{"id":2395,"date":"2018-09-22T19:00:10","date_gmt":"2018-09-22T17:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/eskerahn.dk\/?p=2395"},"modified":"2023-04-30T09:43:33","modified_gmt":"2023-04-30T07:43:33","slug":"samsung-s8-with-a-physical-keyboard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eskerahn.dk\/?p=2395","title":{"rendered":"Samsung S8- with a physical keyboard, usage review"},"content":{"rendered":"

A few months ago I bought the keyboard<\/a> for an S8- And now I bought the phablet for it!<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

There are MYRIADS of reviews of the S8- and S8+ out there, e.g. here<\/a>, so this is not<\/em> my main focus here, but the total experience with the keyboard.<\/p>\n

I have been on the lookout for a replacement for my BB Priv for a while, and had my hopes up high for Livermoriumltd.co.uk<\/a> project of a Mod for the Moto Z series.
\nBut this project has unfortunately been cancelled<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

A new project is close to going public (expected in October), that should give us real landscape slider phone. \"\"<\/a>
\nBut as this is not going to give my the device in my hands for the next half a year, I looked for an intermediate solution….<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I accidentally stumbled on the S8- at a friend last weekend, and it was a really appealing device. Unfortunately I did not bring the keyboard. So took the chance and bought one.<\/p>\n

The S8- with a click on keyboard is actually a really good compromise in lack of a slider. When the keyboard is not attached you have a device in a protective case that looks and works like any other modern slab. (with two tiny notches at the side no one will notice)<\/p>\n

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And the keyboard part (less than 20g) slips easily into the shirt\u00a0 pocket.<\/p>\n

They even offer the ability to click it on the back. I do not think that I’m going to use that much. But<\/strong> perhaps in the summer with shorts and no shirt pockets it might become handy. No matter what, it is nice and thought through, that they give us the extra ‘storage’ option. ADD<\/strong>: Actually the option is rather handy in bed also.<\/p>\n

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ADD II<\/p>\n

They have actually thought more carefully than you might think at first about where<\/em> the two side notches are…
\nOne of them perfectly<\/em> matches the cut-out for the power button, so you can also store the keyboard clicked on the top back to protect the camera and fingerprint reader!!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Sure as it also protects the fingerprint reader, it is most suited for transportation (or if you use iris authentication, or other options only).<\/p>\n

As a bonus that particular placement also gives a nice slant, when the device is placed on a table.<\/p>\n

(Though it is not<\/em> so smart that it detects the placement and turns off the fingerprint system and switches to front camera only)<\/span><\/p>\n

For more on the keyboard technically, including a disassembled one, see here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Aeroplane mode and NFC<\/h3>\n

Oddly the keyboard ALSO works both in Aeroplane mode and with NFC turned off, so the communication with the case must be a dedicated circuitry.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Overall<\/h3>\n

The whole experience is that it works absolutely flawless as you would expect when used with English input & prediction language. \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Some reviews complains about the unusual long 18\u00bd:9 aspect ratio of the S8-, but the elongated device is actually a benefit in this constellation as the display with the keyboard ‘only’ goes down to 13:9, and that is not terribly far from a standard 16:9 slab.<\/p>\n

Note that you get a MUCH larger remaining area during input with the physical keyboard:<\/p>\n

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On the home screen they squeeze the grid-cell size, and crops top and bottom of the wall paper<\/p>\n

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The grid layouts 4\u00d74, 4\u00d76 and 5\u00d75 all works fine, but there is an odd bug that 5\u00d76 ends as 4<\/strong>\u00d76 hiding<\/em> the last column – but as they can handle both 5 columns and 6 rows just fine, this must simply be a mapping-bug somewhere – unlikely to be corrected though, as it is still there a year after release…<\/del>\u00a0\u00a0 ADD 2019-01-07,<\/em> 5×6 now also works, I stand corrected, they have fixed it silently along with one of the security updates. \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Differences with or without the keyboard attached, and a tiny issue with workaround<\/h3>\n

The only TINY issue I’ve experienced this far, is with an app the usually replaces the software keyboard area on the screen with other input options.<\/p>\n

I saw it in Textra (SMS\/MMS app), but I will expect other apps that replace the keyboard (temporarily) could have similar issues.<\/p>\n

In Textra when you want to add something (emoticons, media…) you can press “+” next to the text entry, and it is supposed to replace the virtual keyboard area with a content selection area. Here is how it looks without<\/em> the keyboard attached<\/p>\n

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With the keyboard the + fails, unless<\/strong> you press Alt-Sym on the keyboard first, to show the Samsung keyboard emoticons system, and then the Textra + will overrule that…<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

With the Alt+Sym pressed you get the middle above – and of course you can take emoticons from that directly. If you THEN press the + you get Textra’s options.<\/p>\n

If you do not press the Alt+Sym you will get this (note the + replaced by an x), but nothing becomes available<\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

Without the keyboard you -of course- get a much larger pure reading area, a smaller area during input, and a more spaced window for adding content, as the virtual keyboard is replaced rather than supplemented with emoticons or attachment selection…. Pros and cons…<\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

Key-layouts, special chars<\/h3>\n

It is bad for the learning curve that the alternative characters are NOT at the same letters on Samsungs virtual and physical keyboard…. (e.g. a dash on the Z<\/strong> on the virtual keyboard and on the I<\/strong> of the physical) Actually not even a single one is placed at the same letter!!
\nIt would have been clever if they offered an optional virtual layout matching the physical. That would have helped learning the positions quicker, and this is more important than other keyboards due to the the lack of backlight….<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Screen zoom<\/h3>\n

Note that I in the phablets Settings<\/em>, Display<\/em>, Font and screen zoom<\/em> have selected the “Screen zoom<\/strong>” to Large<\/strong>, and a small font.
\nHad I chosen medium or even small zoom, it would all look less cramped (and the virtual keyboard 3-6% less of the display height – and slightly less space between the key-rows).<\/p>\n

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Here is how it looks with Small<\/strong> zoom (same font size)<\/p>\n

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So if your eyes and fingers are up to see\/operate that, it will of course give you more available content on the display.<\/p>\n

If I do not<\/em> select Large, It is hard for me to distinguish some emoticons, so I need to pull myself together and get new glasses. But in the meantime: Large zoom….<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Oddities<\/h3>\n