code: public void waitForHintText(String hintText, int timeout) throws Exception
      {
          int RETRY_PERIOD = 250;
          int retryNum = timeout / RETRY_PERIOD;
          for(int i=0; i < retryNum; i++)
          {
              ArrayList<View> imageViews = getCustomViews("EditText");
              for(View v: imageViews)
              {
                  if(((EditText)v).getHint() == null)
                      continue;
                  if(((EditText)v).getHint().equals(hintText) &&
                          v.getVisibility() == View.VISIBLE)
                      return;
              }
  
              this.sleep(RETRY_PERIOD);
          }
          throw new Exception(String.format("Splash screen didn't disappear after %d ms", timeout));
      }
docs: Waits for hint text to appear in an EditText
  @param hintText text to wait for
  @param timeout amount of time to wait