Application Review: SkyeQuiKey - I Can't Live Without It

I really don't know how I've gone this long without using SkyeQuiKey on my Nokia S60 device. I've seen so many reviews about how useful it really is but I always have a hard to getting myself to pay for applications, especially when I'm on a tight budget. I wouldn't doubt it if about 60% of you already use this application. If not, then you really need to give it a shot. SkyeQuiKey is one of those applications you look at Nokia and say - Why isn't this already implemented out of the box?

What does SkyeQuiKey do exactly? It changes the way I launch applications. The way I lookup a contact. The way I open Bookmarks. The way I sent quick text messages. From the home screen of my Nokia N82 I can start typing with T9 input exactly what I'm looking for.

Bookmarks



If I'm looking for a bookmark called "Inside The Kings", I simply type "467" or "Ins" and launch it. Much easier than holding down zero than scrolling to my bookmark.

You may ask, "Why is it faster Mike? You can hold down "0" to launch the browser than make a few more clicks to launch the site." Well, yes that is true, but that extra two seconds it takes to hold down "0" makes all the difference when I'm in a rush.

Applications



I want to launch the Home Media application. Typing "hom" or "466" gives me a list of everything close to that. The more I type the less results I get, obviously. As you can see in the screenshot if I was looking for Google Maps this key combination would also work, since "466" is also "Goo", adding one more "g" in there would give me everything on my phone that has to do with Google including Google Search, Google homepage, and a Google contact.

Fast Calling & Messaging



I type "Nic" to look up my brother Nick. Once I have his name highlighted I have a few options. Pushing the green button will make a call to his default number. Left-Nav or will show me his contact card. Center button will show a list of all his phone numbers I can call, and Right-Nav will let me start a new SMS. The left and right navigation buttons are configurable.

New Phone Numbers



When entering a brand new phone number into your phone you have a few options. You can call, save to contacts, and make a new sms or mms message. Very handy.

Settings

There are a few settings you can configure in SkyeQuiKey.

- Order of name display,
- left/right navigation keys can be changed to sms, mms, e-mail, view, or call.
- toggle full screen display
- History

Make Room For More Home Screen Shortcuts

I used to have Contacts as my Number 1 active standby shortcut and New Text Message as my right softkey. SkyeQuiKey has freed up both of those to allow for other shortcuts on my home screen. This was another big reason for me deciding to keep this application on my phone.

Video Review By Mark Guim

My pal Mark from The Nokia Blog has recently reviewed this application. Check out his video demonstration.



Great video Mark!


Unlike it's rival application T9 Nave Beta, SkyeQuiKey is extremely fast. There is almost no delay when your start typing from your home screen, and it doesn't slow down any of the aspects of your phone at all. The RAM footprint is pretty much 0kb when your not using it.

It took me about a week to get fully used to using SkyeQuiKey. In the past, if I wanted to launch an application I would first go into Jbak Taskman and search from there, or dive into the Menu as my last resort. Same goes for Contacts.

How Do I Download It? You can get a one-day trial of SkyeQuiKey over at their shop. If you decide you like it as much as I do you can purchase it for $21.55 right now. Click here to visit the Skyestream Shop.

Do you already use SkyeQuiKey? If so, do you enjoy it as much as I do. If you haven't tried it, download the free trial and tell me what you think.