I tried to install ShapeWriter from the Android Marketplace yesterday and couldn't find it (I was trying to reinstall it after flashing my phone with Cyanogenmod 5.0.8). After searching the interwebs, I found out that it had been removed from the marketplace on June 20th indefinitely (supposedly for QA issues). Luckily I had backed up the app using MyBackup Pro and still had the APK, so I was able to reinstall it. I'm putting the APK up here for anyone who needs to reinstall ShapeWriter.
random musings
Thanks so much! i’ve been looking for this for days now. I lost my version after switching roms. I can’t imagine going back to a stock keyboard or Swype.
No worries! Glad to be of help!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!! I had just updated my ROM and I knew it was going to delete all of my apps so I tried backing it up with ASTRO but apparently that doesn’t work. I’ve been downloading .apk files from tons of sites and none of them worked and this one did. You just about saved my life I HATE using the regular keyboard. Plus, swype wasn’t even available as a temporary replacement because I have a hero. Long story short, you are my hero
@Ben
Glad I was able to help! Yeah the regular keyboard sucks! You should try getting My Backup Pro. It’s totally worth it! It backs up your apk’s and your data. Very useful when you switch ROMs.
Dude, you rock. I put money into this app only to have it ripped away from me after a hard reset after non-OTA updates weren’t working on my N1. You brought back what was rightfully mine and I LOVE YOU FOR IT.
@James F Thorne
No problem dude! I had the same problem – thought I could go download it again but it was taken off the market. So glad I had the backup.
Thanks much for this. Lesson learned: Backup the apps you like!
I could marry you right now. You saved my butt. I did the flash and mine did not reinstall. Your the best. Thank you.
Vivin….I m good with computers, but new to Androids. I downloaded the Shaperwriter ZIP file, but I do not know what to do next. Can I ask you for a quick run through?
Thanks for saving the Shapewriter!
Brian
Brian, save the file to SD card. Install Astro File Manager (grab it from the market), browse to the file on the sd card and open it.
Charles,
Thank you for the information. I have installed Astro File MAnager and placed the Shapewriter zip file in my root directory. I opened the zip file using Astro, but that’s the extent of my progress. I haven’t been able to find anything that jumps out as an executable nor does anything automatically happen when I tap on the file to view it. What did I miss?
I wanted to add that the zip file does not appear to contain an APK file. And this is what is messing me up. The zip file I downloaded has over one hundred seperate files, but no APK.
@Brian
Where did you download the zip file from? The file I have available for download is an .apk file. So load this page on your phone’s browser, and click the “Download ShapeWriter APK” link. This will make your phone download the apk file. After that you can select it and your phone will ask you if you want to install it.
@bryan
@peatech
Glad to be of help!
You’re the best. This is exactly what I was looking for.
Okay guys….mystery solved thanks to the last post by Vivin. In regards to the question, “Where did you download the file?” I downloaded it from this web site, but I used my PC to do so and it downloaded as a ZIP file full of files. Like I said….new to Android phones.
Thanks to all and Vivin especially.
Brian
OMFG! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!
I happened to reformat my phone, and forgot that ShapeWriter wasn’t on the market any more so I lost it for a couple of weeks now, but I happened to google the ShapeWriter apk file, and your forum popped up!
ONCE AGAIN THANK YOU!!!!!
Does anyone have a file for the Motorola i1? I downloaded from the link and when I try to install on it, the system tells me that the the Shapewriter keyboard could not be installed on the phone. I had Shapewriter installed version 3.09 and was working fine until I did a reset and lost it. Help? Anyone?
@Bruce
Glad to be of help!
@Richard
This is version 3.0.9 – not sure why it wouldn’t be installing on your phone. Maybe there was a Motorola-specific version?
Not sure really. I had earlier version Shapewriter installed and when the announcement came out to upgrade since they were pulling out of Market, I also upgraded mine and it worked perfectly and was upgraded with no hiccups. Version 3.0.0 is correct version also. But when i1 phone was reset, I lost the program and when trying to install again, using version that I downloaded from here, it wouldn’t go through. Kept saying Shapewriter can’t be installed on this phone. Don’t know. I have Swype on my Motorola i1 but I personally prefer Shapewriter. Sigh….. Is the APK file the only thing i need to get it working?
