this post was submitted on 15 Nov 2023
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Privacy

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Smart android keyboard respecting privacy? (lemmy.world)
submitted 9 months ago by BeatTakeshi@lemmy.world to c/privacy@lemmy.ml
16 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

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.

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[–] markkdark@lemmy.ml 0 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I use a openboard + native library for flow typing. I was long time gboard user but open board is now best for me. https://github.com/Helium314/openboard

[–] Tramdan@sh.itjust.works 0 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Do you know where we can get the apk?

[–] 22rw@feddit.de 0 points 9 months ago

On the releases tab of the project ;D

[–] nfsu2@feddit.cl 0 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Unexpected keyboard, was meant for termux but can be used for daily use. It’s difficult to get the habit of key positions though.

[–] BeatTakeshi@lemmy.world 0 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I tried it, but couldn't find basic stuff like how to type áàâ from the letter a... Also no predictions

[–] nfsu2@feddit.cl 0 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Here, its with the secondary functions of letter D, J and N. Yeah no predictions is not a feature but I like to scroll trough text with the space bar and delete backwards. Plus if you hold a key it keeps going like a regular keyboard which I like. Overall I think its a good option for composing emails if you get the hang of it.

[–] 22rw@feddit.de 0 points 9 months ago

The first two features mentioned are also available with OpenBoard (the Helium-Something fork) afaik

[–] elmicha@feddit.de 0 points 9 months ago (1 children)

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

I'm not a Microsoft fan, but I use SwiftKey anyway. It cannot read your SMS and mails. It asks for a few permissions, but you can deny them all. Also you don't need a Microsoft account. I guess if you use Microsoft for your mail, SwiftKey can read your mails then.

[–] BeatTakeshi@lemmy.world 0 points 9 months ago (1 children)

If I'm not wrong, if you don't connect with an email you lose the personalised dictionary function, which I think (?) is what is used to the customised predictions. I might try it again, maybe they changed how they work. Probability unsubstantiated: after it was bought by microsoft, I had found the predictions much less efficient, which was another reason back then to uninstall it

[–] elmicha@feddit.de 0 points 9 months ago

I think (but don't know) that you still get a personalised dictionary, but it will not be transmitted to a new phone or second device.

[–] SomeBoyo@feddit.de 0 points 9 months ago

openboard

[–] Pantherina@feddit.de 0 points 9 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 0 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Or you could just use software that is actually free/libre. Graphene os misses the point

[–] Pantherina@feddit.de 0 points 9 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 0 points 9 months ago (1 children)

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 0 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months 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.