iPad Accidentally highlighting and deleting text with ios9 keyboard tweaks

[sortapundit]

Hi guys. I'm going insane with a problem since upgrading to ios9, and I'd love to hear if anyone else is having the same issue.

Since updating to ios9 my iPad Air 2 keyboard has become almost useless thanks to the new tweaks. I type pretty quickly (though not crazy quick), and it seems that I'm typing with a technique that inadvertently selects and then overwrites huge tracts of texts as I write. The problem, it seems, is that I type at a speed that means that my index and middle fingers are often both touching keys at the same time, especially when I want to press two keys that are very close to each other.

The result of this is that as I type I accidentally activate this new cursor thing that allows users to easily select text. Sometimes it selects just one or two words and sometimes it's an entire paragraph, but because this is all happening so quickly I end up overwriting whatever I've selected before I have time to stop typing. It's infuriating.

This is a real problem because I'm an author, and I write all of my books using Pages. I'm terrified that my keyboard has now become a minefield, and if I set foot in the wrong place I'll destroy everything.

So, yeah, that's it. I'm just wondering if anyone else is having the same problem, and if there's any way to revert entirely to the old keyboard (or download a third party keyboard that doesn't have the new features). I'm a big fan of the rest of the update, but if my keyboard doesn't work the way it used to my iPad will be completely useless for work, and it'll be nothing more than a delivery system for porn and Facebook

 

[afsnyder]

Hi guys. I'm going insane with a problem since upgrading to ios9, and I'd love to hear if anyone else is having the same issue.

Since updating to ios9 my iPad Air 2 keyboard has become almost useless thanks to the new tweaks. I type pretty quickly (though not crazy quick), and it seems that I'm typing with a technique that inadvertently selects and then overwrites huge tracts of texts as I write. The problem, it seems, is that I type at a speed that means that my index and middle fingers are often both touching keys at the same time, especially when I want to press two keys that are very close to each other.

The result of this is that as I type I accidentally activate this new cursor thing that allows users to easily select text. Sometimes it selects just one or two words and sometimes it's an entire paragraph, but because this is all happening so quickly that I end up overwriting whatever I've selected before I have time to stop typing. It's infuriating.

This is a real problem because I'm an author, and I write all of my books using Pages. I'm terrified that my keyboard has now become a minefield, and if I set foot in the wrong place I'll destroy everything.

So, yeah, that's it. I'm just wondering if anyone else is having the same problem, and if there's any way to revert entirely to the old keyboard (or download a third party keyboard that doesn't have the new features). I'm a big fan of the rest of the update, but if my keyboard doesn't work the way it used to my iPad will be completely useless for work, and it'll be nothing more than a delivery system for porn and Facebook

Have you checked the keyboard accessibilities? I don't have an iPad so I can't check for you. I assume there would be a way to turn it off.

 

[5105973]

When you discover the mess are you able to shake the iPad and undo it? That's how I usually fix an accidental copy and paste. Or do you get too far along for that to work? I've often done this on the old iOS and I honestly don't know how it happens.

 

[sortapundit]

When you discover the mess are you able to shake the iPad and undo it? That's how I usually fix an accidental copy and paste. Or do you get too far along for that to work? I've often done this on the old iOS and I honestly don't know how it happens.

No, that doesn't seem to work, I'm afraid.

 

[sortapundit]

Have you checked the keyboard accessibilities? I don't have an iPad so I can't check for you. I assume there would be a way to turn it off.

I don't see anything in the Settings menu that looks like a likely candidate

 

[C DM]

Interesting they finally added a way to disable somethings like shake to undo in the accessibility menu but strangely don't have something to disable this.

 

[sortapundit]

Interesting they finally added a way to disable somethings like shake to undo in the accessibility menu but strangely don't have something to disable this.

Yep What really surprises me is that the problem wasn't noticed in beta, and that I've not seen anyone else complain about it after the general release. I noticed within a minute of getting the update, and it's a complete device killer for anyone who types quickly and without a great degree of care. I just grabbed an 8.4.1 ipsw and will be downgrading in a couple of hours if it lets me. It's a real shame, as I love lots of the new features

 

[FasterQuieter]

Yep What really surprises me is that the problem wasn't noticed in beta, and that I've not seen anyone else complain about it after the general release. I noticed within a minute of getting the update, and it's a complete device killer for anyone who types quickly and without a great degree of care. I just grabbed an 8.4.1 ipsw and will be downgrading in a couple of hours if it lets me. It's a real shame, as I love lots of the new features

This has been happening to me a lot and I just lost an entire email because of it. Incredibly annoying!

 

[MarkHenwood]

Yup. Me too. Was writing some quick emails in some downtime at an event yesterday, and had to abandon the process because of this problem. It's not just inconvenient - it's if you are dumping thoughts to your keyboard, once dumped the thoughts kind of leave your mental stack. I was scared of forgetting what I'd said. It's easier to have the thoughts welling up, waiting for a chance to write email, than it is to rewrite the same paragraph three times without the former versions to refer to.

This is pretty rubbish tbh.

 

[FasterQuieter]

I am surprised at how few people are commenting on this thread. It is such a problem for me that I can't use my iPad to write more than a few words. I have to put it down and get my phone, which is pretty crazy.

One thing I am hoping/wondering -- Is everybody here using iOS 9.0? I accidentally put 9.0.1 on mine, when trying to get the GM build. I am hoping the reason I am not hearing too much about this is because it's a bug limited to that beta. Either that, or us few type differently to the rest of humanity.

