SwiftKey: it would seem, and here Apple?

Together with iOS 8 Apple introduced one really expect a lot of innovation - support for third-party keyboards. Users Android, upon hearing this, be sure to smile and to say that kupertinovtsy, as always, all of them copied, and will certainly be right. But, as practice shows, no matter how much there was one or the other "trick" or technology at a time when Apple announces its support or implementation of its new product, the popularity increases several time. How this trend will be applicable to the side of the keyboard - it is not yet clear, especially given the fact that Apple is going to conquer the members of his revolutionary QuickType. Meanwhile, not only iOS supporters began to notice improvement.

SwiftKey, One of the most popular third-party keyboard for Android, now become free. Discounts of $ 4 - very generous on the part of the company. Try it if you have not already done so, you can now.

DownloadQR-Code

SwiftKey keyboard

Developer: SwiftKey

Price: Free

As the developers assure us, the transition to a free base was a logical step in the development is undoubtedly a promising product.

SwiftKey we have created with the sole purpose - to make the process of communication and writing something on a mobile device easier than ever. We worked hard on this, and the transition to a fully free concept - one of many very important steps.

However, I personally very little hard to believe in the good intentions of John and Ben - founders of a startup. Cause I see totally different. Since the end of the WWDC has five developers announced the creation of its solutions for iOS 8. Given the similar functionality of the native QuickType, sell users of its slightly modified version for $ 4, it would be problematic, whatever solvent may be the mobile OS audience.

The second reason - the popularity. Due to this auction unprecedented generosity of many and learned about SwiftKey. Someone told a friend, someone read in one of the online publications (even Forbes wrote about it), but whatever way it may happen - the task is completed. A few months later we are waiting for the official release of the new version of iOS, which will install all but the owners of the "oldies» iPhone 4 or iPad, a part will soon begin to indulge in a beta version, and when it will be about a third-party keyboards, on everyone's lips is will SwiftKey.

Competitors also did not remain on the sidelines. Someone is trying to earn a reputation among a whole new audience, releasing first the decision, such as Fleksy. If we talk about the latter, then the owners of mobile devices from Apple could get to know her well before that time. Universal app available in the App Store for quite a long time, for which he received many good reviews from users. And this despite the fact that the keyboard was limited the scope of the program.

DownloadQR-Code

Fleksy- GIF, Web & Yelp Search

Developer: Fleksy, Inc.

Price: Free

Someone is trying to impress other input method. In this way we went Swype and TouchPal - keyboard, where typing, you can simply sliding your finger from one character to another, without having to take it off the screen. All of this is painfully familiar to owners of Android smartphones, but for iOS it would be a novelty and will cause a considerable stir. Moreover, TouchPal next week will be able to try out the action of beta-testers, making it one of the first third-party keyboards for Apple's mobile platform.

All the above perfectly shows how Apple has once again changed the market segment for which it is taken. This time it is a niche third-party keyboards. Even more increased competition will force developers to come up with new features or reduce the price of their products, and popularity and attention paid to the release of iOS 8, will be able to give a good push and help to open a second wind this segment.

Do you expect the appearance of similar solutions for the iPhone and iPad? You would start to use them or to stay at QuickType? We look forward to your responses in the comments.