Quite frankly, software keyboards just don't cut it for hardcore productivity. Even the best software keyboards,SwiftKey, fall far behind even low-quality hardware keyboards in speed and typing comfort. Four major, some exotic and some mundane, keyboard technologies inhabit marketplaces: NFC powered keyboards, OTG (On the Go) keyboards, Bluetooth 3.0 and 4.0 keyboards.
Of these, I prefer using OTG keyboards for their quality and reliability. However, remember that no single keyboard type can fitindividual needs. Each possesses both strengths and weaknesses that the discriminating consumer should keep in mind.
Four keyboard technologies
Of the four keyboard technologies (NFC, Bluetooth and OTG) presented in this article, the most widely used is the Bluetooth 3.0 standard. That's because of inconsistent implementation of OTG and NFC drivers in Android devices. Also, few keyboards work without additional configuration in Android's settings menu.
NFC keyboards
NFC stands for Near Field Communication. NFC keyboards are extraordinarily exotic, some even receive power wirelessly,the NFC signal. Many phones, particularly iPhones, don't incorporate this technology - even many Android devices don't use it. More modern devices do include it, leading to a wealth of automation software such as NFC Task Launcher and a large variety of potential uses. I use NFC for its location-based features, including sleep-mode and car-mode.
Advantages
Low power: NFC keyboards consume hardly any energy, as they don't broadcast over a great distance, such as Bluetooth.
Upcoming keyboard
doesn't use batteries: An upcoming NFC keyboardOne2Touch converts the NFC signal into a power source. Other NFC keyboards require batteries, although require very little power.
Super portable: Most NFC keyboards use smaller batteries and, as demonstrated by the One2Touch keyboards, are foldable. Most of these will either fit in your pocket, or double as a case.
No pairing: There's no pairing process involved in connecting an NFC keyboard. According to One2Touch, simply place the Android device on the keyboard and start typing.
Disadvantages
Requires NFC: If your phone doesn't have NFC, you won't be able to use an NFC keyboard.Short range: NFC signals don't broadcast over a great distance. You have a range of millimeters.
Expensive: The cheapest NFC keyboard, the Android NFC Elecom keyboard, costs more than $50.
App required:
Unfortunately, native NFC keyboard support isn't include within the Android software environment. One2Touch keyboards rely on an app to work properly. Although this app is available in the Play Store, notdevices will be compatible with it and notdevices include Play Store support. You can remedy this with forced installations and sideloading. For the uninitiated, sideloading allows you to transfer files to your Android devicea computer.
OTG keyboards
OTG stands for "On the Go", which is an interface standard allowing most USB peripheral devices to connect to Android devices. Notversions of Android support it - Google added the feature in Android 3.0, Honeycomb. Also, notdevice manufacturers include it. For example, the Nexus 4 notoriously lacks OTG support, without modification. However, for those of you lucky enough to possess OTG capability, setting your phone or tablet up requires a few simple steps. Most important is an OTG cable, which can link many, but not all, USB peripherals to your device. Some Android devices require that you enable this feature in Developer Mode. Others enable it rightthe get-go.