Back in May 2016, Google brought an awesome new app called Gboard to iOS, giving users the ability to perform Google searches right inside the keyboard app. Google promised Gboard would someday make its way to Android, and we’re happy to say that day has finally arrived.
Instead of coming to the Play Store as a standalone app, Gboard actually takes the place of Google Keyboard in the new version 6.0 update.
So what does the Gboard update bring to the table? The biggest addition to the app is something called the ‘G button’, which can be enabled in the app’s settings menu. When you’re in the middle of typing, just tap the button to open up a search card. You can then perform a Google search for whatever you’d like, and also share those results. This will certainly come in handy for many folks out there, as it essentially eliminates the need to leave your current app to look up information.
That’s not all, though. The Gboard update also allows users to enable a dedicated, full-size number row, which you can see in the second screenshot above.
And for folks who speak multiple languages, you’ll be happy to hear that the Gboard update brings multi-language support. Now you’ll be able to type in up to three different languages without having to manually switch between modes. So if you happen to speak Spanish with some of your friends but English with your family, this process should now be much more seamless.
Oh, and now when you tap on the G button, a small menu pops up with quick access to themes, one-handed mode and the settings menu. Previously, you’d need to long-press on the comma to get to the settings menu. This is certainly a much quicker way to change your keyboard’s settings.
We’ve also noticed Gesture typing has been renamed to Glide typing. A small change, but still worth noting.
Other than those key differences, the keyboard still functions the exact same way as it always has. It’s just a lot smarter now. The company still has yet to reveal an official changelog for this update, so we might find more goodies after that happens. We’ll be sure to update this post with more information.
The big version 6.0 update is now available in the Play Store.
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