Just Type: more than just search [webOS 2.0] 68
When webOS 2.0 lands later this year, it’s going to bring with it some major enhancements to Universal Search. So major, in fact, that Palm is changing the name to Just Type to reflect that there’s more to it than just search. So what exactly does that entail?
As we surmised earlier this month, app developers will now be able to build plug-ins for Just Type that will enable users to search just about anything. Not only can search queries be added for websites (as we’ve seen done through homebrew), apps can now register with Just Type so that users can launch a search of info in that app directly from the webOS card view. Be it checking a medication in ePocrates or looking up a friend’s Facebook profile, the possibilities of extension of search in Just Type are wide open.
But like we said, search isn’t all there is to Just Type in webOS 2.0. The other, and if you as us more exciting, addition is that of Quick Actions. This is the reason behind the name change, and it’s one that will change a lot of user behaviors. Quick Actions allow users to trigger actions other than search from Just Type. As a hypothetical example, one could punch up a 140-character pithy comment and post it to Twitter without even opening an app. Or you could jot a quick note-to-self and add it to your Tasks list, all from Just Type.
More so than the expandable search options of Just Type, Quick Actions blows open the doors for a new level of seamless multitasking... essentially Quick Actions in webOS 2.0 will allow you to do things in apps without ever having to launch the app. We could go on all day about the possibilities of Quick Actions (compose email, set alarms, create calendar appointments, Facebook status updates, Foursquare check-ins, send text messages, update your blog, etc), but we won’t. Think of it this way: if it’s something you have to type to accomplish, then Quick Actions could enable you to do it faster than ever before.
There’s something else interesting to note about Just Type: a search box has been added to card view in webOS 2.0 (it says simply “Just Type”). This new permanent placement serves one very defined purpose: it drastically increases discoverability. Many of us can attest to running into a normal webOS user that wasn’t even aware of the just start typing existence of Universal Search (or the just start typing search in any manner of apps). By putting the Just Type search box in such a prominent position, Palm is ensuring that one of the best features of webOS doesn’t go unused by those who would benefit the most.
There’s a second and more intriguing possibility behind the permanent placement, and it’s something we touched on in our overview of webOS 2.0’s newly announced features: “just start typing” is impossible if your device doesn’t have a keyboard. While we would love for Palm to figure out a way to release a webOS slate with a keyboard, we aren’t too optimistic of that actually happening. Without a keyboard, the aforementioned slate would have no way to launch a Just Type search if there weren’t a search box to tap on and trigger the appearance of a virtual keyboard.
Enough speculation, let’s get down to it. Just Type with Quick Actions is poised to change the way we use our phones, and most certainly for the better. We want to know: what searches do you want to see added to Just Type, and just how do you see yourself using Quick Actions?
68 Comments
Just type needs to extend to the whole set of PIM data (ie: Calendar, tasks, etc...). Of course, if this was the case, DB retrieval times would need to drastically improve (otherwise 'just type' would be really slow). Perhaps there could be a config screen allowing a user to pick what is (vs. not) included in the search.
Great news all the same.
Why would it be impossible for a slate device to work with the "Just Type" feature? A user simply has to tap on the always-visible bar at the top, prompting the soft keyboard to display and the user can, ahem, just start typing. Also, a slate device could have a dedicated "keyboard" button (of the capacitive or physical variety). Seems like a simple enough solution to me.
I think you typed this article too fast without thinking, Derek.
I think you read this article too fast, as Derek clearly says that "just start typing" would not have worked without a keyboard, hence the need for the permanent placement (which allows "just type" to work just fine). And as mentioned in the other article, he hints that perhaps this is a sign that keyboard-less hardware is in the works.
What if I just double tapped the gesture area to bring up a virtual keyboard, kinda would make that just type box completely un-necessary.
But how would a newbie know to double tap? They wouldn't.
Discoverability is HUGE.
The visible Just Type addition to cardview seems like such a useability no-brainer. I've only within the last month or two gotten into using Universal Search for launching apps and web browsing etc (I've had my Pre almost since the Bell Launch day), without a visual reminder that it was there I just never thought to use it but now I rely on it (I use it instead of the multi-page patch, it doesn't matter how many apps are on a page now).
The only concern I'd have about it is the vertical space eaten up on a vertically-challenged-screen device like the Pixi, that's going to shrink cards even more now.
