Skip to main content

Ginger Keyboard brings customizable themes to iOS 8’s keyboard

More developers are stepping forward with early looks at upcoming third-party keyboards for iOS 8. Today, Ginger Keyboard is going public with a keyboard that focuses on customization. The actual keyboard itself while used across iOS 8 does not add much new functionality, but many users will likely enjoy being able to completely customize the design of their keyboard.

Above a video of the keyboard in action.

While the keyboard extension itself across iOS does not add much functionality across the system, the keyboard is integrated with the Ginger app. The Ginger app, which can be quickly accessed via a key on the keyboard across the system, includes a spell checker as well as technology to find translations, synonyms, and definitions. Like the native Apple iOS keyboard, Ginger Keyboard includes a QuickType-like text prediction feature.

Here’s a closer look at the panel for building your own keyboard themes:

The developers tell us that a feature to use any photo of your choice as a keyboard theme is coming in the near-future. You can also share keyboards with other Ginger Keyboard users, which is neat. The app/keyboard will be free to download via the App Store approximately a week after iOS 8’s launch. iOS 8 launches later this month and includes features like HealthKit, HomeKit, Touch ID access for developers, and iCloud improvements in addition to the keyboard extension feature.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Comments

  1. devanealex - 10 years ago

    This looks terrible.

  2. Antonym - 10 years ago

    Steve Jobs would have never approved that. It’s like winamp in the early 2000s.

  3. Billy Graham - 10 years ago

    it’s a keyboard downgrade… nice to have that option though…

  4. Hope their keyboard get rejected because of the ugly UI… Such customisable keyboards are rather steps backward then forward

    • robertvarga79 - 10 years ago

      They make good chance to be rejected because of the UI alone, such is detailed in the rules for devs!

  5. Robert Nixon - 10 years ago

    They couldn’t have come up with better examples? Holy hell that’s ugly.

  6. Jay Shelley - 10 years ago

    Sleeeeeeezy! This is the kind of foul stench what makes android the appalling mobile operating system of the two! I wish Steve Jobs was here today to ban hideous apps and extensions like this!

  7. Hey… Lame.

  8. oreomuncher - 10 years ago

    *Pukes a little in mouth*

  9. kplayaja - 10 years ago

    Disgusting. This is what I was afraid of.

  10. jerryfromcan - 10 years ago

    Can I have numbers and letter on the same screen? That’s all I really want…

  11. o0smoothies0o - 10 years ago

    This is EXACTLY why you can’t let idiots customize their devices. Imagine what a potential Apple customer would think if they saw someone using this keyboard. Every single jail broken theme looks nearly or more awful than this. PRAISE Apple for not allowing much customization! Apple needs to reject that long before it becomes an available option.

  12. Press Continue Podcast - 10 years ago

    I got excited about being able to customize the boring keyboard without a jailbreak but then I watched the video and the keyboard seems so slow and unresponsive. I’ll at least try it when it comes out.

  13. Benny Costello - 10 years ago

    Ick! No wonder this was never allowed before…

  14. Ben Klaiber (@BBK2009) - 10 years ago

    Holy hell, that’s a lot of fugly. Wtf would anyone seriously want this?

  15. Adam Ehrlich - 10 years ago

    I think that keyboard is awesome! The images they’re showing there are just examples that the author wanted to show off.

    The great thing about customization is that you can make the keyboard anyway YOU want it to look. That means retro computer geeks get the circuit board theme here, and Steve Jobs wannabees can customize their keyboard to look like the stock apple keyboard. The options are endless if you just open your mind a bit… If Apple opened their walled garden, can’t you open yours?

  16. EW NO! Steve Jobs would never approve of that.

  17. einavlaviv76 - 10 years ago

    Are you serious people? First try it out then whine… I can’t be without it, and now my husby who uses iPhone can get it too. Smells like comments planted by competitors? Ha ha. Anyway check this out http://www.gingersoftware.com/keyboard-app/iphone-ios8

  18. Bob Griffiths - 10 years ago

    Well …ITS about Time… the OEM Apple Keyboard and that is the main reason I was going to buy an android when I buy my next phone….

    Maybe this is not to your or my liking BUT someone sure will have one that suits my own needs…I too want a split keyboard like I had on my original smartphone (and EVO 4G) split screen with numbers etc ..

    Maybe… just maybe… I will stick with an iPhone when I buy my ext phone…(up until today I knew I would not !…

    Bob G

Manage push notifications

notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications
notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications