I am searching for an alternative to the standard gboard. So far I found Fossify Keyboard, which was OK, but felt off somehow. I think it was the Fach, that it did not support a full Herman layout. Now I am testing Futo Keyboard. So far it is okay, but still not great. Are there and other options I should try? Also futo supports local ai models, but offers little support for German language. Is it also possible to run it with other ai models that are not in the Homepage? And are there and I could try?

    • FriendOfDeSoto@startrek.website
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      4 days ago

      I like Heliboard for the swiping aspect also. I just want to add that to enable it I had to download the Google swipe engine and add it after installing the app. I’m not the biggest idiot on this planet and I managed. So it’s doable. Works with German too.

      • cabbage@piefed.social
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        4 days ago

        I don’t want to use anything Google if I can help it, so I’m using the FOTO keyboard which has its own swipe engine.

        It’s… Work in progress. But the keyboard overall is pretty good.

        • FriendOfDeSoto@startrek.website
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          3 days ago

          I looked at them too. I opted for Heliboard because FOTO’s management made the news last year or maybe '24. I don’t remember the details but it was enough to overcome the Google hurdle for me.

  • black0ut@pawb.social
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    4 days ago

    I personally use Unexpected Keyboard (github link).

    It’s lightweight, very customizable and it works completely offline. It doesn’t have any AI or autocorrect/word suggestions.

    It’s also designed for use in termux and has all the symbols you could ever need. It can also have a compose key, if you come from Linux and are used to it.

    The main gimmick is that you type symbols by swiping to a corner of the key with the symbol, instead of changing to the symbols keyboard or long pressing a character. When you get used to it, it’s faster than gboard.

    It’s available on F-Droid, too.

  • TrumpetX@programming.dev
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    3 days ago

    I still use Gboard with internet access disabled (Graphene). I tried them all, this is the one that seems to work the best for swiping.

    • GMac@feddit.org
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      3 days ago

      I’m probably paranoid but I don’t trust google apps to not be reporting usage back via play services even if internet access is disabled for the individual keyboard application. If you don’t have play services then no problem … but bank apps 🙄 🙁

    • HumbleExaggeration@feddit.orgOP
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      4 days ago

      Thank you for the tip. I like the idea of thumb key. I think it will take some time to get used to it. But I will also give it a try and see if it sticks.