 

[Sterne]

This issue is also plaguing me as I type on the iPad - something i do all the time...I am hoping 9.1 fixes it.

Hi guys. I'm going insane with a problem since upgrading to ios9, and I'd love to hear if anyone else is having the same issue.

Since updating to ios9 my iPad Air 2 keyboard has become almost useless thanks to the new tweaks. I type pretty quickly (though not crazy quick), and it seems that I'm typing with a technique that inadvertently selects and then overwrites huge tracts of texts as I write. The problem, it seems, is that I type at a speed that means that my index and middle fingers are often both touching keys at the same time, especially when I want to press two keys that are very close to each other.

The result of this is that as I type I accidentally activate this new cursor thing that allows users to easily select text. Sometimes it selects just one or two words and sometimes it's an entire paragraph, but because this is all happening so quickly I end up overwriting whatever I've selected before I have time to stop typing. It's infuriating.

This is a real problem because I'm an author, and I write all of my books using Pages. I'm terrified that my keyboard has now become a minefield, and if I set foot in the wrong place I'll destroy everything.

So, yeah, that's it. I'm just wondering if anyone else is having the same problem, and if there's any way to revert entirely to the old keyboard (or download a third party keyboard that doesn't have the new features). I'm a big fan of the rest of the update, but if my keyboard doesn't work the way it used to my iPad will be completely useless for work, and it'll be nothing more than a delivery system for porn and Facebook

 

[Sterne]

I am surprised at how few people are commenting on this thread. It is such a problem for me that I can't use my iPad to write more than a few words. I have to put it down and get my phone, which is pretty crazy.

One thing I am hoping/wondering -- Is everybody here using iOS 9.0? I accidentally put 9.0.1 on mine, when trying to get the GM build. I am hoping the reason I am not hearing too much about this is because it's a bug limited to that beta. Either that, or us few type differently to the rest of humanity.

It's the same on 9.0 as 9.01.

 

[stooovie]

I have this issue too, but shake to undo definitely works on 9.1b2, also there's an undo button right on the keyboard now.

 

[leesweet]

I can't find a switch for this, either. There may be time to get a Settings switch for this new keyboard trackpad behavior (if anyone was unclear on the 'feature') in 9.1 or if not then soon. Have you all reported the issue to Apple?

 

[The Doctor11]

I'm also deleting words on accident. I have been since beta 1.

 

[XboxMySocks]

I am really sorry this is happening but I have had the same thing since iOS 5 and have never had a true issue with it... Hopefully you will adjust over time? I don't know what else to say

 

[C DM]

I am really sorry this is happening but I have had the same thing since iOS 5 and have never had a true issue with it... Hopefully you will adjust over time? I don't know what else to say

But iOS 5 and really any other iOS until 9 didn't have the new trackpad way of moving around and selecting things.

 

[Sterne]

But iOS 5 and really any other iOS until 9 didn't have the new trackpad way of moving around and selecting things.

Truly it is much much worse now.

 

[XboxMySocks]

But iOS 5 and really any other iOS until 9 didn't have the new trackpad way of moving around and selecting things.

Yes it did... http://www.idownloadblog.com/2014/0...jailbreak-tweaks-of-all-time-just-got-better/

 

[C DM]

Yes it did... http://www.idownloadblog.com/2014/0...jailbreak-tweaks-of-all-time-just-got-better/

So not iOS itself, but a jailbreak tweak. And did/does that use the same exact methods of use that iOS 9 uses, or perhaps at least somewhat differently (which can affect if/when some people might activate it accidentally)? And can that be disabled, as compared to what iOS 9 has which doesn't seem to have an option to disable or change it?

 

[XboxMySocks]

So not iOS itself, but a jailbreak tweak. And did/does that use the same exact methods of use that iOS 9 uses, or perhaps at least somewhat differently (which can affect if/when some people might activate it accidentally)? And can that be disabled, as compared to what iOS 9 has which doesn't seem to have an option to disable or change it?

I doubt it was the exact same method, but it was pretty simple hook into the keyboard to track movement laterally across it. It had a few options including a disable one, not sure about the one in iOS 9.

 

[aulay01]

I'm having this issue to the point of making me extremely frustrated. I'm having to relearn an approach to typing on the touchscreen to avoid skating my fingers over the surface. I was hoping some configuration of the Accessibility options would fix it, but can't see any advice to that effect.

 

[BBDDVV]

same issue here. 9.1 beta 5 is no better...

 

[milesaway219]

any ideas here - this is driving me nuts.

 

[Skyhawk21]

Sell of your IOS 9.x device that is a paper weight and buy a device with IOS 8.x still on it!

This is the first issue/glitch/bug/crap I noticed when I tried the GM build of 9.0 on a mini 2. The keyboard made it so stupid to type fast and would either delete your words, or change them, or skip lines or do something weird everytime that made you have to literally start all over typing again from the beginning.

Luckily I downgraded with IOS 8.4.1 was being signed and my mini 2 is back to smooth sailing again. Also have IOS 8.2 on my Ipad Air 1, so we are good. I will not upgrade ever to any version of 9 with that crappy keyboard and or buy a new device with it installed from factory.

I returned a mini 4 with IOS9 because of the many issues to include typing on the built in keyboard. I can speed touch type. IOS 9 keyboard does not keep up, lags and does its own dam thing in the middle of typing long sentences and paragraphs.

Since cannot downgrade I suggest selling off the IOS9 paper weights and buying devices again with IOS 8.x on them and keeping them that way!