Yesterday Resco released a new version of their advanced text-input keyboard software; Resco keyboard Pro 6. Resco is known for their applications like Resco Explorer 2010, Resco Photo Manager 7, Resco Audio Recorder, and other great applications. With version 6 of Resco Keyboard Pro there are a numerous new features in this application. In this article I’ll go through the most important features of Resco Keyboard Pro 6.

Five Resco Keyboard Pro layouts

Layout 1: The QWERTY-layout

In the screenshots below I’ll give an overview of the standard HTC Touch Pro 2 keyboard and the Resco Keyboard Pro.

Looking at the differences between the two input methods there are only a few noticeable. The most important difference is that the up, down, left and right arrow aren’t available in the QWERTY-layout of Resco Keyboard Pro and that in Resco Keyboard Pro 6 the buttons are larger than the original HTC input method. The keyboard lay-out is only a little bit difference between these two input methods. But Resco Keyboard Pro 6 has a special feature: Swipe.

If you swipe to the left an other layout is being displayed. Which is screen 2: The symbol layout.

Layout 2: The Symbol-layout

The Symbol layout has two different pages:

The Symbol layout features a lot of special characters directly available on the keyboard. Not only characters like <, >, &, @ and $ but also the more advanced characters like [, ], ^, | are available in the 2nd page of the symbol layout. A really nice feature is that the bottom-left of the screen has the “aBc” key which brings you back to the QWERTY-layout within 1 single tab on that button.

Layout 3: The FX-layout

The FX-layout is a special layout which features 11 of text presets. If you tend to type a long sentence a lot, than you can set this sentence as a preset in the FX-layout. One single tab on one of the 11 text presets types the text completely. But not only text is being typed. This layout is called the FX-layout because it can also use simple formulas for example to enter the current date or time. Again, just like in the Symbol layout, the bottom-left button is the “aBc”-button which directly brings you to the QWERTY-layout

Layout 4: The Calculator

The calculator layout is something I personally like a lot, and which is a feature I use very much. It happens often that when I have to write an e-mail or text-message that I need a calculator. Resco Keyboard Pro 6 brings a calculator directly to the input screen, without opening a special calculator application. Calculations can be made and added to the e-mail or text-message directly.

Layout 5: Copy/Cut/Pate-layout

The Copy/Cut/Paste-layout is features only a few buttons, but a few very good ones to improve the usability of the device. Copy/Cut/Paste is a great feature and Resco Keyboard Pro 6 makes it via this layout very accessible. Also the arrowbuttons up, down, left and right which hadn’t seen yet are available in this layout. The last row brings all the other 4 layouts directly accessible with one tab on the button.

Secondary Language Support

In the Settings (which will be discussed in the next chapter) it is possible to set a primary and multiple secondary languages. These languages can be selected just like selecting any other keyboard.

Settings

The settings of Resco Keyboard Pro 6 are available as a separate application, but also when choosing “Options” while selecting any other keyboard. The settings page looks like this:

Most of these settings are self-explanatory.

• It’s possible to select Resco Keyboard Pro 6 as Default input method.
• Select a Primary Language for the language you write most of the time.
• Select multiple secondary languages for all the other languages you use to communicate
• The Tab Notification setting lets you set how to experience a tab. Via haptic feedback (Vibrate) or with several different sound-notifications
• The Button Preview setting lets you choose where the preview button is displayed in the screen (Disable, Above button, Middle of the screen)
• Skin: There are two different skins to choose; Default (Blue-ish) and Gray.

Speed

Another great feature of Resco Keyboard Pro is it’s speed. switching between the different layout’s works really well and has no lag. I’ve tested Resco Keyboard Pro 6 on the HTC Touch Pro 2, and my good friend Remo tested the application on the HTC HD2. We were both surprised about how well the keyboard works on the HTC Touch Pro 2 (with a resistive touchscreen) and also on the HTC HD2 (with the capacitive touchscreen).

Concluding thoughts and wrap-up

Resco Keyboard pro is a great advanced keyboard for windows phone users. The multi-layout design of Resco Keyboard Pro 6 is practical, easy to use and understand. Resco Keyboard Pro is a good solution for Windows Phone users who think the default input method isn’t sufficient, especially on the devices without hardware keyboard.
Read the full press release here.