Not long ago I told you about 8pen, the alternative keyboard that asks the question, if the typewriter had never been invented, and didn’t influence text input methods on smartphones, what would the “keyboard” look like.

It wasn’t free, but didn’t cost all that much (about US$1.60). It just got a pretty nice update, now at 1.1, which includes:

- Auto-space is now optional, and disabled by default

- Voice input (Android 2.2 with voice recognition enabled)

- Preview popup

- Improved dictionary support (suggestions, auto-complete, quick fixes)

- Basic themes

- Height adjustment

- Fine-grained shift pressure threshold

- Optional vibration when passing through central region

- Slightly modified numeric layout, for easier access to #, & etc.

- HTC Tattoo fix

- Fix of phone keyboard bug that caused force close on some phones

- and it’s FREE!

Source: 8pen