TouchPal - the first really interesting side of the keyboard for iOS

With the advent of the possibility of replacing the standard keyboard in iOS, developers have begun tinkering their counterparts who in that much. Of course, the vision of the ease of use, each developer their own, often do not coincide with the user's request. People waiting for simplicity and fast text input, and get animated gif-memes gags. They, of course, also interested, but not so useful in business correspondence. The more interesting it looks recently introduced TouchPal keyboard, which was done not for entertainment, but for the convenience of typing.

The first thing worth mentioning - is to support the Russian-language text input. At the moment, TouchPal is one of the few third-party keyboards that support the Russian language. And this is a big plus, although the application itself fully (and only) in English.

Some interesting things to note you can change skins for keyboards, of which there are as many as 15 pieces, plus one standard. All of them, of course, are not very different from each other, but someone so handy.

Now the most important thing - the work of the application. Text can be entered in two ways: standard, as before, by clicking on the virtual buttons and swipe, exactly the same way as is done in Swype - the most popular keyboard on iOS that has not received the support of the Russian language. Both methods are easy, the main thing in this case - a habit.

Language switching occurs as in most different keyboards on Android: you need to spend from left to right (or vice versa) on the space button. Not to say that this is the most elegant solution, but after many years of switching on the button languages ​​- just need to get used to it. And for those who are already difficult to use the iPhone 6 (and more than 6 Plus) with one hand, when the length is not enough fingers to switch layout on the characters, there is a simple solution: all the basic punctuation marks used in the language submitted for a number of keys letters. Thus, if you want to put a comma in the sentence, will just press and hold the button with a little soft sign until seem extra characters for this button. Or, as an alternative: click on the "soft sign", and hold your finger down - both of these actions instead of characters to substitute in the text punctuation.

Roughly the same work and writing numbers, which are located in the top row of the virtual keyboard. But with a slight difference: you can only enter the number holding the corresponding letter. It is quite convenient.

However, the most interesting bonus keyboard is detected when you start to type in their own language. No one is not surprised predictive input in the standard iOS-keyboard, but it does not support the Russian language. But TouchPal supports. Certainly not as good as it does a standard keyboard from Apple, but still able to pick up the words, and quite bearable. Unfortunately, there is no information on learning the keyboard, and it would be good to know whether it will itself improve as you work.

Finally it is worth to mention two fly in the ointment in the ointment. One of them - the inability to dictation. This keyboard is simply no icons with a microphone that allows you to dictate text. It really is a shame, especially when it is already used to using this feature. And the second - the application is not quite perfect. I have not experienced, but in a review in the App Store insist that sometimes the keyboard does not appear in the Spotlight. To activate it you need to go back to the settings to remove and re-expose a full keyboard access to this system.

Overall TouchPal - it's about what we expected (I then certainly). There is a predictive text input, has input through swipe and have quick access to numbers and punctuation. And most importantly - in Russian. I would point out that the main thing - it's free, but for such a product would not mind a couple of dollars and would give.

And what do you use? We left a standard keyboard or replaced by something else? Write your comments below!