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Hands On With QuickBoard, a Quick Text Insertion Keyboard Coming to iOS 8
When iOS 8 is released to the public in the fall, iOS users will be able to take advantage of several new operating system features, including system wide third-party keyboards, which will bring fresh functionality to the default iOS keyboard.
Third-party keyboards are available on Android devices and have been long-desired on iOS, so several popular keyboard developers announced plans to bring their software to iOS shortly after third-party keyboard integration was announced at WWDC. After iOS 8 launches, we'll be seeing new keyboards from well-known developers like Fleksy, Swype, SwiftKey, and TouchPal.
iOS 8's third-party keyboard support will also allow new entrants into the customized keyboard arena, with developers bringing us apps that offer all kinds of different functions to improve the way we use our keyboards. One such developer, Kevin Wolkober, has created a quick text insertion keyboard that offers a unique function we haven't seen with previously previewed keyboards.
While keyboards like Swype and Fleksy focus on improving the typing experience through gestures and predictive text, Wolkober's QuickBoard is designed to give users a quicker way to enter the snippets of text that they type repeatedly into their iOS devices, including addresses, credit card information, email signatures, and more.
QuickBoard is actually split by function into three separate keyboard elements, including TextBoard, MeBoard, and LocationBoard. Each of these three keyboard functions lets users to tap to insert often-repeated text elements in any app to save time and effort.
TextBoard allows users to store snippets of text, accommodating any text from a one line signature to a lengthy paragraph. MeBoard stores all of a user's contact info, such as name, email, and home address, and is handy when filling out forms. LocationBoard will automatically determine a user's current location, allowing them to paste in a Google Maps URL or coordinates, or an approximate address, which is useful when a location needs to be shared outside of Messages.
Like any other customized keyboard, QuickBoard operates through an app that's installed on the iOS device and set up in iOS 8's Settings, as described in our hands-on TouchPal installation guide. The personal information and pre-written snippets of text available in the QuickBoard keyboard are created using the installed QuickBoard app.
Inserting text into the QuickBoard app
Chunks of text can be entered into TextBoard section of the app, for example, while the MeBoard pulls in information like name, address, and phone number. Though MeBoard is currently limited to information pulled from the Contacts app, custom information will be added before the app's official launch. Location data isn't inserted in the app itself, since it is pulled from the phone's current location whenever it's used.
The text elements saved in the QuickBoard app can be used in any other app, including Mail, Safari, Messages, Notes, iWork, and more. Inserting saved text into one of these apps is as simple as tapping on the globe icon on the keyboard to activate QuickBoard and then tapping on the relevant block of text.
Personal information, such as name and address, can be inserted by tapping on the person icon, and the arrow will determine a user's approximate location, allowing it to be quickly inserted into a text message, email, or other app. Location information is especially useful, as it cuts out several steps that would normally be necessary when sharing a location an email or other app.
QuickBoard demonstrated in the Notes app
QuickBoard includes access to a space bar, return key, and delete key for formatting purposes, but the rest of the typing is left to another keyboard app or iOS 8's default predictive text function. QuickBoard works seamlessly with any other keyboards installed, and switching between them is as simple as tapping on the globe icon.
Though simpler than most of the other keyboards we've seen before, QuickBoard hints at some of the innovative ways developers will take advantage of third-party keyboard integration in iOS 8. At the current time, QuickBoard is still in the beta testing phases, but Wolkober tells MacRumors that the app will be ready for download shortly after iOS 8 officially launches in the fall, with pricing yet to be determined.
Third-party keyboards are available on Android devices and have been long-desired on iOS, so several popular keyboard developers announced plans to bring their software to iOS shortly after third-party keyboard integration was announced at WWDC. After iOS 8 launches, we'll be seeing new keyboards from well-known developers like Fleksy, Swype, SwiftKey, and TouchPal.
iOS 8's third-party keyboard support will also allow new entrants into the customized keyboard arena, with developers bringing us apps that offer all kinds of different functions to improve the way we use our keyboards. One such developer, Kevin Wolkober, has created a quick text insertion keyboard that offers a unique function we haven't seen with previously previewed keyboards.
While keyboards like Swype and Fleksy focus on improving the typing experience through gestures and predictive text, Wolkober's QuickBoard is designed to give users a quicker way to enter the snippets of text that they type repeatedly into their iOS devices, including addresses, credit card information, email signatures, and more.
QuickBoard is actually split by function into three separate keyboard elements, including TextBoard, MeBoard, and LocationBoard. Each of these three keyboard functions lets users to tap to insert often-repeated text elements in any app to save time and effort.
TextBoard allows users to store snippets of text, accommodating any text from a one line signature to a lengthy paragraph. MeBoard stores all of a user's contact info, such as name, email, and home address, and is handy when filling out forms. LocationBoard will automatically determine a user's current location, allowing them to paste in a Google Maps URL or coordinates, or an approximate address, which is useful when a location needs to be shared outside of Messages.
Like any other customized keyboard, QuickBoard operates through an app that's installed on the iOS device and set up in iOS 8's Settings, as described in our hands-on TouchPal installation guide. The personal information and pre-written snippets of text available in the QuickBoard keyboard are created using the installed QuickBoard app.
