Sunnysoft InterWrite V9.5 Soft Keyboard Review
InterWrite is a soft keyboard alternative with an optional full screen input panel for Windows Mobile/PocketPC/Professional . There are several versions InterWrite available (Small, Standard, FullScreen and Pro) offered. You can read more about the differences between Small/Standard/Pro HERE. For the purpose of this review, we only focus on the FullScreen version.
Main features include:
- Over 50 national keyboard layouts displaying national characters
- QVGA and VGA support except square screen device such the Palm Treos.
- Full screen keyboard with added functions and gesture options
- Simultaneous use of various national keyboards and quick interchangeability
- Screen capture button
- Dictionary for automatic word completion in native language (predefined only for selected languages)
- Helping with correct conversion of mobile doc types PSW, PWI,RTF to PC
- Support for external hardware keyboards
- Fully customizable settings of all features to suit user needs
- Color keyboards with 3D look
- Character map
- Possibility use and define angular gestures for quicker input of some accented characters
Let’s start with the usage aspect of the InterWriter program and we deep dive into the advanced add-ons as well as its settings later.
First, as a keyboard alternative to the built-in, you will find some eye-candy skins that you can customize to your liking and the keyboard layout is based on the language you choose.
Note: to quickly switch from keyboard layout of one language to another, use the language panel button at the bottom which also indicates which language keyboard is currently active (US). Click on the arrow button, you still find standard WM options (Block Recognition, etc..)
Few special keys are worth noticing:
- ESC: exit
- AltGr: special characters
- 123: switch to muneric keyboard
- Eye: screen capture
- Window (right to screen capture key): switch to full screen input panel
- Ctrl+Alt+Del (Since WM device is not yet multi-touch capable, you have to click 3 keys consecutively) will provoke a soft reset.
The full screen input panel is useful as thumb keyboard or when you feel more comfortable with tradition keyboard layout. Your WM screen obviously will switch to landscape mode.
Different skin color options are offered here as well; the skins are built-in to the app, there is no option to have third-party skins.
It is important to know this panel is to create new input that will append to your current text. You will not see existing text when you first enter to the full screen panel. The Esc key is considered Exit or Cancel to get out of the full screen mode; using this Esc key will not update your new input from this panel.
There are 2 line display window. If you enter longer text, the drop down arrow on the window will enlarge vertically the entered text area. This is very useful to have a quick review what you just entered. When you are done, just click on the Send key to append the text to your current document. There is no adjustment for the size of each key. I find their displacement is a little small for large fingers. The clicking sound produced is a nice enhancement to compensate to the lack of tactile feel with soft keyboard.
Let’s get in to the some of the advanced add-ons and the settings after the jump!
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The Settings can be accessed either on the Start-Settings or just click on the little icon located at the right bottom corner of your Today screen. Settings > General
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Define keyboard looks (Skin,Font size and style) and set the language you want to write in. Multiple languages can be used, just Add them from the list, over 50 languages available
Settings > Keyboard |
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Not only small keyboard looks can be user defined. Fullscreen keyboard has several exciting skin colors and shapes.
Settings > Full Screen Keyboard |
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Define how you want numeric part of keyboard to look like. An external calculator application can be define. Just press … button and import.
Settings > Numeric Keyboard |
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Word suggestion options for better word input management.
Settings > Suggest words |
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Further keyboard options available in:
Settings > Keyboard options |
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Gestures can be made by dragging the stylus in certain direction on keyboard, resulting in accented or character appearance. Define what gesture results in what character. (E.g.Drag stylus pressing it in upper right direction to achive CAPITAL of the letter whose key you were starting the gesture from.)
Settings > Keyboard Gestures |
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This is another added value of InterWrite software. Screenshot key is located next to space (eye like shape), it will take screenshot of the screen and can be de/activated when you don’t/need it. Also interval between pressing the screenshot key and taking actual screenshot can be define (5 seconds here)… Settings > Keyboard functions |
Overall the program works very well after a minor problem at install; my Axim was connected via ActiveSync. The installer kept showing a message indicating that my device is not connected. After a couple of retries without success, I decided to answer “no”. The install proceeds from that point without any issue. The build quality is excellent and the program delivers solid performance.
Sunnysoft InterWriter is available ($19.95) HERE!
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