"Without a keyboard, the aforementioned slate would have no way to launch a Just Type search if there weren
all of this screams new hardware. 1) sprint and hpalm are not stupid. Waiting for the epic to drop before releasing data was very smart. Can not risk getting lost in the hype or hurting your best pushers other biz. By waiting, they allowed sprint to cash in on the epic once the release date buzz drops I am sure everyone will be more open to talking about the next palm phone. 2) now way my stock launch day palm can do all of that stuff with out the 1ghz that they claim I should not have installed. New hardwear on the way folks
side note: samsung phones suck, I have never had one that was worth the money. Poor service after purchase and updates are few and far between
Random fact:
The first color "PDA phone" in the USA was the Samsung i-300, running Palm OS, available on Sprint. It was about the size of an Android phone nowadays, and it had a pull-out antennae, too, for comic effect :)
I think the new edition of this is brilliant nd will be very usueful.. I just hope I dnt have to wait forever to get this since I'm on verizon =/
all of this screams new hardware. 1) sprint and hpalm are not stupid. Waiting for the epic to drop before releasing data was very smart. Can not risk getting lost in the hype or hurting your best pushers other biz. By waiting, they allowed sprint to cash in on the epic once the release date buzz drops I am sure everyone will be more open to talking about the next palm phone. 2) now way my stock launch day palm can do all of that stuff with out the 1ghz that they claim I should not have installed. New hardwear on the way folks
side note: samsung phones suck, I have never had one that was worth the money. Poor service after purchase and updates are few and far between
I'm confident our Sprint Pres WILL be able to handle Just Type just fine. Once CSS transitions are introduced and a lot of the heavy lifting is removed from the CPU onto the GPU, like on the iPhones, the Pre should be just as quick as the 3GS.
Sounds pretty kewl. I can see some great possibilities. Just type and it is done!
This is great! I actually suggested this functionality be added in a forum post just two weeks weeks after the Pre was first announced at CES:
http://forums.precentral.net/palm-pre/176655-universal-search-just-begin...
WebOS 2.0 is looking sweet, now we just need some new hardware that is equally sweet!
I'd love to see Just Type used for
- 4sq Shouts simultaneously to Twitter & FB
- ePocrates drug look-up
- Grooveshark searches
- NaNPlayer searches
- Pandora Stations
- Quick-Action to launch "App Suites" or "Hands" to keep the card metaphor: I'm thinking Nav + Trapster in the car. Or FB + Twitter + Digg + Messaging for as a "Social" hand.
- Some sort of Latitude like pinging to locate friends
That's just off the top of my head. My goodness, this really could be something big!
"Hands" -- what a great idea. Reminds me of the homebrew ModeSwitcher app.
Man, all this new functionality is getting me excited for 2.0 and the future of Palm. Some other commentors noted above that the "just type" bar in card view may just be a matter of increased visibility. I've had my Pre for about 6 months, and I've only recently started using Universal Search for bringing up commonly used things. It makes a lot of sense to add it visibly to the card view so every user knows it's there, while adding awesome functionality. Android has it's own dedicated search button, so this may be a ploy to get some casual Android users to look into Palm and webOS and see some familiarity.
Also, it could just be that they'll be slapping a virtual keyboard on the Roadrunner. Personally, I'd love to see a physical keyboard with a great native software keyboard. A man can wish...
Yeah, Android has manual input and voice search depending how long you depress the search button.
so I would say thats a screen shot from new hardware and from the looks of it.. it should be a 3.7 - 4" screen!! check it out for yourself. open cards for yourself on your pre.. check out space where the just type bar should be... not enough space for it there... haha :p
Screen resolution has nothing to do with screen size.
Now that's just not true!
Resolution is pixel/length (or could be pixel/length^2, if you prefer to count your pixels as boxes, instead of points on a line). Thus, screen size is exactly as important as number of pixels when calculating resolution. A 640x480 phone at 4" has exactly the same resolution as a 320x240 screen at 2", all other things being equal. The implication of this is that, for a fixed sized pixel, resolution is independent of screen size. However, for a fixed screen size, resolution increases with the square root of the number of pixels. That way, Apple can claim a "retina" display with only 960x640 pixels, but individual pixels are plainly visible on your 1080P TV (1920x1080 pixels), which has many, many more pixels, from the same one foot viewing distance.
It's the same reason why a 12 MP camera only looks a little better than a 5 MP camera. Forgetting about optics for a minute, to look "twice as good" as 5 MP, you'd need 25 MP, because resolution increases with the square root of pixels. A 12 MP camera looks only about 50% sharper than a 5 MP camera.
However, the point I assume you were trying to make that you can't tell how big a screen is by knowing only the number of pixels is absolutely correct.
I hope that Just Type box won't be up there at all times. That means that the cards are now smaller which sux.
is that email showing off spellcheck?
G.O.O.D catch. It certainly could be.
It is indeed spellcheck.
Brilliant deduction with the Just Type and the touch screen only possibility of the next WebOS device.
I am hoping that we will be able to make the search bar disappear. I mean, I'm sure we will have that ability if Palm doesn't include it. I LOVE PATCHES
I hope we get counters on the Message icon and Email icon when its on the launch bar (if that's what you call it.)
