There’s a certain edge Apple has in terms of the stock iOS keyboard. The most prominent reason being it has the level of polish and integration no other developer can match. It also lacks in lots of places as well. The stock keyboard experience feels outdated in more places than not. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good keyboard, it just needs some housekeeping and an overall refresh.
The Next Keyboard on the other hand is different. It tries to be a “one size fits all” keyboard, according to it’s teaser video. In-house emoji, swipe to type, and themes are a few features. The keyboard also has some (what used to be) jailbreak-only features such as: an adaptive keyboard (ShowCase) and smart cursor (SwipeSelection).
Currently a KickStarter project, the team over at TinyHearts plan to roll out an early beta version (for backers who pledged $30CAD or more) by the end of December. And the beta will roll out to a broader beta audience in January. The team plans on rolling out this keyboard in February.
And the best part of the keyboard? It doesn’t require the controversial full access.
You can find their official website here, and the KickStarter project here. Will the Next Keyboard convince you to use third-party keyboards in iOS 8?
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