Chunks of text can be entered into TextBoard section of the app, for example, while the MeBoard pulls in information like name, address, and phone number. Though MeBoard is currently limited to information pulled from the Contacts app, custom information will be added before the app's official launch. Location data isn't inserted in the app itself, since it is pulled from the phone's current location whenever it's used.
The text elements saved in the QuickBoard app can be used in any other app, including Mail, Safari, Messages, Notes, iWork, and more. Inserting saved text into one of these apps is as simple as tapping on the globe icon on the keyboard to activate QuickBoard and then tapping on the relevant block of text.
Personal information, such as name and address, can be inserted by tapping on the person icon, and the arrow will determine a user's approximate location, allowing it to be quickly inserted into a text message, email, or other app. Location information is especially useful, as it cuts out several steps that would normally be necessary when sharing a location an email or other app.
QuickBoard includes access to a space bar, return key, and delete key for formatting purposes, but the rest of the typing is left to another keyboard app or iOS 8's default predictive text function. QuickBoard works seamlessly with any other keyboards installed, and switching between them is as simple as tapping on the globe icon.
Though simpler than most of the other keyboards we've seen before, QuickBoard hints at some of the innovative ways developers will take advantage of third-party keyboard integration in iOS 8. At the current time, QuickBoard is still in the beta testing phases, but Wolkober tells MacRumors that the app will be ready for download shortly after iOS 8 officially launches in the fall, with pricing yet to be determined.
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65 months ago
It may be useful for some people, but I never really type enough of the same blocks of text for this to ever be used.
In any case, every message necessitates a slightly different tone which can't be achieved using this keyboard. If I was sending lots of the same message, I'd just use copy and paste as it's unlikely that'd you'd ever need to send it again after.
And weren't Autofill and iCloud Keychain invented so you didn't have to resort to manually typing in your address and billing information??
In any case, every message necessitates a slightly different tone which can't be achieved using this keyboard. If I was sending lots of the same message, I'd just use copy and paste as it's unlikely that'd you'd ever need to send it again after.
And weren't Autofill and iCloud Keychain invented so you didn't have to resort to manually typing in your address and billing information??
65 months ago
I just use Keyboard Shortcuts to do this. I type 2 letters for my email address, for instance.
65 months ago
Cool idea, but skeptical about 3rd party keyboards.
Lol, wow. Ever heard of Android?
65 months ago
Hi everyone! This is Kevin, the creator of QuickBoard. If you have any questions, I'll answer them the best I can as quickly as possible. And thanks for reading about QuickBoard!
65 months ago
Voice to text works part of the time.
I'm waiting for a telepathic keyboard.
I'm waiting for a telepathic keyboard.
65 months ago
Hi Kevin,
Will there be an iOS 8 beta test in the near future? If so, sign me up!
Thanks everyone for wanting to test drive QuickBoard! The app is currently in private beta with only a small handful of slots available. To apply, please send an email to contact@quickboardapp.com.
65 months ago
Thanks for making this app. I use a similar 'Jailbreak' app called 'PasteBoardKey' and can't live without it.
I have few questions...
1. Will it be Universal keyboard?
2. How much will/might it cost?
3. Will there be backup/import option to Dropbox? (I really don't trust icloud.)
Autosync to all iOS devices+Dropbox?
4. Security? I will put many sensitive personal data in there. How will the app protect it from prying eyes?
Also, Please add a 'Clipboard' section. So that, any text (or image?) I copy will be store to a temporary place from where I can easily add it to my 'Permanent' QuickBoard section. Thanks!
Great, great questions.
1. Yes, QuickBoard will be available for both iPhone and iPad.
2. Pricing to be determined
3. Backup and sync are definitely in the plans for a future release.
4. Your text clips, your contact info, your current location - not a single bit of it leaves the device and goes nowhere without your insertion. Your data only exists between QuickBoard and the app into which you choose to insert your text/contact info/location.
65 months ago
Why not just use short cuts?
http://youtu.be/kupaKfm0UUU
iOS Keyboard Shortcuts are definitely awesome. However, my objective with the TextBoard feature of QuickBoard is to make managing and inserting multi-line text much simpler (e.g. letter templates, signatures, directions, etc.).
Also, as mentioned in the article, TextBoard is just one of three main features. MeBoard helps insert and fill out contact/billing info where autofill is not present. LocationBoard gets your current location and allows you to insert it in quickly as a Google Maps URL, approximate address, or coordinates.
65 months ago
does the API allow a different design too or does it have to look like the apple keyboard sorta? like could a dev decide to make a black keyboard with capital and lower case letters?
As far as I understand, it is up to the developer to determine how the keyboard is designed, as long as you comply with the Custom Keyboard guidelines (https://developer.apple.com/library/prerelease/ios/documentation/General/Conceptual/ExtensibilityPG/Keyboard.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40014214-CH16-SW1) and the iOS Human Interface Guidelines (https://developer.apple.com/library/iOS/documentation/userexperience/conceptual/mobilehig/).
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