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TT9 is an app that allows you to use T9 to type.
For context, by default these phones use multi-tap for their keyboards. Using Multi-tap you tap a key with a letter you want, and cycle through assigned characters assigned to that key by additional taps until you get to the desired character. For example the “9” key is assigned to “w”, “x”, “y”, and “z”, to enter “y” you press “9” three times and then press “enter”.
In contrast, T9 is a predictive text system. You type an entire word by pressing each key with a desired letter once, after finishing the entry T9 will predict the word based on the letter arrangement possibilities. Using the D-Pad you can cycle through options and it will remember which words you use most for better prediction. It can learn your word preferences, and you can add your own words and slang into the dictionary on the fly. This makes typing a lot faster, and the app allows you to cycle back to multi-tap mode when needed through a keybind.
Usage
You can tap “1” to access punctuation, and you may tap “0” for a space or to scroll for various symbols, double tap “0” for a period. In predictive mode you can hold the number keys down to input the number. Punctuation is considered in predictions as well so you do not need to manually insert an asterisk, just press the punctuation key and it will add it to the prediction.
Recommendations
It is recommended to bind additional functions through TT9 in order to make typing easier. Keybindings done through TT9 do not overwrite existing functions.
An example setup:
Cycle input modes - Call key
Binding a key to cycle typing modes is highly recommended in order to avoid having to manually swap modes in the app. This will allow you to use, multi-tap, predictive, as well as number mode.
Add Word - Star (hold)
When using predictive mode it is ideal to be able to easily add new words to your dictionary on the fly. With the function bound you can cycle to multi-tap, type the word manually, and then press the function to add it to your dictionary for multi-tap to predict the next time.
Shift - Star
Shift will toggle the capitalization of a word in predictive mode, and lower/uppercase in multi-tap. In predictive mode you can cycle between lower case, first letter capitalized, and all capitalized. This can be cycled while typing a word.
Backspace - Pound key
The built in “back” button can on occasion kick you out of typing, or leave the app. Due to this, it is good to use a specific key for backspaces in typing specifically.