Missing Feature: Landscape Typing

Tyopwed Usoimg am Iphonw Kwybiard

In case you didn’t get that, it is suppose to read: Typed Using an iPhone Keyboard. Alright, so jokes aside, how many times have you caught yourself sending these nonsense via email to your self, your loved ones, your coworkers, even your boss? Unfortunately, iPhone currently leaves its users to choose between taking 20 minutes to write an email where they are constantly deleting and editing their last sentence, or taking 2 minutes and writing out a paragraph of gibberish. A handful of native apps such as Email, Notes, and Maps currently lack support for landscape typing, you know, that big and convenient keyboard most of us rely on when we turn the iPhone sideways and browse the web with Safari! Puzzling, let’s discuss shall we?

Why?

Clearly Apple has the technology to allow for landscape view. In fact, it is probably one of iPhone’s most marketed “features.” We’ve all seen the ads where the infamous Apple hand turns the iPhone sideways and plays “Crash Bandicoot!” So, why oh why couldn’t they have integrated this into email, sms, notes, and so on? Unfortunately, no one knows! It appears to be another one of those things that Apple decided to let its users bite its lips and wait on. It would make sense considering that many of the apps that are missing this feature are some of the most commonly used apps that requires lengthy typing. Unfortunately for those of us with meaty finger, we’re left with having to aim and peck at the screen, hoping we hit the right keys.

The Alternative?

Yes! We got you covered! Developer Mike Schneider came up with a handy app called “TouchType” that allows you to type your emails with the landscape keyboard for 99 cents. Unfortunately, even a mere dollar seems too much for me to pay for such an intuitive feature. Furthermore, this is not a true integration into the email stock app, but instead, a separate app that “loads” your typed message into your Mail app. But, if you’re a cheapo like me, fear not! Firemail brings you virtually the same platform as TouchType, only for free! But, like TouchType, the one downside ot this is that it is not an integrated feature, which would require its users to press an extra button or two.

Really, It Just Comes Down to Your Preference

After doing some research on the web, I learned that not everyone have meaty fingers like me. What a surprise! I’m only kidding. It seems like iPhone users’ opinions on landscape view typing seem split. Half the people find it impossible to type in the narrow “portrait” mode while others have either gotten used to the format, or had no problem in the first place. Still, others have trouble adjusting between one and another. Point is, regardless of your preference, now both parties have a choice!

3.0, 3.0, 3.0!

The answer to our prayers! Apple announced that in its 3.0 firmware update, landscape keyboard will be integrated into all the apps! No more gibberish emails, sms, or even notes! Hold on guys, help is around the corner, at least some time during summer! Until then, let’s enjoy all the other wonderful things that iPhone has to offer!