all is fine.. but when I stop giving permissions and uninstall some Google apps like One Time Initiliazation or Setup Wizard etc.. I start getting an error com.google.process.gapps how to fix this.. I get this error when I make or receive a call.

secondly my A588t has a problem.. when I rotate 180 degrees its fine.. but as soon as I start rotating it more than that to make it 360 degrees.. the screen goes white and I cant use it.. plz help me to disassemble the phone if you have any experience.. and also let me know what the problem might be.. the Flex Cable ??
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] IB2k7:
I don't know how each Google component in the apps package is dependent on each other, so I'd just generally advice not to remove any core apps such as initialization or setup wizard. I'm not having any issues like that, but I also didn't remove those apps.

I haven't disassembled the phone since there was no reason. I'm assuming you mean a white screen appears when flipping the phone completely open, kinda like the "smartphone mode"? I'm not having any problems like that and it does indeed sound like faulty hardware or wiring.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] saqibkhan:
Ok Any one needs help in DISASSEMBLING A588T Lenovo.. they can ask me for tips.... heres a quick written description of what I did. very Vague as im tired lol..

1. Remove battery cover.

2. Uncrew 4 Screws on all corners.

3. Remove the back cover.. the SIM CARD SIDE one..

4. You will see the Hinge still connected to the Key Pad part of the phone.. Unscrew 2 more screws and the Screen part is separate from the Key pard/ Numeric Keys Part.. Detach the CABLE connector.

if you ever get screen issues .. you don't need to replace the whole HINGE part.. its for 35$ on Aliexpress.com..Thats expensive like hell.. the only thing that we need to replace is the CABLE inside the hinge. Opening the HINGE is Simple tooo.

5. Next take off the GOLDEN Part from the Screen side of the phone.. its attached by Glue so don't worry. remove it slowly.

6. Unscrew 3 Screws that you see... and start detaching the LENOVO logo cover part from top where the cable is attached.. Detach the cable too.

. Keep taking off the cover.. I wasn't able to take it off fully. it remained attached in the end where the LENOVO word is written. unscrew one more screw that holds the hinge on the right side.

7.the hinge is now separate from the Screen part of the phone.

8. Peel of the BLACK sticker kinda thing on the Hinge.

9. 3 screws below it. unscrew it.. 2 long 1 short.. black color.

10. open the black hinge part. its connected in the middle. its 2 parts.

11. open 3 more screws attached to the metal part. once down.. u have the cable in ur hand. JUST REPLACE THT CABLE.. its for a JAE CONNECTOR. im finding it and will go to local market also to check. once done will tell all.

will try to improve this tutorial. lol.. should have made a video but cudnt.. have opened closed phone about 10 times now.. have by hearted the thing.

EDIT : please find the attached CABLE for a588t. im trying to fix it or find it locally.. have already emailed the supplier for it. if anyone has any idea.. what this component is.. a replacement cable.. or ideas to fix the current one.. please let me knw
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] hunyadia:
U have to count the numbers of pin as I think. For example: lvds 30 pin cable, jae is the type of the connector as I know.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] clam_:
Hi,

I got some time to re-setup my environment and work on a tempfix for the wonky alphabet mode in TraditionalT9 IME.

Here's the APK if people would like to test it for me before I push it to the store:

nyanya.org/android/TraditionalT9-git-keypressfix.apk

This build disables the automatic key commit, so if you want to enter two letters on the same key, you will need to commit the first manually by pressing DPAD_CENTER before attempting the next letter.

(e.g. to enter "hello", you would need to press: 4, 4, 3, 3, 5, 5, 5, DPAD_CENTER, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6)

Hope this helps.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] XtremeRampage:
Thanks clam_, I'll test it and try to report back as soon as possible.

edit:

I can't seem to install the apk, it stated "Install failed". Is it 1.8 MB file? Do I need to uninstall the older TraditionalT9 app?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] clam_:
Oops. I don't have time to check in to it at the moment, but I'll do so as soon as I can. I signed it with the release key I use for the Play Store, but I might not have incremented the version number. You shouldn't need to uninstall it, but you might need to force install it with ADB -r (and -d) if it's being difficult.

I'll check and fix it up some time tomorrow.

Sorry again,
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] clam_:
Hi again,

The last version had incomplete French resources and dodgy version number. Hopefully this version is more complete.

It also has the alphabet mode lazy fix, and incremented version number so you should be able to install it without problem.

nyanya.org/android/TraditionalT9-git-84d8ead.apk

Sorry about the mix-up.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] XtremeRampage:
Thanks for your efforts. It's okay, it can be annoying trying to "fix" something like this.

I installed the apk, and tested by typing text for message and note but the app still exhibit the same behavior from previous version (cannot type word like "radio" or "hello" in quick succession). I've uninstalled the app, restarted the Lenovo phone, and reinstalled but I still couldn't type as intended.

I also did a quick check on the option and notice there's a new option under T9 settings "Force reload of key overrides" with dropdown button on the right side but I can't seem to click and make any selection on it.

