Fitaly 5 SIP Review...

I've reviewed a number of new software input methods this year for Windows Mobile touchscreen devices. They have all generally used the standard qwerty layout that would be found on a hardware keyboard. Fitaly throws you for a loop because it uses a non-querty layout, and incidently the name is derived from the arrangement of letters on the keyboard (just like querty).  The fitaly layout was designed in the nineties for pencomputers, when Jean Ichbiah thought that writing with a stylus required a different type of keyboard. He designed the "fitaly" layout to optimize text entry on a touch screen to produce the same effect for one pointer that you are used to when you type with 10 fingers on a hardware keyboard. The keys you type on a qwerty keyboard with each finger can be reached with very little movement. A similar efficiency is possible with the pen on the Fitaly keyboard: you nearly always find the next likely letter on a key very close to the one you just tapped.

Visualizing words on the Fitaly keyboard makes tapping very fast--stylus travel is minimized. For instance, typing "contact" with one finger on a qwerty (the keys spread are all over the place), and on a fitaly keyboard (the keys are nearly in a straight line) is a good example of this principle..

Installation

I downloaded the trial cab file version from Fitaly.com and had no issue installing it. Your device will likely require a soft reset in order to set the new keyboard as the default input method.

Keyboard Features

Fitaly creates a compact text-entry space that can be hard to see on smaller screens. On my VGA i-mate, I had to practically put on my monacle (haha). Luckily, like Touchpal, the entire Fitaly keyboard can be resized, so that it's a little easier on the eyes. I like this feature and wish more soft input methods employed the ability to tweak the size without going to full-screen keyboard mode. Fitaly, much like other soft keyboards on the market uses direction-oriented sliding to activate different features, capitalize text, etc. The annoying iPhone-like animations are nowhere to be found, thankfully... 

The keyboard is a series of shaded panels from left to right. The far left panel includes escape, tab function, caps-lock, and a shortcut to the number panel.

The main letter panel (the 2nd line of which Fitaly derives it name...see above)  is obviously where you, well, type in text of course. It appears very simple, but offers a variety of pleasing hidden features. The keyboard supports common phrase expansion, and even the ability to execute commands. For example, selecting the letter "e" and sliding directly upwards (which produces a pop-up or preview of choices...see below) allows you to either capitilize the letter, pick a common phrase staring with the letter, or even launch pocket excel. Fitaly has a glossary of phrases, but many of the common texting phrases like "brb" (be right back), or "yt" (you there?)  are oddly missing. See example of preview panel below...

Common punctuation, and numbers are available in the punctuation panel and again sliding in the direction of the item desired (upper-left or lower right) will select the desired number or punctuation mark.

Even I make mistakes, and definitely made a ton with this new keyboard layout, so the right panel was probably my most used (the backspace key specifically). Keys here include backspace, enter, shift and arrows (can be changed to show accent keys).

From the sidebar, one can close the keyboard, access/change commands and phrase glossary (launches the Fitaly Editor), and access other keyboard options. Among the features that I really like in Touchpal (another SIP that I commonly use), is the ability to select the keyboard and drag it's size (make it larger), or change other options quickly with a gesture. These might be nice additions to Fitaly, but that's okay, because you can tweak these settings in the traditional way: via the the bottom key, which will launch a pop-up menu with the more advanced options.

Using Fitaly

Fitaly was a challenge to get used to at first. I sat there looking for keys that were right there under my stylus, but just not jumping out at me. Years of using a standard qwerty keyboard have conditioned me to look in the wrong places for keys. It's hard to break old habits, and I became frustrated very quickly (I did not type this review using Fitaly, as I have in previous keyboard reviews). After a couple of days, I did start to get a little better with it, and could see easily how for some text entry tasks, this design is superior to a standard layout. Considering that one is patient enough to practice and get used to it. If I were to offer advice to the developer on improvements, I would suggest adding more robust predictive text input. The expansion options are great, but almost nothing beats a good predictive test engine in terms of speed. Fitaly definitely has a unique angle in the regard of it's layout. As mobile devices get more powerful and replace the desktop someday, who is to say that Fitaly won't be embraced as the new defacto standard for both tablets and mobile devices? What?... It could happen. So, you better start getting used to it now, eh?

Fitaly 5 works on WM 5/6/2003SE touchscreen devices. Version 3 works on previous devices. Fitaly 5 can be purchased for $29 U.S. dollars, but our VIP members get a 15% discount, so go check it out. Trial link here...