Tenacious hacker brings the iPhone keyboard to a Nokia N800

One awfully clever Brazilian programmer couldn't stand not being able to experience the sometimes-maddening act of typing on the iPhone's notorious keyboard -- so he wrote an iPhone keyboard app for his Nokia N800. In what appears to have been a fairly short amount of time, Gustavo Sverzut Barbieri put together an Apple-copyin', typepad act-alike using Python, Edje, and a little elbow grease. Without ever actually using an iPhone, Gustavo seems to have clearly captured the essence of the keyboard, which is either really good or really bad for him... only he knows for sure. Check the video after the break to see the app in action.

[Via jkOnTheRun]

[Fatima @ Jul 30th 2007 8:45PM]

I love the iPhone keyboard. The only people that hate it, are the ones that never used it!

[jps @ Jul 30th 2007 8:50PM]

Yeah seriously, I can type extremely fast with no trouble at all.. People who can't type quick on it have to be slightly brain dead.

[andi @ Jul 31st 2007 2:24AM]

you have to LOOK at the iphone's keypad while you're typing... You'll never get to confidently type without looking at the screen on the iPhone. Touchscreen keyboards are really bad... and haptics won't help them either

[Nick @ Jul 31st 2007 9:48AM]

@andi

Im glad about forcing people to look at the screen to type.. it will help prevent people from texting while driving, which has become very popular I've noticed.

[Arjun @ Jul 31st 2007 8:23PM]

@Nick
How does that make sense? The reason there is a problem now is because all the idiots don't know how to text without looking at the keypad anyway, resulting in not watching the road. If anything, all the stuck-up people will text while driving anyway, forcing them to look at the phone.

[ELQ @ Jul 30th 2007 8:46PM]

Very nice stuff, although I wish touchscreen-based phones all were coming with this application too:
http://www.osnews.com/story.php/15389/Review-TenGO-2.0-and-TenGO-Thumb
This is in T6-based implementation, but it's way better than T9 on phones because of the touchscreen factor.

[Ayle @ Jul 31st 2007 10:26AM]

I prefer happy typing keyboard I hate t9...

[Mark @ Jul 30th 2007 8:48PM]

Is this guy for real? Who would want an iPhone keyboard anyway? Especialy on such a sweet, sweet Nokia as the N800. The UN should do something about it.

[Eric @ Jul 30th 2007 8:50PM]

Often imitated, never duplicated!

[grafxkid @ Jul 30th 2007 8:58PM]

Question for those who own an iPhone: Are you capable of typing a message in Landscape mode? Or is it just in Portrait? Or both? Just wondering. Thanks!

[omnicloud @ Jul 30th 2007 9:22PM]

You can type in both I believe

[Mark @ Jul 30th 2007 9:14PM]

Just portrait.

[Eric @ Jul 30th 2007 9:17PM]

Depends on what application you are typing the messing into. Safari = both, all other apps at this time are portrait.

[Dave @ Jul 31st 2007 12:48AM]

The weird thing is, I'm really good at typing in portrait but not so much in landscape. I'd say I'm about 40% faster when typing in portrait. Maybe because more applications use it, I've become adept with it.

[Sandman619 @ Jul 31st 2007 3:33AM]

As an iPhone user, I am qualified to answer this question. Yes, the iPhone has a dynamic keyboard which is available in both vertical and horizontal modes. Better yet, the keyboard gets out of the way when it isn't needed giving you more usable space. Unlike the awkward keyboard that Palm developed for horizontal mode, Apple's keyboard uses the same familiar setup.

Where Apple really though different was in realizing that some non-alpha keys are not needed while others are in different apps. Therefore, you're likely to have an @ or ".com" key conveniently at hand rather than having a static, one mode fits all keyboard.

Apple did good on this area

Cheers!