So if I go to card view the notifications for those go away and I can see the numbers over their respective icons. The Facebook and Twitter apps as well. Because it'd be nice to pull the bar up while in an app already, like the PDF or Web, and have those icons floating and displaying those numbers.
I'm excited for the future of WebOS!
I agree...I prefer to have an uncluttered "home screen" with Switcharoo running my background slideshow changing every hour. I like the idea of Just Type, I just want to be able to turn off the search bar on the homescreen.
is that email showing off spellcheck?
is that email showing off spellcheck?
Sorry, not sure why it posted so many times.
it sure looks like it too me :) I freakin hope so
oh, and I love that applications like Email will have their cards overlapping instead of taking up more that that one card space. Awesome tiny change that will be very useful, especially in the Browser, Contacts, and hopefully Calendar. I can't wait to hear more about 2.0, I'm guessing it will be a major enhancement, more than most 1.0 upgrades I've experienced on my previous OS's.
hopefuly this just type fixes my verizon pre keyboard issues. looking forward to this feature.
"Without a keyboard, the aforementioned slate would have no way to launch a Just Type search if there weren
Or maybe they just don't like widgets and it has shit to do with Android? iOS doesn't have them either. Hey, maybe they picked webOS because if they want a bunch of icons on their screen, they can swipe up and there they are! So if you want widgets....well.
Ya know, it is people like you and all the others that make people stay away from webOS. Why not provide choice to users? I mentioned in another post somewhere of a buddy who switched from a Pre to an EVO. He really liked the "clean screen" approach that the Pre had, so guess what? He has no widgets on his home screen on his EVO.
If you don't like widgets, don't use them. If you do, then do.
All you guys are starting to sound like Apple phanboys -- "we know how you should work and we will make the best choice for you".
I know this is not HPalm's position as they obviously allow (but do not support) patching and homebrew. Nor do I necessarily think it is yours either, but I get sick of the people saying "If you want widgets, get an Android -- BYE!".
The problem with widgets is what happens when they throw the widgets in the space. Will they fuck up the UI because they're going to assume people have a bunch of crap on their screen? Are we going to have to all move to tablet size phones so the widgets can look decent? You don't just say, "Wheee, here's a widget, have fun guyz!!!!" like it isn't going to impact the rest of the OS and hardware. At a certain point, you need to have an honest conversation with yourself about what you want and need and then get the phone that has it. NOT doing so is the sign of true fanboyism.
Just Type eh... I'm no power user (I stopped using homebrew 'cause it was a pain to uninstall/reinstall each OS update) but I can come up with a few ideas (some of this is thinking ahead to a tablet/pad appliance):
Search ebooks, including my annotations; offer search matches as I type (ala web browsers) categorized by source with each source collapsible (I might have a source in mind already); perform basic algebraic operations and return an answer (either directly or open a calculator and load the stack); offer the option to search secure database storage of my choosing (with subsequent password entry, of course); probably also want submit to sms, email, mobile docs, blogs, notes.
But to make it all it can be we need MORE INFRASTRUCTURE... The ability to add metadata to photos, videos, audio, etc. would really kick Just Type up a notch
You don't have to uninstall/reinstall every OS update. After an OS update, which aren't very often, you open Preware (1 tap), hit "Updates" (2 taps), and then "Update all" (3 taps). You have given up on making your phone 1000 times better because you don't want to have to tap your finger 3 extra times after an OS update that happens what, 4 times a year? Your loss.
You must have given up on Homebrew a long time ago because manual updates are ancient history (like 6 months ago or so ;-) ).
There's 3 kinds of Homebrew:
1. Kernel
2. Patches
3. Apps
ad 1) If you use the UeberKernel for Overclocking - then yes - you still have to take care of that with every new webos release.
On the plus side my Pre is running at frikkin twice the original CPU frequency - that's almost like getting the successor pone for free. Having to uninstall/install-next-version-after-upgrade is a small price to pay every couple of months.
ad 2) Patches have gone automatic months ago. It depends on the individual patch dev if they work right after release - but you don't have to do a thing. If they don't get updated you are no worse off then not having them at all.
ad 3) Apps are basically like Catalog apps - they might need an update - and the dev will make one in time or not - but the same is true for the app catalog apps that also need to get updated.
UberKernal Auto updates just like everything else.
What about after a trip to the Doctor?
and 4) Themes - these are skins that change your background image, color palette and/or icons. They do not play as nice as the other 3 types of homebrew items. So be sure to uninstall these before any OS updates.
This is the sort of news we've been craving for, finally something to get excited about after all the doom and gloom. I am looking forward to seeing how the homebrew community develop these features even further..
Beyond the extensibility, isn't this basically what the command line patch does now? I love what this patch gives me and the speed benefits. I really look forward to having this on steroids.
