Probably the biggest issue relating mobile devices is the way in which we input data, whether you use a keypad or a touchscreen I’m sure you’ll agree that there’s nothing more frustrating than a clumsy ergonomic design. Aiming to resolve these issues is Prevalent Devices who have developed a new onscreen system named “Phraze-It” that looks to improve the way in which we input data on our Pocket PCs, read on for our review of their software.

 

Personally I’m a user of the onscreen phone pad, the one that replicates a numeric keypad allowing you to use predictive text without actually having a real keypad. So could Phraze-It displace the onscreen phone pad in my day-to-day use? Well read on and find out!

Essentially the Phraze-It system is really simple, hit a key that represents a group of keys, then a second set of keys are shown that allow you to pick the exact key that you want, still don’t understand? OK well if you want a “C” then hit the button for “A-C” and you’ll then be faced with a choice of “A, B, C or D”, hit “C” and you’re done! It actually sounds more long winded than it is believe me! So its an easy system to understand and use (trust me, it is!), it takes up a relatively small percentage of your screen’s real estate, one of the main criticisms of the onscreen phone pad alternative, and its clear and easy to read with high contrast colours and clear fonts. Sounds great eh? Well I reckon it is however, there’s one reason I believe I won’t be using Phraze-It as my main text entry method and that is simple. Essentially it’s been beaten to the finish line by the built-in method. Everyone who’s ever owned a mobile phone has used a numeric keypad, as such the onscreen phone pad method that’s built into your Pocket PC’s software becomes second nature mimicking the method that we all know and (even if you don’t like it, you know it so) love. I'd place Phraze-It above the other input methods integrated into Pocket PC's software but I can't put it above the predictive text numeric keypad option that I'm so used to.

 

To conclude, Phraze-It is a great system, if you’re not happy with how you currently enter text on your Pocket PC then definitely give this a look however I fear for Prevalent Devices’ product here as I feel its aiming for a market that’s already happy with its current options, perhaps I’m wrong, it’s a personal choice after all but that’s my feeling on the matter – good execution, too late though.

Click here to visit the Prevalent Devices website where you can download a free trial or find links to buy Phraze-It for $24.49 (approx £13 at the time of writing).