[Sandman619 @ Jul 31st 2007 4:00AM]

Some apps like Mail & SMS text messaging only work in vertical mode. There isn't much to be gained by making any program available in any mode, ie videos only run in horizontal mode, because their aspect ratio requires it. Safari & iPhoto can benefit from either vertical or horizontal. Some websites are wider others longer and I switch depending on which is best for my viewing needs. The iPhone has three viewing angles, vertical, horizontal (left) & horizontal (right). The two horizontal modes fit your personal style or comfort when switching views. The iPhone does not offer two vertical modes, which is good, because when you use the phone, the display will always orient you so you're not using the phone upside down

Cheers!

[Seriously @ Jul 31st 2007 3:26PM]

I'll buy me one when they start selling them for half the price at the end of the year.

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/17/second-generation-iphone-for-249-in-september

[grafxkid @ Jul 30th 2007 9:16PM]

Thanks Mark!

[Tavis Veighey @ Jul 30th 2007 9:29PM]

Bring that over to the LifeDrive and I will be impressed!

[nathan @ Aug 1st 2007 4:13PM]

Because devices with 4GB microdrives running a single threaded non-multitasking dead OS at temperatures to burn your hand are so cool?

[Tavis Veighey @ Jul 31st 2007 12:31AM]

No, because I am currently happy with my LifeDrive (That I have had for 2 years), and it would be an easier keyboard than the built in one. I also have a 4gig SD Card in it.

My LifeDrive does not get that hot. I was smart, I purchased the hard case for it, the one with the metal cover. And noticed that the LifeDrive had vent holes in the back, But the case did not. So I drilled a series of holes in the back of the hard case. It seems to have allowed it to vent properly, so no overheating issues!

[Michael @ Jul 30th 2007 9:31PM]

I don't have a iPhone, but during this short stay in the States, i was able to pick one up. I very quickly was able to type faster on that stupid virtual keyboard then any phone i have ever owned... even my horrible pearl. It is amazing.

The only thing about this... i kinda doubt that he has implemented the changing key zone sizes and some of the other aspects of the keyboard. this is more of a very superficial copy.

[John C. Randolph @ Jul 30th 2007 9:35PM]

Can you say "patent infringement"? I know Apple's legal department can.

-jcr

[blog.ifallacy @ Jul 30th 2007 9:43PM]

to me, this seems like an utterly pointless hack... the n800 keyboard is great and i can use both thumbs while typing with the n800 thumbboard... the only plus i can see about the hack is that you have more screen estate

but keep 'em coming n800 devs =]

[Ryan Smith @ Jul 30th 2007 9:44PM]

You can't patent a basic onscreen keyboard, those have been around forever. This is completely different than the iphone keyboard anyway, it works on a predictive text system, this is just an onscreen keyboard, what's the big deal. I remember these on my pocket pc years ago.

[fd @ Jul 30th 2007 9:49PM]

Now all we need is the rest ported over ;-)

Not really. The N800 is a pretty slick device. Hopefully Nokia will continue to update the OS.

[humpty @ Jul 30th 2007 9:52PM]

I'll never give up my crackberry... real keypads ftw!

[Ryan @ Jul 30th 2007 11:13PM]

Er . . . "hacker"? INDt is basically Nokia in Brazil. So, uh, not a hacker. . . .

[AuronX24 @ Jul 30th 2007 10:02PM]

Must've been a member of Anonymous.

[Greg Poole @ Jul 31st 2007 4:19AM]

Nah, they're too busy running the internet hate machine and stealing myspace passwords. I changed mine 7 times and so far they've got them all, so I bought curtains, an alarm system and a dog.

[AuronX24 @ Jul 31st 2007 1:04PM]

Crap man. Those guys are like hackers on STEROIDS.

[BEETROOT @ Jul 30th 2007 10:09PM]

"sometimes-maddening act of typing on the iPhone's notorious keyboard"

An iPhone raped your mother too huh?

[Sean O @ Jul 30th 2007 10:23PM]

Why is this being called a hack? People are allowed to develop for the N800.

