SwiftKey — the number 1 paid app on the Play Store and arguably the best keyboard for Android devices has received a major update today while also shedding its $3.99 price tag to become free.
The update adds a bunch of new features and enhancements to the keyboard and is perhaps the biggest update since its initial release.
First and foremost, the update introduces a new theme store for SwiftKey users where they can download and install new themes. While some themes are free to download, others will require users to shell out money from their pocket.
Besides the theme store, the SwiftKey devs have finally baked in support for over 800+ emojis for all Jelly Bean and higher running devices. Other changes include an improved word prediction engine and accurate gesture typing, an optional dedicated number row for phablet users, support for additional languages and more.
Below is the official change-log of the update:
SwiftKey Store Stocked at launch with over 30 brand new themes, the SwiftKey Store will be regularly updated with fun customizable content.
New default theme In addition to the new themes in the Store, SwiftKey Keyboard now features a clean new default theme design, ‘Nickel’, available free to all users. Nickel was designed to be a modernization and ergonomic improvement to SwiftKey’s ever-popular Cobalt theme.
Emoji Prediction SwiftKey’s trademark prediction technology learns and proactively suggests from more than 800 emoji which are most often used with specific words and phrases.
Number row Due to popular demand, this latest update introduces an optional number row for quick access without switching layouts or using long-press.
Improved prediction engine Investment in SwiftKey’s core technology is higher than ever with a host of prediction engine improvements, including better support for complex languages and multilingual typing. Capitalization has also been enhanced, as well as the technology’s overall learning ability.
New language support Support for Belarusian, Mongolian, Tatar, Uzbek and Welsh has been added.
New and improved flow trails This gesture-based feature has been improved for better visibility and faster, more accurate input.
If you had already paid for SwiftKey, you will be entitled to a free download of the “Premier Pack” of 10 themes worth $4.99 for showing your support to the company. Just make sure to head over to the SwiftKey Store once you install the update.
Some of these features including support for more themes were long requested by SwiftKey users, so it is nice to see the company finally adding them to the keyboard. The update is already live on the Play Store and can be downloaded from here.
