[Android Apps and Games] appelflap:
Note (nov 30, 2010): By now there are two versions: a lite version, published here (free) and a full version (paid) on the market. The full version will be continuously updated with new features, layouts, styles and more. The lite version will get no more updates.

(feb. 16, 2011) New thread for the full (paid-for) version created here: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=948179 . Please post your requests, questions, comments etc in that thread. Thanks

------ initial announcement ----------

New thumb keyboard for easy thumb typing. The idea is simple. I've split the keyboard in two halfs, took them apart and placed them above each other (see screenshots). Result: much wider keys...

Somehow the brains does the remapping remarkably well. Left/right to up/down doesn't seem a problem. The result is that the keys can be defined with a greater width and that for thumb typing the phone can be hold in much more natural way.

Press-and-hold the keyboard icon for switching between layouts, settings and selecting another input method:

View attachment 445334

I'm very curious what other users think about this concept... Also I'm very interested in getting feedback on the usability of this concept.

Site

App blog: http://thumbkeyboard.blogspot.com/

Little FAQ

Q: I don't see the keyboard after installing it

A: The procedure of selecting the keyboard is described in the screen you see right after you have installed the keyboard. It's described in the section "Selecting the Keyboard". You can consult this info at any given time by tapping on the Thumb Keyboard app in your app drawer.

Basically the procedure is as follows: go to the Android keyboard settings menu by selecting "Settings" or "Preferences" in your app drawer and then "Keyboard ...". In this menu check "Thumb Keyboard". Now, when you want to edit something and your normal keyboard pops up, long tap in the edit field and select "Thumb Keyboard" from the "Input Method" menu.

Q: How can I switch to another layout or set up my preferences for the keyboard

A: Also described in the info screen under the header "Setting up the Keyboard". Anyway... long press on the keyboard icon in the left corner at the bottom of the keyboard to access the settings menu and to switch layouts.

Q: I can't download the file that is attached to this post.

If you try to download it from your Android phone keep in mind that not all browsers support downloading apk files directly. You can either try another browser, use a download helper or download it from your pc/mac

Q: Will this keyboard help me to find answers to some urgent existential questions?

A: No. But you can always read a good philosophy book and make notes with this keyboard.

Q: Huh?

A: kidding

Changelog

v1.5.1 * missing accented characters added * solved spacing issues in the accented character popup keyboards * added a numpad popup keyboard (press and hold 12@) * Some additions to the help/info screen"

v1.5 * New Style * International (accented) characters * Popup Smiley Keyboard * Option to mark keyboard blocks with different colors * Numbers on the compact keyboard * Checkerboard Vibrate Pattern * option to set vibration strength * etc (Compatible with Android 1.6 and higher)

(Users who already downloaded the 1.5 version are adviced to download the (new) attached version again)

v1.4.1: Small update: * added a extra, redundant "g" to the "asdf" row to address more typing habits. * made the keyboard suitable for all possible screen densities

v1.4: *finally adapted the landscape keyboards for thumbtyping (see screenshot) *added new portrait layouts with a squeezed q for better accessibility of the t (see screenshot) *changed the layout of the symbol/num keyboards

v1.3: Added help info + caught a bug or two

v1.2.1: = 1.2 + little bug fixed (and . added to the first symbol screen)

v1.2: Changed the behavior of the Shift-key: *Double tap on Shift key to turn on/off Caps Lock * auto capitalize after period (can be turned off in preferences)

v1.1:

New additional small layout

QWERZ keyboard layouts (Big and Small)

(1 Gesture added) Swipe back for backspace

Sound bug fixed

Remember: long press menu icon for options and settings

v 1.0 release

Distribution

I will not allow any distribution of this keyboard without a explicit permission by me.

Full Version

The full version (with text prediction, themes, tablet layouts, resizable height, sound selection, auto quick fix, etc. etc.) is available on the Android Market and on AndroidPIT (paypal)