I guess putting the words "hack" and "iPhone" in the same sentence is a cheap way to get attention.

[Scyt @ Jul 31st 2007 2:36AM]

Because a hack in the old school sense is an act of ingenious coding.

[Simon @ Jul 31st 2007 6:54PM]

To me, a hack is the insertion of code where it shouldn't really be, but will get the job done.

[matthew House @ Jul 31st 2007 1:33AM]

I am not trying to flame in any possible way...just want to ask an honest question.

Who does *not* like the iPhone keyboard? Of those who have used it on a regular basis of course. I *love* my iPhone keyboard. I can zoom (comparatively speaking) on mine. I'm much, much faster than with either my Treo 650 or Blackberry keyboards. I find it to be considerably more accurate, fast, and comfortable than any miniature keyboard I've used. (Treo 650, Blackberry, various Sony Clios).

I'm still wondering why people are insisting that the iPhone keyboard is poor. I can't find anyone who has used it extensively who says its worse than any miniature keyboard and most say its decidedly better.

[Drew @ Jul 31st 2007 2:48AM]

I LOVE my iPhone keyboard.
The only downside is having to look at the screen to type,
(but I guess I shouldn't be texting while I'm driving anyways...)

[rx22 @ Jul 30th 2007 11:13PM]

An iPhone keyboard plugin has existed for Windows Mobile phones for a while now...how's this cutting edge?

[Andy @ Jul 31st 2007 9:48AM]

Indeed, I was looking for this comment or posting it myself. This is most definitely not news. People have been writing iPhone keyboard apps for WM for quite a while now. Just run over to xda-developers to find out more and download it.

[keithwwalker @ Jul 30th 2007 11:27PM]

Thumb boards are for retards.

and I can still Palm Graffiti or write in WM6 Block recognizer than type.

[Jake @ Jul 31st 2007 12:07AM]

The obsession with the iPhone continues. Can't say I blame him though. He is just practicing the touchscreen keypad so he will be a pro when the iPhone is ready for his neck of the woods.

[Blah @ Jul 31st 2007 12:00AM]

Isnt it great to have a device that you can actually write full applications for?

[Blah @ Jul 31st 2007 12:03AM]

Yea, i hate thumb-boards too!! In fact, i hate any type of device that uses keys mapped to letters to enter text. I, in fact, typed this post using a write pad, because im so f**king elite!!

Retard.

[Mark Flewellen @ Jul 31st 2007 12:17AM]

Given the N800 already has predictive text on the built in thumb board I imagine the absence of the feature had more to so with the fact this was created in about a week. I think the real innovation is the entire multimedia UI this is going to be a part of "Canola"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zrt5x3hZrhs

[um @ Aug 1st 2007 12:29AM]

The "iphone" ui also looks like the wii on screen keyboard ui.

[Constable Odo @ Jul 31st 2007 1:00AM]

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. iPhone wannabe in spades. Nice app. Guess all the cellphones are heading for touch-screen keyboards.

[brad016 @ Jul 31st 2007 1:07AM]

Finally someone go the iPhone keyboard to go sideways so it's easy to write with, keep up the good work!
Apple! learn from this kid.

[DanK @ Jul 31st 2007 1:55AM]

I wonder if he could put it up for the Nokia N95. Now that would kick iPhone out of the water.

[Dodo @ Jul 31st 2007 2:23AM]

DanK, Uhhhh yeah... and on-screen touch keyboard without a touchscreen. That should definitely make a statement.
(On a post-it note, sticked to the forehead)

[icruise @ Jul 31st 2007 2:21AM]

Without the auto-correction feature (which this seems to lack), the iPhone keyboard wouldn't be half as good. Plus, I believe the Nokia just has a normal touch screen (requiring pressure on the screen) and not the iPhone-style screen where you just have to touch it lightly, which would probably make it quite a bit harder to use.