iPad Apps

Since iOS 8 first emerged last week, developers have been given a license to release their third-party keyboards for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users. Although the stock offering has improved significantly, it's still not as flexible and customizable as some of those found over at the App Store, and as such, millions of downloads have already been made by those seeking replacements. But while we'd highly recommend the likes of SwiftKey and Fleksy for a pure typing experience, some devs have instead sought to add an element of fun to proceedings, and a new GIF-based keyboard does precisely that.

Emoji icons are a major part of the social experience, and in a large portion of Twitter posts and Facebook status updates, you're likely to see a little smiley face, a thumbs up, or any one of the many other 847 emojis available. With third-party keyboard support now a part of iOS 8, developers have a new angle through which to entice the mobile market, but while the big names like SwiftKey, Fleksy and Swype have all come through with their as-expected ports of the corresponding Android apps, several others have sought to offer something a little different.

iOS 8 has been significant for a number of reasons, but for the makers of third-party keyboards, it has been something of a godsend. For a while, Android users have benefited from the enhanced functionality offered by the likes of Fleksy and SwiftKey, and with little by way of surprise, many of familiar faces are in the pool of developers vying for the newly-found audience on iPhone and iPad. Here, we round up the various keyboards now downloadable via the iTunes Store, and if you're in the hunt for a better typing experience, check out the list after the break!