Swiftkey Keyboard Android is now free
play.google.com
play.google.com
Just wondering why keyboard makers don't provide "restricted" builds of their software, that intentionally lack some features, but still serve their purpose by providing an efficient method to type at a reasonable price.
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[1] EDIT: Not sure, this could be localization error in a Play Store. Reportedly it says "read your text messages" in English, but for me what I see roughly translates to "send SMS and MMS".
As to why SwiftKey doesn't strip out most of the features that makes it better than the official keyboard and sell it to a small market of people who don't want the features that are the app's actual selling point... well, that's why, those are the features that differentiate them, without them they're not really that special.
Either it's a bug in a Play Store, or we're talking about different permissions. For me, it says (in Russian, no idea how to switch language) "Отправка SMS и MMS (может взиматься плата)" which translates to "Sending SMS and MMS (fees may apply)".
Unless Google broke something with their recent permission revamp, I assume it's SEND_SMS, not READ_SMS permission. And that's worrying - I fail to see why should I grant such permission to a keyboard. It's not SMS-sending app, I have a separate one for that.
Or maybe they have separate builds (doing A/B testing, having region-specific versions or something like that). But I guess localization error is a more probable version. Where do I report one?
I've also checked the installed APK, and it's certainly Google's l10n fault - the APK has READ_SMS declared, not SEND_SMS one.
I really doubt the thing that differentiates them from other keyboards is that they learn from message history and sync that over the network.
Even if they care, when the choice is not to install any apps or to ignore the warnings....
Oh, well, Google is one to begin with.
Whenever I install an app on my Nexus 5, I click through the "this app wants XYZ permissions" dialog without reading it. Not only do I not read it, I get a little angry each time because I can't do anything with the information and it's just in my way.
I don't install apps that require permissions I'm not happy with. Don't be so callous with your own security.
If you've taken the decision that none of these three is worth the hassle, that can be a fine decision.
I would typically uncheck a lot of permissions on some apps, but since I can't do that I'll just click through if I really want it or cancel if I don't.
First off, Permissions Manager. Only let applications YOU designate, have access to permissions. Hint: nothing really needs to know where you are.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=mobi.infolife....
Secondly: Install a firewall. No-root firewalls are NOT a valid substitute, given that they need to be (re)activated every reboot. By default don't give things internet access, it's even logical, and user friendly.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jtschohl.a...
Thirdly, learn about your data. It's your data, and should only be sent to hosts you're okay with.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.googlecode...
Finally, blacklist hosts based on #3. Even if an application needs to hit the outside world, there's no reason that it needs to contact all hosts.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.treb.hosts
This doesn't mean that you should have trust, or even faith in these measures. But it makes things significantly more tolerable. You still have a tracking device in your pocket - but at least you have more control over it.
Swiftkey states that their goal is to get as many people using the app as possible, so they're making it free - but nowhere do they define for their users how they are planning on making money.
That leaves me thinking the one of the following: you'll be selling my data, you'll be doing in-app purchasing, you've found some other magical revenue source, or you'll be going out of business. I don't want to spread FUD here - my point is that as a paying customer this is not a good way to communicate. I have no idea what the strategy is - but if you want me to remain a customer, I personally would like to understand what is going on.
Not mentioned anywhere, not even in the EULA. FUD.
you'll be doing in-app purchasing
Err.. did you miss the announcement of the IAP theme store? Because that's exactly what they're doing.
my point is that as a paying customer this is not a good way to communicate. I have no idea what the strategy is
Sounds like give away the base app and sell value adds. A perfectly legitimate business model.
Given that they have no last update date for their Privacy, Terms, et al on their website, I have no idea if these are current.
"Sounds like give away the base app and sell value adds. A perfectly legitimate business model."
As a user of the application, I don't know what they are doing - they did not communicate it. That's my point.
"Err.. did you miss the announcement of the IAP theme store? Because that's exactly what they're doing."
No, I saw that part of the announcement - that doesn't clear it up for me. It indicates that they'll be charging for add-on themes -- nothing else. It doesn't assure me that they'll NOT be selling my data (as an example).
Good luck to them now, on iPhone!
Their lack of an obvious business model is a bit worrying.
From my understanding, unless some really tricky and CPU-savvy math's in works, it probably would be more efficient to update language model on-device then push the change. Not only it would somehow avoid (not really, but at least obscure a bit) revealing the exact typed texts, but also lower the necessary server-side processing.
Sorry but I have to throw a [citation needed] on your comment to stop the spread of FUD.
Makes sense when you consider Swiftkey user base on android and how some iPhone users can become jealous of such a nice keyboard.
As Apple opened the iPhone to this market, the strongest brand on Android may have a easier start.
Edit
From what I gather they're not open source: I would be happier to see them go FOSS than free.