How fast can you type on your BlackBerry Z10? Try out Thumb Master and become keyboard king!

By DJ Reyes on 5 Feb 2013 02:30 pm

Anyone who has ever owned a BlackBerry smartphone knows how smooth and swift it is to type out on a physical keyboard -- no one could beat a BlackBerry device when it came to keyboards. Now that the BlackBerry Z10 is out, BlackBerry wants to be king of the touchscreen keyboard too.

While there are many who will stick with the physical keyboard and wait for the BlackBerry Q10, there are lots of users that are making the switch to the full touchscreen model. With that in mind it means that you'd have to get used to typing on glass, especially if you've never used a touchscreen before. There will be varying learning curves but ultimately, you want to become as fast at typing on a touchscreen as you could on a physical keyboard.

You can put that speed to test by trying out an app called Thumb Master. You type out a sentence as fast you can and see if you can be on your way to become the BlackBerry Z10 keyboard king.

Thumb Master comes from developer App Sticks and is hugely addicting. You'll find yourself becoming slowly competitive too. If you're on Twitter you can check out hashtag #ThumbMaster to chat with other app users.

Check out the video above to see it in action. Below is a screen shot of my highest score so far. Can you beat me? Download Thumb Master today, give it a go and invite your friends to try it out too. It's available to download from BlackBerry World and will cost your $0.99.

Purchase Thumb Master from BlackBerry World

Topics: Apps BlackBerry 10 BlackBerry Z10 BlackBerry 10 Apps BlackBerry Apps

DJ Reyes 343 (articles) 347 (forum posts)

26 comments

IqWaN Feb 5, 2013 at 2:48 pm

nice...waiting for the BlackBerry Z10 to come to Qatar so that i can finally get my hands on it!

JR A Feb 5, 2013 at 4:28 pm

This app must be an Android port...

This app seems like a fun little game. But, it doesn't really do the Z10 any justice, in fact it defeats the whole purpose of the Z10's innovative touch keyboard; the app doesn't allow the word prediction gestures. So it's training Z10 users how to type like every other touch screen device... Weak.

biggulpseh Feb 5, 2013 at 6:10 pm

One look at the UI and it's obviously not an Android port.

z_scorpio_z Feb 6, 2013 at 1:40 am

+1, this app takes away the main point of keyboard predictions/gestures.

If I was creating a typing speed app, I think it needs to support the OS keyboard predictions/gestures etc. Would be cool to actually have cross platform app with online leader boards :) Perhaps a new daily paragraph text for daily top scores etc. Then we can see the best of iOS typers vs the best of Android swype typers vs Z10 vs Q10 etc etc.

DaNii1985 Feb 5, 2013 at 2:48 pm

Well I just wanted to see if something change in my life if I am first poster on a post because everyone I see leaving first comment only mentions that they are first .. I will let you know if I will will win lottery tomorrow because of having first comment..

And guess what, I was not the first one to post..

galleon Feb 5, 2013 at 3:24 pm

LOL, I hear you mate...

IqWaN Feb 5, 2013 at 2:47 pm

waiting for the BlackBerry Z10 to come to Qatar so that i can finally get my hands on it!

felixlives Feb 5, 2013 at 3:24 pm

Ok,this maybe a stupid question, but can you type with the Z10 in landscape ???.....i haven't seen not one video of this ,kinda making me nervous

pmccartney Feb 5, 2013 at 3:45 pm

yes

amaccuish Feb 5, 2013 at 3:49 pm

367.53 cpm at 100% :p

JR A Feb 5, 2013 at 4:27 pm

This app must be an Android port...

z_scorpio_z Feb 6, 2013 at 1:41 am

Rootbrian Feb 11, 2013 at 8:42 am

Obviously you didn't even look at the screenshot or watch the video. It's NOT AN ANDROID PORT.

Crisdean Feb 5, 2013 at 3:44 pm

Just downloaded the app. Let the wars begin!

CDM76 Feb 5, 2013 at 4:21 pm

Make it into a game to get ppl more comfortable with the new all touch screen. Well played BB.

DetlevCM Feb 5, 2013 at 4:25 pm

I am generally an oponent of touchscreens - mainly for lack of accuracy and feedback... even ease of use at times...
Nevertheless, I looked at a Z10 and the spellchecker is that good that I got one.

Am I faster on it than on my Bold? Maybe - because of the spellchecker, but without it it would be impossible to use...
At the same time, it hasn't resolved my biggest issue with a touchscreen - try placing a cursor accurately in one position... - deleting 3 letters and typing them again is often the better choice...

On a side note: Why would one buy an app for testing typing speed? This can be done for free on the web so easily...

(Oh, and dispite the criticism in my words above - as far as a touchscreen phone goes, I would only describe the Z10 with one word - "brilliant". However for real typing, nothing quite beats a desktop - or laptop with a full size keyboard...)

FuzzyFish Feb 5, 2013 at 5:00 pm

Thanks for the heads up DJ!

kelton Feb 5, 2013 at 6:25 pm

So, is it at all possible that the z10 could get "swype" capability?

I could tolerate an android for only a few months, but I was already getting pretty smooth with swype.

borbella Feb 5, 2013 at 9:27 pm

Once you get your Z10, even Swype will be history. The BB10 keyboard is much better

ezapper2 Feb 6, 2013 at 12:30 am

would be a cooler app if you can swipe words in.

gibbleman Feb 6, 2013 at 1:46 am

You know what? I can type WAAAY faster than that on my Bold 9930. It's not as comfortable, but after 4 years with Blackberries I can type almost as fast as with a desktop keyboard. There's a lot less distance to cover once your get the muscle memory down. The new 9930 definitely makes a huge difference. The keys feel great.

I just timed myself and clocked in at about 1 minute typing everything in the above paragraph. punctuation, error correction, and all, with no spell check. While also looking up at my PC screen to see what to type. It's gonna be a sad day if the physical BB ever goes away.

Rootbrian Feb 11, 2013 at 8:46 am

Obviously you never read the blogs or listened to anything. The physical keyboard blackberry Q10 will be coming in april/may.