The world’s fastest keyboard is speeding onto iOS 8 faster than Jony Ive’s fabulous Bentley.
Third-party keyboards were only revealed two days ago for iOS 8 but it is taking developers no time at all to piece together some working betas amid the coding-fest at WWDC.
First up to the plate is Fleksy, who has already started teasing their upcoming keyboard for iOS 8, and if you’re lucky, they’ll might let you take it for a spin.
Fleksy is already running on iOS 8! Register for the beta at https://t.co/fhkQWDzXJO. Follow us for updates. pic.twitter.com/u6uWqAJ6Jn
— Fleksy (@fleksy) June 4, 2014
Developers have been barred from tinkering with the iOS keyboard since the days of Jobs, but Apple is loosening customization restrictions with third-party keyboards and widgets coming to iOS 8. The new API opens the door for popular Android keyboards like Swype, SwiftKey, Fleksy and others.
Fleksy announced it is accepting applications for its beta program starting today. The keyboard has been available on iOS since early 2014 as a stand alone app, but once iOS 8 is released to the public this fall, iPhone users will be able to supplant Jony Ive’s annoying shift key for something a little quicker.
There’s no ETA on when the beta invites will be sent out, but unless you’re a developer you won’t be able to get in on the action until iOS 8 is unleashed to everyone.
Buster Hein is a freelance writer who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Twitter: @bst3r.
4 responses to “The first third-party keyboard for iOS 8 is already here”
Looking forward to seeing the various keyboards.
Can’t wait for Swype
I love how iOS 8 is finally loosening up a bit! Custom keyboards should also help mitigate the usability downfalls of larger hardware form factors down the line :)
My favorite replacement keyboard is MessagEase and it’s coming to iOS 8! Cool! (I got an email from MessagEase’s developers).