[Clicks Keyboard Cases Coming for Pixel, Moto RAZR and Samsung.]

Looks absolutely fantastic to me. Sorry, but landscape phones are dead. I've been there, I've really tried, apps simply do not work well in landscape.

We can cry all we like about Android design standards, how apps are supposed to work in all orientations. They don't. They're not going to. No-one will enforce it. The end.

I've currently got a Unihertz Titan with a third party ROM - which basically works, but apps again do not work well in its square screen. Plus of course an Fxtec Pro1 where the USB-C port no longer works reliably, so unless I can re-solder the port, and then add wireless charging to ensure the port isn't used it's currently useless.

Something mainstream which supports a keyboard even through a case sounds wonderful.

I've tried various Nokia keyboard phones, the Xperia Pro (2012) -  that was wonderful, and then keyboard phones became non mainstream. A hacked Photon Q failed after a while. The Priv was great until the hardware started to fail, but had a lot of teething problems, only solved due to it being produced by a large company. Both the Pro 1 and the Titan are boutique phones, and boy is it really obvious.

[Optimal software setup : keyword prediction, e-mail, etc?]

Yeah.. I'm missing the accents on longpress very slightly too, but it's not something I use frequently.

Just GBoard here. Languages and input : Gboard, Google voice typing (I have switched off assistant, can't stand it). Physical keyboard : Fxtec Pro1. English UK language. Google spell checker. No auto-fill service.

[Optimal software setup : keyword prediction, e-mail, etc?]

I may try SwiftKey later, but it is not currently installed.

[Optimal software setup : keyword prediction, e-mail, etc?]

It just isn't doing anything. Press finger on empty area of launcher, home settings, go into keyboard shortcuts, select 'Y', assign to WhatsApp.

I know the 'F' key is working because if I go into Messages and press it, I'm returned to the launcher screen.

Then hold down 'F', tap Y, and nothing happens.

[Optimal software setup : keyword prediction, e-mail, etc?]

I've not taken many phone calls so far, but so far call quality has been fine. Not tried video calls but don't see why they would be poor, the screen quality, speed, and connection are fine.

I've already disabled gestures as I find the Pie method of switching applications more annoying than anything else.

I'm pretty certain the Blackberry apps are available in Play Store for the Pro1 (and extracting it from my Priv would always be an option), but I'd rather purchase them if at all possible.

Shortcut definitely isn't working. If I hold it down it literally does nothing, but the key itself is functional in terms of producing a keypress to the system.

[Horrible finger print reader position fix]

I've deleted my fingerprint - might have sorted it!

[Optimal software setup : keyword prediction, e-mail, etc?]

I'm getting on ok with my Pro1, even more so after realising split screen mode allows apps that don't co-operate with landscape mode to work on half of the screen when in landscape. However, in other ways it's not as optimal as my Priv

Keyword prediction and swiping : this was a huge strength of the Priv. Is there a virtual keyboard that only supplies keyword suggestions when in landscape (keyboard open) mode? I could import the Blackberry keyboard probably, but would rather try other options/pay for an existing product. It would also be lovely to map something to 'delete word to the left'.

E-mail : What's the best client, I'm not a huge fan of Gmail. Tempted to purchase the Blackberry Hub+, and e-mail client, unless K9 or other options are much better these days.

As mentioned elsewhere the fingerprint sensor is a pain, I'd prefer to just disable it.

The hit boxes for the back icon appear to be too large, I frequently switch to other apps or go back a step when not meaning to.

Shortcut key : I can't get this to work. Use the launcher to select the application bound to a key. Go back to the launcher. Hold down the Fxtec 'F' key, press the key assigned to the app. Am I being daft?

Sometimes the rotation is either far too fast, or ludicrously slow - set clearly in landscape mode (keyboard open) and not switching to it.

Still, overall this isn't too bad, and once customised a bit I'm sure I'll be much more happy.

[Horrible finger print reader position fix]

Is there any way to just disable it completely? Either that or touch detection at the edge of the screen is distracting other software

[First Use Questions: Help Please]

Thanks for the pointer at removing gesture support, I'm not a huge fan of Android 9 so far. After turning off the assistant and removing gesture support it's a tad more usable.

[On the pre-production status]

I've received mine (S/N 1011). Ordered at the beginning of September after the request for payment came in (initial signup was in April).

I have a few mixed feelings about how well Android works with landscape keyboards these days, and a few niggles about the implementation, but Fxtec have delivered exactly what was promised on the website. 

[What's the highest serial number in the wild? Post yours if yours is higher]

1011 here.. QWERTY, UK.

[How will you use the Pro1?]

I'll be using it for everything, I hate using virtual keyboards. It's especially useful for e-mails, and IM conversations.

 

I might play a little nethack too, although it was quite awkward to play on the Priv, and there's some excellent mobile games out there which rarely use the keyboard.

[On the pre-production status]

I think you need to bear in mind that Fxtec prototypes are actually out both at tradeshows and being used by a minority of users. At the opposite end of the scale when I kickstarted the Sixense STEM system from a company with a proven track record (at that point) and they never showed anything more than 3D drawings, and the excuses came again and again. I was shocked when I actually got a refund from that.

 

If Fxtec were trying to scam us, they'd be delaying for more than a couple of weeks (for the very first pre-orders). I'm hoping for a great phone, after all the only keyboard alternatives are Blackberry KEY series, which can't be rooted.

 

My Priv is dying fast, though, so I am looking forward to a new phone in late October hopefully!

[Screen protector]

Any chance of a bundled screen protector? I know pre-orders ship with a case, which is welcome, but does this also include a screen protector?

 

I've always operated my Priv with a screen protector from day one. I didn't with my old Xperia Pro and the screen isn't in particularly decent condition!

 

Given the rarity of keyboard phones (after the Xperia Pro, I had a US Motorola Photon Q modified to add a SIM slot, then when that died the Priv was the only keyboard phone) I want to do as much as possible to protect it.

 

Really looking forward to returning to a landscape keyboard phone.

[Curved screen... please no!]

I don't really care either way. I have a Priv and do see the curved screen as a bit of an unnecessary gimmick, but it's not going to stop me buying the only landscape rootable Android phone on the market.