SwiftKey beta update changes emoji UI, resolves performance and memory issues

SwiftKey has published an update to the latest beta version of its Android keyboard app. The SwiftKey 4.5 beta appeared last December and introduced over 500 emoji, as well as emoji word match and emoji contextual predictions. However, this emoticon extravaganza is available only on Android 4.1 and up.

The updated beta resolves performance and memory issues, such as keyboard freezes, incorrect vibraton feedback, slowdown while switching tabs, and more. Also, the emoji UI has been redesigned with new space and backspace bars, swipe gestures, layout changes, and bigger smilies.

The SwiftKey Team also explained why the emoji could appear differently between various Android devices and messaging apps. SwiftKey uses Android's internal emoji font, which is different in Jelly Bean and KitKat. Meanwhile, popular messengers such as WhatsApp use app-specific fonts, and Google Hangouts uses the KitKat font. Thus, although the emoji meanings remain the same, their images will not always match between different apps and devices. Let's hope this little inconvenience won't ruin any flirty texts you might be sending!

The latest SwiftKey beta has to be downloaded and side-loaded manually via an .apk file. This is because of its beta status, which means that this version of the app is not ready for distribution through the Google Play store due to its work-in-progress nature. The official, stable SwiftKey app is available only on Android devices, in paid and free trial versions.