Hopefully the information is useful.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] clam_:
Strange that it still exhibits that behaviour. I'll test it on my real device soon, but in the meantime what you mentioned later on about the settings concerned me.

Seems my other changes I did awhile ago relating to settings weren't done correctly.

I'll have much free time after the end of this week so I'll fix those problems then. Sorry again, I haven't worked on this in a while so I'm only now re-familiarizing myself.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] clam_:
Hi again,

Hope I'm not spamming the thread with unwanted updates.

I think I may have fixed the alphabet mode bug when typing fast. You can try the latest build here if you like:

http://nyanya.org/android/TraditionalT9-git-d3b10a4.apk

Hope this helps.

P.S. That option you mentioned is more of an advance mode thing. It is clickable, but it doesn't actually let you know that it did anything. I'll probably address that the next time something blows up.)
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] blu35p4rr0w:
Hello everyone,

I recently got the phone myself and it works now, I can use the keypad via TraditionalT9 and I'm not seeing any real bugs or issues so far Clam_ :good: I will let you know if I find anything.

An issue I had was when I typed in using the dictionary/predictive mode I tried hitting left or right on the dpad to cycle through the words. Pressing left or right will close the keyboard and commit the word currently selected.

- The keys that actually cycle through words are up and down. :)

So now, a question for Clam if he may, or anyone who might know. Does the dictionary mode learn the way old t9predictive on flips did? Meaning- If I use a certain word enough will it prioritize over other words? For example: when I hit 2,7,3 it gives me "BSD" when I want "are". So, will repeated usage change this the way my old flip phones would so that my t9 input increases in speed and efficiency?

Possible bug for Clam_ While in text message and attempting to enter in a contact it wont let me cycle through the words to select anything else, nor do the normal software buttons appear on screen... hrmm... i have that sougou thing too... i'll play around and see if that is affecting or does affect anything. I just noticed that while typing/editing this post.

update: now when i press up or down to cycle through the words to get it to name a contact/etc it crashes completely.... now it's not crashing... odd, however it doesn't seem to integrate with contact entry field of messaging on this phone. it's just giving me text via dictionary words but not letting me change the word or select a contact, nor does it show the soft buttons as mentioned before. that might be somewhat or mostly an issue on the messaging apps side tho. \_O.o_/

the sougou thing was unrelated entirely, but appears to do a similar thing it's just a bit more of a hassle to use, and likes to have chineese and english at the same time... if they could let you customize it more and control it the way traditionalt9 is controlled it'd be a good option... oh well... Clam_ to the rescue! :D
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] clam_:
Yes, all my old phones used up+down for scrolling the suggested list, but the example code for IMEs had that horizontal suggestion bar. I don't know how to make anything better so I kept it. I added it to the Help:

https://github.com/Clam-/TraditionalT9/wiki/Traditional-T9-keypad-IME-for-Android (under Hotkeys)

Yes. Each time you commit that word, it increments it's usage. Suggestions are ordered by usage. If you accidentally use the wrong word, a silly workaround that I do is to type the intended word a few times, lol.

It may not be quite as smart as some of the older T9's, as I think they also learned by combined word phrases. It's something I've thought about but isn't really trivial or as easy to implement as a simple word prefix lookup. But I'll keep thinking about it.

Yes this happens on the default AddressBook for the 007SH J. I added a custom rule to always apply TEXT (alphabet) mode when that control is activated. If you want, we can test to see what control that identifies as, and if it's something unique we can force it to load as TEXT mode.

Yes it's a problem to the way that custom controls hijack focus and don't talk to/initiate IMEs properly. My solution to this was to work around them as I came across them. If you want to work through with identifying the culprit control's id and adding a custom rule for it, get in contact with me via e-mail and I'll make up a debug build that will spit out needed info via logcat.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] blu35p4rr0w:
Not right away I'm afraid. I'll have to get an environment set up, when I get my linux back on my desktop or laptop(new hdds+ssds) I'll shoot you an e-mail and start poking around so everyone can enjoy their a588t a little better. Also, for your information, whilst i am familiar with linux, I am not familiar with adb and android, nor am I a coder/programmer. So I'm decent at reading logs and making guesses on what's what, but coding fixes isn't my thing. I'm more of a download a solution or change the cfg to work around it guy. xD I don't compile things unless you count using make/makefile/cmake/etc with an already prepared text/script.

I'm planning on flashing it tonight/tomorrow since the system update i ran broke google apps and I have no root/recovery/backup options... so it may be a few days before I start my wiki reading for adb.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] clam_:
Perfect. Logcat is Androids way of spitting logs out to the PC over USB debugging "Bridge" (ADB.)

The Android SDK comes with a tool called "Monitor" which is a handy GUI utility for looking at the connected Android device. Using that you can click around and see the logcat output. It's very simple.

When you are ready shoot me an e-mail and we can take it from there.

Thanks.