AnySoftKeyboard, a Multilingual Keyboard app for Multilingual users & very customizable
by Paul Wilks
Mar 9, 2012 8:40 AM –
Install
AnySoftKeyboard is a neat and highly competent alternative keyboard for your Android device. As well as offering a high level of customisation, themes and tweaks it also provides support for a wide variety of different languages. The smart thing about this is that alternative languages are available with just a sweep of your finger. Incredibly intuitive and useful if you speak/type in more than one language.
Price: Free
Tested on: HTC Desire HD
Content Rating: Everyone
Pros & Cons:
Pros
- Superb selection of languages available, including (but not limited to): Hebrew, Russian, Ukrainian, German, Spanish, Catalan, Swedish, Portuguese, Swiss, Bulgarian and Arabic. Plus many, many more. This is also in addition to a variety of French and English keyboards!
- Lots of extra languages via third-party support!
- Deep levels of customisations and settings!
- Very intuitive!
Cons
- Themes are comparatively basic in comparison to other Android keyboards.
Features:
AnySoftKeyboard is the perfect solution for multi-lingual Android users. Firstly, there are dozens and dozens of supported languages which you can easily download via the Market in the form of add-ons. Then, from the settings menu, you can select multiple keyboards you want to use. Once set, when you use the keyboard, access to alternative languages is just a right-sweep away. It’s astonishingly intuitive and works a treat. If you often need to type in different languages, there is no need to regularly go into settings to switch languages, you just flick to the one your want from the keyboard itself.
There are perhaps too many languages available to list them all here. Chances are, however, that the one you want will be here. The developer of AnySoftKeyboard has produced several of these but it would seem to have been opened up to third party developers too as there is a great number of extra languages available that are supported by AnySoftKeyboard. There are also additional versions of French, English and German keyboards available as well as Math specific and a ‘Hacker’ configured keyboard available too. I’d recommend anyone interested to do a search for AnySoftKeyboard in the Android Market, you’ll be surprised what’s available.
Even if you only use one language, AnySoftKeyboard has plenty of offer in the way of settings and themes. The keyboard is highly configurable so you can alter the layout to suit your needs. There is also provision for staple keyboard functionality such as voice input. There is a veritable trove of options available that really lets you get to the guts of the app and adapt it however you want.
However, if it is just the aesthetics you’re interested in then perhaps AnySoftKeyboard will not offer you anything substantially new. Perhaps the only area in which is falls short compared to other keyboards is its (currently) limited number of themes. There are quite a few available; both included and as extra downloads, but compared with the likes of Smart Keyboard the number is relatively limited and some lack the visual richness you get elsewhere.
I was very impressed with the functionality and the variety of extra languages available is staggering. Being able to easily flick to another language is far more productive and intuitive than having to change the settings manually. AnySoftKeyboard is a superb app if you speak and type in more than one language. The app, and language packs are free in the Android Market so definitely give them a look.
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AnySoftKeyboard – Typical keyboard view
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AnySoftKeyboard – Plain light theme
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AnySoftKeyboard – French Bepo language pack
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AnySoftKeyboard – Arabic
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AnySoftKeyboard – 16 keys English
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AnySoftKeyboard – Built-in themes
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AnySoftKeyboard – Special dictionaries
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AnySoftKeyboard – Tips
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AnySoftKeyboard – Tweaks
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AnySoftKeyboard – Test settings
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AnySoftKeyboard – Swipe gesture actions
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AnySoftKeyboard – Settings
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AnySoftKeyboard – About
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AnySoftKeyboard – Landscape view
Usefulness:
If you use multiple languages, this app is massively useful. The fact that there are so many languages available and that switching between language packs is so intuitive, really makes it stand out if you use different keyboards.
Ease of Use:
AnyKeyboard is extremely easy to use and that’s the beauty of it. The innovative and intuitive way in which you can simply flick between language packs makes so much sense and creates a very user-friendly feel. If you are a multilingual user, it makes sense to have a multilingual keyboard.
Frequently Used:
I always feel that, despite the rise of voice input, the keyboard is an essential element of touchscreen devices. You would use this most likely on a daily basis, probably very many times a day if you’re anything like me!
Interface:
The interface, in terms of structure, is very customisable and you can tweak and alter nearly all aspects of the keyboard and its layout. The theme can be changed too and there are several available. While these themes are not visually amazing, they still offer some good choice to match your overall device theme. I particularly thought the Ice Cream Sandwich theme, available in the Market, looked pretty cool.
Tags:
Android App,
Android Apps,
Android Keyboard,
AndroidTapp.com App Review,
AnySoftKeyboard,
keyboard,
Languages,
On-Screen Keyboard,
Smart Keyboard,
Virtual Keyboard
Categorised in: Tools
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