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Where is the Gesture type settings in Android 4.4.4 Keyboard?

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Is your Gesture Type not working or do you need to customize it – read on to know more.

I use Moto E and the below settings apply to any phone that use Android KitKat 4+ versions keyboard.

Gesture typing settings (some call it Swype typing, Swift text typing, though these are related technologies and separate apps in the Play store), in the Android KitKat4+ versions, are buried inside the Settings app.

Here’s how to change your Gesture Type settings on your Android Phone:

Go to Settings. Tap on Language & input.

 

Language and input under Settings
Tap on language and input

Under Keyboard & Input Methods, tap on Default Google Keyboard (this shows the default language in your home location that was setup at the time of purchase of your Android phone).

Google default keyboard - change settings
Tap on Default keyboard

In the Choose Input Method popup screen – tap on ‘Set up input methods‘.

Tap on Set up input methods
Choose Input Method

This shows up your Google Keyboard with a slider icon next to it. Tap on the slider icon.

Google keyboard slider icon
Tap on slider icon to change settings

This brings up Google Keyboard Settings. Scroll down to see GESTURE TYPING. This is where you can modify settings related to Gesture typing.

Gesture Type
Google Keyboard Settings for Gesture Type

The following options are available in this page:

  • Enable Gesture Typing
  • Dynamic floating preview
  • Show gesture trail
  • Phrase gesture – to input spaces during gestures by gliding to the space key.

Related Links:

Android 4.2 Phone and Android 4.4 Phone
New Keypad for Android
Download Swype for Android
How to disable autocorrect on Android
Type in style: How to change your Android keyboard
Keyboards for Android
Specifying the Input Method Type – For Developers

References:

Android versions master list (version history)
How to download or Upgrade to Android 4.4
Next is Android Lion 4.5 or 5.0? 
Android version comparison

Quick Tech Trick # 8: How To Open Microsoft Command Prompt Window In Any Folder

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If you’ve have tried navigating to a specific folder using Windows Command Prompt Screen by manually typing the code in that little black window screen, you will agree with me that even pros sometimes have to do a trial and error to get it correct.

That’s when this surprise little trick will come in handy:

Whenever you want to open the command window in a particular location, just do a ‘shift + right click‘ on a blank space within that folder and you’ll find a new context menu entry there – “Open Command Window Here“.
If you are an avid command prompt user, you will thank this trick (of course if you didn’t know about this earlier).


Written by Arun Sarathy

WearFin – A Wearable Thumb Gadget – A Breakthrough Invention By An Indian

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Technology keeps changing everyday. There is some new invention in some part of the world every day. Only some ideas make to the top and get named as Facebook, Google, Apple and become a huge fan following brands. Though we come across many such ideas daily, only few makes our heads turn and in this case the fingers.

“Fin” is a small wearable device that can be worn on your thumb as a ring and it can convert your palm into a gesture controlled station. This project has raised about $202,448 from some 1500+ people around the world who have pre-ordered the product as well.

This new invention is by an Indian from a state that is commonly known as God’s own country, Kerala. Rohildev N, is a 23 year old young grad from Kathir College of Engineering in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Few months ago, he had setup his own startup, RHL Vision Technologies.

RHL Vision Technologies was among 50 startups shortlisted from around the world to pitch and showcase their ideas at Pioneers Festival, one of Europe’s largest startup events, held in Vienna last year. It was one of the top 15 companies (from 11 countries) at the TechCrunch CES Hardware Battlefield in Las Vegas this year, a competition for hardware startups. And Rohildev would have been the youngest speaker at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February. (Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/tech-news/Indian-wearable-device-Fin-gets-huge-pre-orders/articleshow/31761591.cms)


Worn as a ring on your thumb, this device can be used to control virtually any bluetooth and infrared based devices like TV Remote controls, SmartPhones, Wheelchairs, iPods, Cameras, and can be used in many other ways.

“There’s no effort, no stress. Unlike other touchless technologies, you don’t have to raise your hand, wave your arms, nothing that tires you,” says Rohildev.


Fin will be priced at $120 each, but that cost could come down with mass manufacturing. The first shipments are expected in September. “The Indiegogo campaign helped us identify some good manufacturers and distributors too. Many want to fund us now. We expect to finalize a $1 million funding in another month,” says Rohildev.

All the best to the team!


Posted by Arun Sarathy

Information sources:
http://www.wearfin.com/
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/fin-wearable-ring-make-your-palm-as-numeric-keypad-and-gesture-interface

Best Way To Search Fresh Recent Results In Google

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If you want to search the internet using Google and if you want search results that are only recent ones – probably a week or month old, then follow this trick while searching in Google.

This trick is especially useful when using Google Maps and Products to search more relevant and also recent updates.

After the search query is typed in the Google search bar, select the Search Tools drop-down option.

Then select Any Time drop down


Now select the time frame you need to filter the search results.

There is also a ‘Custom Range‘ feature available for you to select from. Pretty neat!

Know any other neat tricks in Google search that you think the World may not be aware of? Please do input your comments below.


3 Top Ways To Read Online Effectively By Tackling Distractions

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Earlier, reading was done using the ‘hard bound’ or ‘Paper back’ books, before the advent of computers. Then, the distractions were little less – as there were no popup advertising inside a book, or a mail notification showing up in the corner of the page nor a ‘related’ content showing up at the end of the page before turning to the next one.

However, these are some of the common distractions faced by every one of us while a serious online reading is taking place – a silent conversation between our eyes and the computer screen that shows the content. People like us get easily distracted in this modern age – at the same time there are so many online bookstores with plethora of online textbooks and educational websites.


Here are some practical tips that will help you overcome the dreaded distractions while reading online:

  1. Use Readability plugin for browsers (Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox) to not to get distracted. This extension is similar to the Reader feature within Apple’s Safari browser. What this does is provide you with a clutter-free version of the same article.
  2. If you find any link that is part of the original article you are reading, simply do not go about reading every other hyperlink provided. Right click on the link and open it in new tab or new window to read it later – after finishing the currently reading article. (You can also ‘scroll click‘ or ‘ctrl click’ on the link to open it in new tab). This way you can finish reading the original article you opened in the first place.
  3. If nothing works, or you find many articles and webpages to read for the entire day – use an online bookmarking tool to bookmark your site so you can read it from any part of the world. You can also use a free app in Chrome called Quick Note to save texts and links to read later – this is a note taking app which can be used in this way also. This way you can revisit less important ones later. I use this app often. Best of most of the other note taking apps available for Google Chrome.

These are the top 3 best practices I follow to have a pleasant reading experience without getting distracted much – or by tackling the distractions in a technologically productive way.


Do you have any other tip to have a disturbance free reading experience? What do you do to read articles online without disturbances? Please share your comments below.
Written by Arun Sarathy