1427: iOS Keyboard

Explain xkcd: It's 'cause you're dumb.
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Explanation

It looks like Randall has been playing with his Apple device after installing the recently released iOS 8 update. The comic is referencing the autocomplete function on the iOS virtual keyboard (aka leopard). A comparable feature is also available on other operating systems, like Android. When the phrase, for example, "Revenge is a dish best served" is typed, the keyboard will suggest “by” followed by “a” then “group” and so on.

The following movies are referenced:

Movie Character & Situation Full Quote
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes explaining his deductions to his assistant, Watson "Elementary, my dear Watson." (paraphrased in several movies, never actually used in the books)
Scarface (1983) Scarface is holding an M16, defending his house from Sosa's gunmen, shouting to attackers. "You wanna fuck with me? Okay. You wanna play rough? Okay. Say hello to my little friend!"
The Wizard of Oz (1939) Dorothy with her dog, Toto, in munchkin land. "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."
James Bond Bond introducing himself, while holding trademark martini. "Bond, James Bond." (nothing follows).
Serenity (2005) Wash, at the controls of Serenity. "I am a leaf on the wind - watch how I soar."
The Goonies (1985) Mikey standing at the pool in the wishing well, encouraging his troop of misfits to continue on their journey. "Goonies never say die!"
The Lord of The Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) Aragorn, Legolas & Gimli pledge allegiance to protect the ring bearer on their mission to destroy the ring. Aragorn: "If by my life or death I can protect you, I will. You have my sword." Legolas: "And you have my bow." Gimli: "And *my* axe."
The Princess Bride (1987) Inigo Montoya facing the six fingered man, the man he swore a vendetta against for killing his dad. "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."
Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan (1982) Khan paraphrasing Shakespeare to justify his vengeance. "Revenge is a dish best served cold" (e.g. Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan (1982): Khan: "...do you know the Klingon proverb that tells us revenge is a dish that is best served cold?")
Braveheart (1995) Wallace rallying his Scottish army before a seemingly hopeless battle against the English. "They may take our lives, but they'll never take... OUR FREEDOM!"

An older comic 1068: Swiftkey is also about keyboard predictions, but without any preceding text (by the Swiftkey keyboard application instead of the iOS 8 keyboard).

Transcript

Movie quotes
[Top picture shows a line typed on an iPhone.]
Elementary, my dear
[Then the next line shows the words suggested by the virtual keyboard.]
Friend | Lord | Friends
[Below are the visible part of keyboard. In the second line only the top of the letters can be seen.]
QWERTYUIOP
ASDFGHJKL
[Below is a new sub heading above six pictures arranged in two rows.]
According to iOS 8 keyboard predictions
[For each of the six pictures a part of the text is black, and the other part is light grey. Below the black text is written in bold letters.]
[Picture 1: Cueball stands with a machine gun.]
Cueball: Say hello to my little sister and my mom and my dad and my friends
[Picture 2: A girl stands next to her dog with a basket.]
Girl: Toto, I've a feeling we're not going to the gym today
[Picture 3: Bond talks to Megan.]
James Bond: Bond, James Bond yields
[Picture 4: A pilot operates his plane and talks to Cueball behind him.]
Pilot: I'm a leaf on the wind. Watch me play the piano
[Picture 5: A guy with dark hair stands behind a jagged edge.]
Goonie: Goonies never say anything
[Picture 6: A dwarf with long beard and helmet stands with an axe.]
Off panel left: You have my sword.
Off panel right: And my bow.
Dwarf: And my dad


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Discussion

XKCD references on the XKCD wiki? Who would've thought... 141.101.104.197 06:58, 29 September 2014 (UTC)

I'm so meta even this acronym.
Just saying... 108.162.217.125 07:58, 29 September 2014 (UTC)BK201

I believe that the ios word prediction is personalised based on your previous sentences. My Android autocomplete comes up with "Elementary, my feast of the United Kingdom", and "Toto, I've a feeling we're not going to Switzerland"... --Pudder (talk) 07:53, 29 September 2014 (UTC)

I imagine it is, but it's still interesting to see the defaults before you've added much to the dictionary. I believe this is what Randall is up to. 108.162.216.209 13:00, 29 September 2014 (UTC)

What about adding a reference to XKCD Questions[1]? --Jkotek

Wasn't there XKCD comics about keyboard prediction starting from blank state? --JakubNarebski (talk) 09:57, 29 September 2014 (UTC)

[2] You're welcome. 141.101.89.217 10:04, 29 September 2014 (UTC)

I thought some of the humor for the LoTR reference was the Gimli's dad was a character in The Hobbit. Obviously, Randall didn't work this in, but it could've affected his choice to feature this one in the comic Djbrasier (talk) 16:35, 29 September 2014 (UTC)

Given the outcome of the Scottish referendum on secession, it seems to me that the iOS-updated version of Wallace's quote is perfectly appropriate. --141.101.64.125 23:01, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

Wallace didn't fight the British, he fought the English. 141.101.98.19 (talk) (please sign your comments with ~~~~)

Incomplete, anyone? Or is this wiki just goigo explain jokes Randall himself has made? It's probably the latter case, since nobody seems to have had a problem in four years. 172.68.46.41 05:49, 12 May 2018 (UTC)

William Wallace's quote actually goes "They can take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom". 172.68.253.149 01:59, 30 June 2019 (UTC)

Shouldn't the quote shown in the illustration at the top be explained too? It's not a movie per se, but still. --Theanswertolifetheuniverseandeverything (talk) 00:57, 29 March 2020 (UTC)

Done. 172.69.68.106 19:56, 22 October 2021 (UTC)