Hello, could someone recommended a keyboard for android that is a bit smart in predictive typing? I used to like swiftkeybefore it was bought by microsoft. Not that swiftkey itself was much better but I was not so privy conscious at that time.

I recall swiftkey would require access to your texts and emails to train itself to your predictions.

Is there some similar foss keyboard where all the data then remains local?

I know swiftkey has an incognito mode, but then it stops learning from your typing.

    • Southern Wolf@pawb.social
      3·
      1 year ago

      Holy crap, I didn’t know about this fork before now. I kinda thought that OpenBoard was sorta… abandoned at this point, but seeing the improvements from this fork just made me go and try it again. Normally I just use GBoard with it’s connections disabled (CalyxOS, so that is possible to do in a secure way), but trying this out now to see if I can dump Gboard entirely.

    • SE_DeepFried@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      2·
      1 year ago

      So helpful, I’ve been trying to find a replacement for gboard for so long that has the gliding functionality, plus clipboard and easily accessible microphone for speach to text typing (using Futo).

      Can finally really consider replacing Gboard for good.

      Than you!

    • Ohh@lemmy.mlEnglish
      32·
      1 year ago

      Not sure I trust a random repo here. I dont have the skill to look through the code. In this regard I prefer - after all - gboard. The changes me login credentials get stolen by google are smaller than the chanches I am duped into installing a random keyboard from github. Just based on my threat model and my skillz.

    • simple@lemm.eeEnglish
      11·
      1 year ago

      Oh neat, I had no idea someone was upgrading Openboard. I thought it was abandoned.

  • Undearius@lemmy.ca
    5·
    1 year ago

    Florisboard

    The developer has hit a bit of a roadblock reworking a back-end system and is requesting help, but it has a great feature set already and is super customisable.

  • Pantherina@feddit.de
    5·
    1 year ago

    On GrapheneOS ironically you can just use whatever keyboard and disable network permissions. Android is great

      • Pantherina@feddit.de
        1·
        1 year ago

        Isnt that a root-only app?

        Because if it uses the internal VPN feature, EVERY system app can bypass it, and the Captive Portal app and others certainly do.

        Only GrapheneOS fixes that afaik, providing their own Servers for captive portal, connectivity check, SUPL proxy server (strips off data and Google still has to manage because monopoly)

      • Pantherina@feddit.de
        0·
        1 year ago

        Yes of course, but for example people that dont know the language yet and need suggestions. What do you mean by that?

        • Possibly linux@lemmy.zipEnglish
          11·
          1 year ago

          The problem with graphene is that is shamelessly promotes proprietary software. They have build tools to try to make it safe to run non-free programs (proprietary software) but that entirely misses the point.

          When you run non-free software you do not control the program, it controls you. There is no way to know what it really is doing and you can’t make changes to it or even see what it is doing.

          • Pantherina@feddit.de
            3·
            1 year ago

            I agree and also avoid using their Sandboxed Play Services. Their values are security and “making sense”. Its great to have the play services and store just working but as user apps. You can isolate them in a work profile without a problem.

            There is no alternative, their point is that microG is not FOSS but a hacked together version of the proprietary play services parts, it may be verrry insecure as it needs to run as system app and often doesnt get updates. And it still talks to Google and actually sends lots of data.

            Their approach is very economic. They ship regular play services, framework and store, but with a compatibility layer. This saves efford a lot and avoids breakages or blocking services (Aurora) over time.

            Literally everyone can run GrapheneOS, thats the point. You dont need to use the sandboxed Play, but if you need it, it works.

            It annoys me too that their preinstalled apps all suck.

            • AOSP filemanager is needed for portals ans USB, but it sucks
            • that gallery??
            • clock is old and damn blue
            • sms app uses very old runtime, showing a warning
            • aosp contacts

            They promote Vanadium and literally installing binaries from some random Github release.

            F-Droid basic uses the new libraries and should be preinstalled as user app. They have reproducible builds now.

            And I wont use Vanadium, as it doesnt support Firefox Addons. It may be hardened in some way but without Noscript and Ublock in my eyes no browser is really hardened if it can run every Javascript or block all, breaking 90% of websites.

          • Skimmer@lemmy.zip
            2·
            1 year ago

            The problem with graphene is that is shamelessly promotes proprietary software.

            How does GrapheneOS “shamelessly promote” proprietary software? I don’t think I’ve ever seen them do this. Maybe you’re referring to Sandboxed Play Services? But that isn’t “shamelessly promoted” or recommended, it isn’t even included in the OS, its just an optional app that can be installed for those who need it.

            They have build tools to try to make it safe to run non-free programs (proprietary software) but that entirely misses the point.

            I assume you mean Sandboxed Play Services again? That’s far from the only feature or benefit that GrapheneOS gives. They do much more work than just Sandboxed Play Services or making it safe to run “non-free” programs. They make it safe to run ANY program, regardless of license.

            • Possibly linux@lemmy.zipEnglish
              12·
              1 year ago

              You just proved that they promote proprietary software though. Like it or not they encourage users to not seek freedom which is something I can not promote

                • Good_Idea_Poorly_Realized@sh.itjust.works
                  2·
                  1 year ago

                  Agreed with Mr random. Graphene gives users options, it’s literally the cleanest phone install I’ve ever seen, there is no extra fluff installed. The users have to choose what they install. Full agency . We should celebrate more options for users.

    • Cethin@lemmy.zipEnglish
      5·
      1 year ago

      I tried thumb key and it just took too much effort to get used to. Not to mention it basically requires using one thumb instead of two, so it’s possibly slower.

      • aesopjah@lemm.ee
        7·
        1 year ago

        and also has no predictions, which really slows it way down since you have to type out each long word the whole way through instead of just getting it to the point of uniqueness and clicking the suggestion.

  • GenEcon@lemm.ee
    1·
    1 year ago

    I use Typewise. A swiss company, by far the best keyboard layout and they don’t use any data from what you type.

    • Zerush@lemmy.ml
      11·
      1 year ago

      There are good and save keyboards in F-Droid, but, well, the problem is Android itself. F-Droid is essential to obtain apps which respect privacy, but this only patch some holes when Google itself control the entire OS.

      Mobile phones and privacy is an oximoron, because of this, I never use my phone for important data.

      • Review apps on Exodus Privacy
      • Desactivate GPS/Localisation service, at least if you dont use it
      • Review permissions of all installed apps and set them to desactivate after use in the app settings
      • Disconnect WiFi when you go offline
      • Don’t use public WiFi, at least without VPN, even if it is only a free one (eg. like Calyx, FOSS, trustworthy, no account, encrypted, without datalimit, but only 1 server from the Calyx institute, anyway save enough for an occasional use, Techradar review).
      • Common sense (the user is the biggest privacy hole)