Idle Hands – Review
By App Type: Uncategorized
Our rating: 
By: Idle Hands
Version #: 1.0
Date Released: 2008-11-03
Developer: Ravi korukonda
Price: 0.00
User Rating:
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This new application appeared in the App Store this morning and has the potential to be rather useful. IdleHands is
"A global iPhone virtual keyboard typing challenge."
Translation… you get to type something as quickly as possible, you get rated on your typing speed and accuracy, and you get compared to other people who are taking similar challenges.
First and foremost, this is an excellent way to get some practice at using the virtual keyboard on the iPhone or iPod touch. As I’ve noted elsewhere, I find that, after using the virtual keyboard for well over a year now, it is almost impossible for me to go back to a physical, tactile keyboard. I recently had the opportunity to try one of the new G1 Android phones and my final conclusion was that I would have loved this device prior to the iPhone, but now I couldn’t wait to return it.
The key to using the iPhone’s keyboard, in my opinion, is to do exactly what Steve Jobs suggested when he first introduced the device — trust the keyboard. If you simply type without thinking too much about what you’re actually typing, it’s amazing how well the self-correcting text is.
That’s where this little game comes in. In order to compete, you need to type as quickly as possible. Therefore, the goal is to type without thinking any more than you actually have to.
The application includes access to the "world typing challenge" for the particular month, typing exercises to increase your speed and accuracy, a list of your prior top scores, and some typing tips.
It’s a nice application and a good way to practice your typing skills. It’s especially nice because it’s free. (At least it is free as of the time of writing this post). The one thing I don’t like about it, however, is that you can only use the iPhone while holding it in portrait mode, and you can’t access landscape typing. In light of the fact that I am much quicker and accurate when I hold the iPhone in landscape and an increasing number of applications will let you do just that is a huge shortcoming. Then again, this application is currently free.
Quick Take
Value: It’s free so how could it be any higher?
Would I Buy Again: Sure
Learning Curve: zero for the application of medium to high for actually typing well on the iPhone
Who Is It For: anyone who has an iPhone or an iPod touch
What I Like: great free application
What I Don’t: no landscape typing
Final Statement: This is definitely worth grabbing even if you only use it for a short time
If you don’t do great at first, that’s OK. There are plenty of practice sessions and tips to help you get better. And you can enter into the monthly challenge as many times as you want. You can also save your scores locally and track your improvement from day to day.
Don’t let your hands be idle, become an expert iPhone user instead!
O U R T A K E . . .
