SwiftKey, one of the more popular third party iOS 8 keyboards on the App Store, is out with a new version today adding both new features and additional languages.
Since iOS 8, SwiftKey had been able to replace the standard Apple iOS keyboard, and the new version also packs in the complete Emoji keyboard in one package. This makes it even more simple (👌) to find that smiling pile of poo (💩) or slice of pizza (🍕) when you need it without having to toggle between system keyboards. Similar to Apple’s QuickType predictive text feature, the latest SwiftKey update also adds Emoji predictions to the word suggestion area.
In addition to the new Emoji to SwiftKey, the iPad version of the keyboard now includes the same SwiftKey Flow gesture typing feature as the iPhone version. This allows you to trace your finger around the on-screen tablet keyboard to input text in quick swiping motions without having to peck out individual letters at a time.
The new version also adds support for keyboard click sounds just like the default Apple system keyboard. The sound option is turned off by default, but you can now enable it in the SwiftKey app advanced settings. Here you’ll also find options to pick between the default dark keyboard option or a more iOS 8-like light option.Rounding out the update, SwiftKey now supports 11 more languages than previous versions including:
- Bulgarian
- Croatian
- Greek
- Hinglish
- Icelandic
- Indonesian
- Latvian
- Russian
- Serbian
- Slovak
- Turkish
SwiftKey previously added four additional languages through its November update.
You can get SwiftKey for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch for free on the App Store with iOS 8.
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Good to see this update. I hope this fixed one of the major bugs that have plagued Swiftkey on the iPhone. Many MANY times the keyboard will just fail to appear when using spotlight search or various apps.
That’s mostly iOS, and those bugs plague every third-party keyboard.
Josie, I’ve been having the same problem with the keyboard sometimes not showing up. With every update, I re-install the keyboard, hoping that it’s fixed. Every time, the glitch happens again. I’m not sure if it’s a SwiftKey issue or an iOS issue, but I really hope it gets fixed soon.
Not having to switch to a separate keyboard helps a lot so far in my usage
iOS 8.2 beta 5 also *helps* but doesn’t completely resolve keyboard issues. Still had a freeze issue in Messages with Swiftkey and Swype, and still can’t write app reviews with them.
Because nothing is as great as having ever personal text saved by a 3rd party.
QuickType* QuickTime doesn’t have a predictive text feature ;)
Oof! Thanks, fixed! :)
Yet none of these third party keyboards are allowed to have the microphone for dictation? Deal breaker for me.
Yeah I agree. Hopefully Apple opens up the Siri/Speech API to third party keyboards
Finally I can ditch Emoji++ and use just one keyboard
How do you enable the emoji predictions for swiftkey on ios? I can’t find it and it doesn’t do it automatically..
Hi guys,
A couple of days ago I started having predictive emoticons on Facebook messenger while typing. For example if I typed the word “night” then suddenly I would have the night Emoji as a suggestion.
I had this for only 1 day maybe then it disappeared…..any idea how to enable it back or something?
Thx a lot in advance!