Android FAQ
1. I’ve installed 8pen, but my default keyboard still shows up!
Installing an input method on Android is a two-step process. Firstly, you must activate the 8pen, by navigating to your phone’s settings, then tapping “Language and keyboard”, and finally checking the 8pen box. (A warning will show up telling you that 8pen may collect data. You may safely ignore this, as 8pen does not collect any data whatsoever.) Secondly, you must enable 8pen as your default input method. This is typically done by long-pressing a text input field, and then tapping “Input method”. You will then be prompted with a list of available input methods on your phone, and you can select 8pen.
2. Whenever I lift my finger, it inserts a space. How do I disable that?
This “auto-space” feature is a central part of the 8pen writing experience, and may be a bit tricky to get used to. But once you get the hang of it, it's fantastic. Alongside this feature comes an essential trick to avoid the insertion of space: just move your finger outside of the central region, and then lift. This “holds” the cursor.
If auto-space is still not for you, it can be disabled under Settings, by unchecking “Auto-space”.
3. How do I navigate the text? I.e. where are the arrow keys?
Perform a quick swipe gesture up/down/left/right, starting in the central region. Another option is the arrow keys available on the symbolic keyboard (in large buttons mode).
4. Where did my special characters popup go?
They are now disabled by default, to avoid accidental popups while you are learning. They can be activated under Settings > “Special characters delay”.
5. How do I delete whole words?
Perform a quick swipe gesture from right to left, starting outside of the central region. To undo the deletion, swipe in the other direction.
6. How do I cut/paste words?
Deleting a word using the method above is the same as “cutting” it. Redoing a word is the same as “pasting” it.
7. How do I hide the 8pen?
Perform a quick swipe gesture downwards, starting away from the central region.
8. How do I switch language?
Perform a quick upwards swipe gesture, starting outside of the central region. This will change the 8pen layout and the dictionary to the given language.
9. How do I pick a suggestion without lifting the finger?
There are always three suggestions: a main one, placed in the middle of the suggestions bar; it is inserted using the gesture “center-top-center”. And two one the sides: they are inserted using the gestures “center-left-center” and “center-right-center” respectively.
10. How do I quickly produce smileys?
Start in the left sector, and then move around the center in either anti-clockwise (happy) or clockwise (sad) direction, passing through at least two sectors. For instance: Left-Bottom-Right.
11. How do I customize smileys?
Go to Settings > Shortcuts, and scroll down to “Smileys”. You can then enter custom smileys.
12. Where is the shift key?!
It’s gone. Instead, to produce an uppercase letter, add an extra full circle before returning to the center.
13. Now that the shift key is gone, how do I force lowercase keys when the keyboard is automatically set to shifted mode?
In the same way that a full extra circle turns all lowercase characters to their uppercase variants, an extra full circle when the keyboard is auto-shifted will put it back into its lowercase mode.
14. How do I change the numeric layout?
Go to Settings > Display settings and tap “Numeric keyboard” to choose the type that suits you.
15. I am using the 8pen-style numeric keyboard. I don’t want to lift my finger when switching between this and the 8pen. Is this possible?
Yes, you can perform a “Center-bottom-center” gesture. This will switch back and forth.
16. I have a small phone, and the 8pen takes up a lot of screen real estate. Help?
Yes, go to Settings > Display settings > Height, to select the height that best matches your phone and style.
17. I find the central region too large, can I adjust its size?
Yes, go to Settings > Display settings > Center size, to select the radius of the center that suits you best.
18. How do I change the 8pen color theme?
Go to Settings > Display settings > Themes. You can then either choose a fixed theme, or a “Random” one, which changes every day.
19. I don't like keyboard sounds when writing, can I turn them off?
Yes, go to Settings and tap “Sound”. Then set when you want a sound to be played. There are three options: on pressing a key on the QWERTY keyboard, on writing a letter using 8pen, and on tapping a corner button on 8pen.
20. I'd like some physical feedback indicating when I'm in the center. How do I get that?
Go to Settings, and check the “Vibrate” button. The options are similar to those for sound.
21. Where are the £, ¥, ¢, ... keys?!
A little far away! But they are here, and can be found in the symbolic keyboard, as popup characters to the € key.
22. In some layouts, common punctuation marks are replaced with special characters specific to my language. How do I easily access those keys?
Usually, they are not far away, and are just found as “uppercase” versions of other punctuation marks. E.g. in some layouts, turning “?” uppercase gives you “!”.
23. How do I add my own words to the dictionary?
You simply long-press the word in the candidates strip.
24. Why does 8pen now require access to the Internet?
Internet access is required to download language packs directly from within the 8pen settings, and to check for language pack updates. Rest assured, these are the only times that 8pen needs access the Internet.
25. Can I move 8pen to the SD card?
Input methods on Android are particular types of apps, and they cannot be moved to the SD card, as they should always be available, even when the SD card is not.