Apps

Review: ReBoard keyboard boosts your productivity and cuts down on app switching

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 1, 2015

The biggest thing about iOS 8 for me is a productivity boost stemming from new technologies such as pervasive inter-app communications, third-party actions in system-wide Share sheets and more. But for all the good work Apple's done from a productivity standpoint, iOS (version 9 included) still has some way to go before it's capable to exceed multitasking features on Microsoft's Surface tablets or Samsung's Note phablet, for example.

ReBoard, a new software keyboard for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad created by India's independent developer Gursimranjeet Singh, puts useful actions for performing common tasks and all sorts of look ups right into the keyboard itself so you won't need to switch back and forth between apps like an animal.

By embedding useful third-party shortcuts within the context of the keyboard, ReBoard can save you a lot of time and boost your productivity.

Crisp: a clean and simple email template keyboard for iOS

Sébastien Page ∙ August 27, 2015

How many times a day or a week do you send the exact same email to people? It usually is a canned reply to an often asked question, or maybe it is a tidbit of personal information such as your address. If you use email, chances are you know exactly what I'm talking about.

Crisp, a new app available in the App Store today, wants to make this better by offering a clean and simple email template keyboard for iOS.

iTranslate updated with keyboard extension and Apple Watch support

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Sonico pushed out an update for its iTranslate app today, bringing the iOS client to version 8.4. The software, which is regarded as one of the best translation apps in the App Store, now comes with a keyboard extension and proper Apple Watch Glance.

The keyboard extension is particularly significant, since it can be used in most iOS 8-compatible apps. So now, instead of having to open the iTranslate app to make a translation, you can do it on the fly in WhatsApp, Mail or your favorite Twitter client.

SwiftKey rolls out rich Emoji Insights in new update

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 19, 2019

Right on cue, makers of the popular SwiftKey software keyboard for iPhones, iPads and iPods today rolled out a new feature designed to provide a valuable insight into which emoji symbols you use the most as your unique writing style and the emoji you use more than other people.

The app will even tell you which US state most reflects your emoji use. Called Emoji Insights, the new typing statistics shows you detailed highlights of your emoji use.

SwiftKey previews upcoming ‘Your Signature Emoji’ feature in iPhone app

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 31, 2015

Have you ever wondered which emoji symbols you use the most as your unique writing style? Well, the popular smartphone keyboard, SwiftKey, is previewing a new feature called 'Your Signature Emoji' which was designed to help you find out precisely which emoji characters you use more than other people.

Available as a beta for SwiftKey's iPhone users, and coming soon for everyone, this feature takes advantage of SwiftKey's knowledge base which gets continually updated as you're typing away.

Create colorful keyboards that match your mood in an instant with Photokeys

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 1, 2018

Photokeys by developer Appyfurious was released in the App Store last evening. This quite interesting application makes it easy and fun to create your own colorful keyboards in seconds, from any photo in your library.

Just take or import a picture, adjust color themes as you like and your keyboard is ready for use in any application.

If you're unhappy with the results, refine your custom designs with manual controls to mix and match your own colors and achieve the keyboard nirvana. But wait, there's much more to Photokeys, a 99-cent download from the App Store, than meets the eye.

Fleksy Keyboard goes free forever, now auto-suggests themes, extensions and more as you type

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 8, 2015

Fleksy Keyboard, one of the first and arguably the most popular third-party keyboards available in the App Store, has been slashed to zero bucks permanently. The iPhone and iPad app used to retail for 99 cents a pop and went free briefly just twice following its App Store debut last fall.

What's more, the new price point is valid forever moving forward. Those who have previously bought the app will be treated to new themes and extension slots worth $8 as a gift. In addition to the price cut, developers have refreshed Fleksy Keyboard with some notable personal assistant-like features.

TagsDock keyboard lets you quickly hashtag posts on Instagram and Vine

Lory Gil ∙ July 3, 2015

If you are an avid social network user, you've probably got a list of hashtags that you use on a regular basis. Instead of having to type out the symbol and tag, wouldn't it be nice to be able to tap a button to add your string of hashtags?

Well, now you can with TagsDock. This third-party app lets you turn your keyboard into a hashtag haven. With more than 3,000 popular hashtags in more than 100 categories, you'll never have to type out your tags again.

Disney launches new GIF keyboard app for iOS

Cody Lee ∙ June 27, 2015

Disney this week launched a new keyboard app for iOS called "Disney Gif." As the name suggests, the app allows you to browse through, and quickly share from, a library of animated GIF images and emoji icons featuring Disney content.

For its launch, the keyboard features hundreds of images pulled from Disney's expansive TV and movie collection, including Star Wars, Frozen, Beauty and the Beast, Inside Out, The Lion King and various hit television shows from ABC.

Line launches new Emoji Keyboard app for iOS

Cody Lee ∙ June 17, 2015

LINE launched a new app for iOS today called 'Emoji Keyboard.' As the name suggests, it's a free keyboard app with over 3,000 new and unique Stickers & Emoji that will help you "experience a more exciting and lively chat with friends and loved ones."

For those who aren't familiar with LINE, it's an insanely popular Japanese messaging app. It has more than 500 million users, which are mostly in Asia, but it's hoping its Emoji Keyboard will help make inroads into the United States and other countries.

SwiftKey Keyboard updated with new Emoji, stability improvements to reduce crashes

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

SwiftKey Keyboard, my favorite third-party keyboard for iOS 8, was updated today, bringing it to version 1.3.3. The new release includes skin tone options for Emoji, several new Emoji offerings in categories like Flags and Family, and various improvements.

While improvements are nice, they typically aren't anything to get excited about. SwiftKey, however, says that 1.3.3 features "a number of stability improvements to reduce crashes." Given how crash-prone third-party keyboards are in the first place, this is huge.

Fleksy Keyboard introduces Imoji stickers, smart suggestions for GIFs and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 9, 2018

Fleksy, the powerful iOS 8 keyboard which lets you use gestures, GIFs and emoji, has increased its functionality in the latest update issued today.

Now the app features an integrated Sticker keyboard in partnership with Imoji, taking visual communication beyond animated GIFs. You can easily browse, search and send Imoji stickers directly in Fleksy: just tap a sticker to copy it, then paste it in a message.

To add a sticker to your favorites, double tap it from the keyboard. You can access your recently used stickers, browse endless collections of reactions, check out what's trending and more.