Just released out of beta, Thumb Keyboard 4.1 has been updated with a lot of new tools and layouts to personalize your typing experience to the greatest potential on your phone, or your tablet. I tested the keyboard on the Motorola Xoom and the Samsung Captivate to ensure that it lives up to its claim: And it certainly does. Thumb keyboard does not sport only the split keyboard design but a normal keyboard layout as well. With a gingerbread theme on it (comes with the application) you can’t even tell a difference. It performs just like it and you can switch between the ergonomically designed split and the normal with just a tap of the settings key.

(Split Landscape Keyboard)

(Split Portrait Keyboard)

(One Hand Keyboard, left side of screen is dead zone to hold onto)

(And the full size keyboard, notice the push pin on the keyboard, that is the one-click text enter to remember websites, email, or passwords)

Where the application really stands out though is the tablet interface; the “10inch/9inch” tablet interface which is included is completely customizable like the rest but also separates the keys so you can type without having to stretch your hands or lay the tablet down to type efficiently on the keyboard. It comes with a full keyboard, similar to the stock one; a “one handed keyboard” where the left half of the screen is blank so you can hold it and type with the right hand; or there is the split layout, which is the star of the app. The split has the keyboard resized so that you can reach all of the alphabet keys without having to move your hands, but also gives a virtual numpad and arrow keys their own section in the center for convenience . They basically crammed a full size keyboard onto the tablet without losing efficiency or a single key.

(Here’s one of the Phone Thumb Keyboard landscape)

The Good – Er, The Great:
• Comes with multiple layouts ( 7 total) designed for phones, 7” tablets, and 9”/10” tablets
• Various themes including Honeycomb, Gingerbread, iPad, And various others
• Customizable keys to auto input text (save emails, passwords, or websites) with one click
• Multi-touch and very responsive
• Fully customizable – ability to change width and height of keys
• Cheap: low price of $2.49 on the market
• User dictionary
• Voice input

The Not So Good:
• It doesn’t read my mind to type for me

The application deserves a full 5 stars on the market and is well worth the $2.49 price tag on it. You can purchase the application and see some more information as well as screenshots of the various other layouts and themes here.