Everything Motorola Q

QCaps Review

For many, typing on the Moto Q represents an improvement over their previous mobile phone. QCaps is a simple, yet powerful software utility that looks to change the way you'll type on your Q.

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What It Does

QCaps allows you to type faster by generate capital letters, ability to end sentences by double tapping and more.

Setup and Installation

Installation of QCaps took only a few seconds and I chose to install on my device meaning it would be the internal memory of the Moto Q versus my removable media card. The QCaps utility is only 60k, so will not have much of an impact on the internal memory of the Q. I selected the Start button and quickly located the Q icon for QCaps. To enable QCaps, you either press the right soft button MENU and select 'QCaps Enabled" or simply double tap the Q key. This is helpful if you'd like activate QCaps from within a different application. QCaps will also notify you with a quick pop-up message if the utility is turned on or off. From this menu button, you can also select from a selection of included "Presets" that automatically configure the settings of QCaps. Among the configuration settings are:

• Delay to Trigger QCaps: milliseconds until QCaps will display an option to capitalize.
• Character Cycle Delay: when BlackBerry mode is not enabled, this delay sets the time between QCaps displaying a capitilization option to display of alternate characters.
• Double Tap Delay: The amount of time you must double-tap the space bar for auto sentence completion.

The second set of preferences apply to the real core features of QCaps.

• BlackBerry Mode: This enables QCaps to do it's thing, but holding a letter will only result in a capital letter. Turning off this option allows for other alternate characters.
• Use 2 Spaces for Auto Sentence Completion
• Ignore Keystroke on Device Wake

How Does It Work

I tried various settings to test the utility, but opted for the defaults. Changing the presets simply changes the "milliseconds" for the various delay settings. It does not change what I call your "primary" settings. The second group of preferences allow you to customize QCaps to your liking. While only three settings, they have a major impact on the usability of the Moto Q. If you set QCaps to BlackBerry mode, then simply holding the particular key will result in a capital letter. Not having ever used a BlackBerry, I found this to be a great feature. If you turn off BlackBerry mode, then holding a key results in a pop-up menu. If you let go immediately, then the resulting letter will be capitalized. Continuing to hold the key will result in the pop-up menu rotating through the alternate characters. I found BlackBerry mode to be best for my use and it drastically improved my ability to type quicker. The developer claims it makes for easier one-handed use and I must agree. The width of the Moto Q can make one handed use difficult and particularly when trying to capitalize a letter such as "A" that is at the far left of the keyboard. This requires you select the UP arrow at the bottom right of the keyboard and then stroking the A. With QCaps enabled, you simply hold the 'A' key. One handed use on the Q could be improved if the Moto Q itself were not as wide, but that's a hardware issue.

QCaps also includes a setting for sentence completion. Tapping the space bar twice quickly will automatically add a period followed by a space allowing you to quickly start typing your next sentence. Not only is it easier to find and tap the space bar twice, the process felt very natural and resulted in reduced keystrokes.

Lastly, you can select an option to "Ignore Keystroke on Device Wake". I always tend to hit the back button to wake up my Q and found it extremely frustrating to be back in my previous screen or application. Checking this option in QCaps allows me to press any key to wake up the Q and it remains on the screen where I left my Q. This is a small, but very excellent feature that should be incorporated in the operating system.

Help

Selecting the right soft button while in QCaps allows you to select the Help section. Though a very easy utility to use, QooLApps has provided all the documentation needed to get the most from the app.

Conclusion

QCaps is a simple, yet powerful utility that drastically improves the usability of the Moto Q. Once installed, using QCaps felt like a very natural extension to the operating system. It is non-obtrusive, yet improves upon the Moto Q. Typing with QCaps is a pleasure and the addition of the 'Ignore Keystroke on Wake" was a perfect example of a small, yet invaluable feature. If you do a fair amount of typing on your Moto Q, then I highly recommend you test-drive QCaps.

QCaps retails for $14.95 is available at the Everything Q Software Store.