The Command Line patch is how I use my phone. It stopped working and I'm suffering without it.
I've been thinking the same thing ever since the announcement of these "new" features, though the added functionality vis-a-vis 3rd party apps is certainly welcome. I love UCLS, and it's nice to see this functionality integrated into the OS. I wonder if UCLS had any impact on the development of these features...
I think that Palm is finally heading in the right direction. The brand "Just Type" is something that will stick in the minds of viewers when they see Palm commercials or read Palm ads. It's catchy and it sound much more hip than Universal Search. Not only that, it is direct and to the point and the name itself gives directions to the user. Now, if we can just do something to get Palm to dump that cheesy background.
I'm pretty much speechless.
This is very nice. At the same time, I hope that the extra visual dodads can be easily turned off, for expert users. One of the things I like about the Pre is the elegance of the design, and I hope that HP (not known for beautiful design, let's be honest) has the good sense to respect design as a distinguishing selling point for its Palm phones.
Far more useful would be widgets with all of these functions. I'd rather not have to remember all of these commands, etc. in order to be able to do things. Sure, I can "just type" but I have to remember what to type in order to do what. This is precisely the reason I don't use the homebrew patches that perform these functions now. Widgets, in general, are the biggest, most useful feature webOS is missing, in my opinion.
Also, I much prefer the iPhone method of swiping back a screen or pressing the home key in order to bring up the search screen. I tend to agree that adding a similar function such as swiping back in the gesture area or double-tapping the gesture area while in card view is a much more elegant solution than polluting the card view with a search bubble at the top.
I wonder why our good ol universal search never allowed to trigger browser bookmarks. It's annoying to view your daily websites by opening the browser, scrolling to the right bookmark and tapping it. Would be much easier to type the beginning of the site's name or bookmark information and just have the bookmark card presented for tapping.
Anyways, loving webOS 1.x very much and am very certain that 2.0 will kick ass.
If you add a web page to your launcher (web pull-down menu -> page -> add to launcher) you can then access it through universal search.
So if I want Pre Central i just type 'pr' then tap the icon that pops up.
No need to open the web app, ever :)
C A L E N D A R - Search!
...and to get an idea what else is possible with JustType, just look at [PATCH] Universal Search Command Line (USCL):
http://2.gp/bh5t
Some great new features to speed up usage even more but is this going to make the palm more power hungry? Still, I think it's a small price to pay for the extra functionality this is going to provide.
I am really not looking forward to having to explain Quick Actions to my wife.
Sounds good to me! Finally some type of news. I also prefer an uncluttered home screen it would be a nice if when in card view there is a gesture that allows the Just Type option and when done you can just swipe it off the screen like when you delete a text or email.
I'm guessing it'll hit Verizon customers 2 months after everyone else
Saw someone comment about keyboard issues with VZ Palm. a couple weeks back my speaker crapped out so VZ sent me a replacement (refurbished) unit under warranty. Unfortunately that phone had severe keyboard issues with repeats and missed characters so I had that replaced. The next phone had a bad Oreo problem so I returned it yet again and now I finally have one that works except now the keyboard is working better than I have ever experienced. I never get missed or repeated characters now and I can type much faster than I ever have before. It's even better than my wife's Pre so she is thinking about having her's replaced under warranty too. That's 5 units I've tried with different keyboard performance.
What about a voice activated search like some Android phones have?
ATTENTION PALM: please simply make a virtual keyboard toggle on and off by double tapping the gesture area (as others have suggested, and I think 3rd party virtual keyboards already do!)
Also, what about auto correct for webos 2.0?
No doubt in my mind that new hardware is coming with WebOS 2.0
but my concern or question is: Which carrier will it be on? I hope Sprint gets first dibs. However, I think it would be best for Palm to release it to multiple carriers all at once. Now that would be scale.
Ironic, this sounds like it is all coming back to the BAT files that old MS-DOS machines had. Could run files or execute commands.
just can't get away from text based input!
So many cool new features... I can't wait for the new phone. The just type with Quick Actions is just too good...
They need to make a commercial asking if people have always wanted to do this, or do that, and then say, "There's a Phone for that".
I think it would be great to be able to type the name of a song or artist and have a 'Just Type' quick action that says "play this track" if it matches one of your MP3s.
Also I'd like to type 'brew' and have it make me a cup of tea.
Well, this phone comes pretty close. After the introduction click "Explore". After the short animated overview, click "Coffee Brewer"
http://www.pomegranatephone.com/
Palm-o-granite, yeah!
YouTube search! So I can type in one of my videos and watch it pop up on the quickness for friends to watch & laugh.
my YouTube is zerro69 type,search,click on my account,watch,rate,comment & share!! :D
*Thank*You*