@Richard
Sounds pretty odd. Yeah the apk file is all you need to get it working. Not sure why it wouldn’t install on yours. Did you try downloading it again? Perhaps your first download terminated prematurely.
Yes I think so too. I will try again later and see what happens. Thanks for responding.
Thanks for the download, your a lifesaver!
You are awesome. I was searching for someone like you. Thanks for existing.
What about the language support packs? I’ve been looking for the Swedish ShapeWriter but can’t find it. Anyone?
Rock on. I was having trouble with swype and in searching for an alternate I found shapewriter…only to find it had been taken over and the app removed. A little google and voila I found your APK. Thanks again!!!
Thank you so much! my best friend told me to download this, but then they took it off the market so I never got a chance to expierence it. But thanks to you, I have it. Thanks again!
@Bobby , @Dominic , @John , @Maria
Thanks! Glad I was able to help!
@Marcus
I’m not sure where to get the language-support packs. Since I only needed English, I simply downloaded the app itself and nothing else. Hopefully someone else has it online?
please somebody post the german pack apk. I could really really use it!
ok, i found the german version. you have to register to download but it works. http://www.nexus-one.de/nexus-one/software/apps-tools/963-shapewriter/
Vivin, thanks. I’ll see if I can rip the .apk from my Nexus before upgrading to Froyo. Will get back (but don’t hold your breath, I’ve too much to do right now).
Tried now, it works, both on my Nexus and on a friends Desire.
I have the apk available but nowhere to host it. If anyone is willing to host, throw me an email address.
Thank you. Love shapewriter and was bummed when I did a little ‘work’ on my EVO and lost it only to find it was not available…
Thanks for the backup. I didnt know they were pulling this off the market
U my friend are the best person in the world EVER!! I really thought I’d never ever c this Lil gem again. But here we are together again. If i could I’d throw u a parade 😀
Btw i typed that with shapewriter 😀 😀
Add me to the lovefest! You saved my butt, too. I tried to fill the void after factory resetting my device with Swype, but I hated it! It doesn’t not compare to ShapeWriter at all.
I’m going to looking into your backup app to protect my other assets.
Slide IT is not ba
Slide IT is pretty good too. I tried it and have been using it. Some of the features are worse, some are better.
Slide IT is pretty good too. I tried it and have been using it. Some of the features are worse, some are better.
@Georg
Nice work on getting the german apk. I’ll try to host that on here too!
@Marcus
I can host the apk if you want – just email me vivin at gee mail dot com!
@Dave
Glad to be of help! Yeah, I had the same problem when I flashed my phone. Was surprised to see it gone from the market!
@rc @Meemee @Dominic
Glad to help!
@Vince
MyBackup Pro is a worthy investment. It has saved my butt a bunch of times!
I have to thank you for saving this file and telling us how to get it on our Android phones. We did a update for my husbands phone and he didn’t know how to back up his apps..so we lost the shapewriter app you are a life saver..now he is happy! 🙂
Dude, heaps of good karma headed your way. Thanks for thinking of others and taking the time and effort to put this out there for the rest of us. I’ve never used it, but will load it on my phone tomorrow. I’m also getting MyBackup Pro based on what I’ve read here. Thanks to all, good night.
You are a lifesaver. I was literally stressing out after loosing everything on my incredible today and not being able to type on any keyboard but ShapeWriter! You rock!
I know you have heard it alot but now that swype is unavailable and slideit charges..seriously slideit $4 WTF…. this is awesome! Took me a while to find it but awesome. My backup may be going on my phone soon.
Yes! Tested good on my HTC Hero running Damagecontrol 2.06. Thank you so much for putting this up! You’re a lifesaver!
YOU ARE MY HERO!! My phone had to be reset yesterday and the guy backed up all of my apps so I had no idea that this favorite app wouldn’t be available to reinstall. Whew! Now I can get back to my life! Thanks again!!
thank you so much, phone was getting real sluggish so i did a data reset, and was so sad when i saw they took this off the market thank you again…
Count me in as one who wants to say thanks a million bazillion times! I could marry you too but it sounds like you already got an offer up above. YOU ARE AWESOME!
Thank you, thank you,Thank you, and thank you!!!
Thank you, SlideIT just wasn’t cutting it, Shapewriter is the best