finally releases Gboard for Android, bringing search to the keyboard

BY GreenBot Staff

Published 12 Dec 2016

en released Gboard for iOS earlier this year, scorned Android users were promised that the search-centric keyboard would be making its way to Android phones soon enough. Some six months later, is making good on its promise, it’s every bit as good as it is on the ione.

Coming in the form of an update to the existing Keyboard, the new version brings a slew of features that ione users have already been enjoying, most notably a search bar built right into the top row. st tap the tiny arrow to the left of the predictive text field you’ll see a series of new options. Exp the magnifying glass you’ll be able to search via a tiny browser to easily send links, pics, , most importantly, GIFs to your friends. You can also change the theme, adjust settings, turn on one-hed mode, enable dictation from the same options bar.

gboard searching

Search for just the right GIF, image, or link to drive your point home.

so new is a search field for the emoji picker a dedicated number row that can be toggled on in settings, you can also opt to show the “G” button in the predictive text row. Elsewhere, ’s gesture typing has been renamed Glide Typing, but it seems to work exactly the same. The update is currently rolling out to the ay Store, but if you don’t want to wait ( we don’t blame you), sideload the -signed A from A Mirror.

The impact on you at home: ’re generally okay with sharing Android apps services with the greater iOS community, but we never understood why Gboard was exclusive to the ione for so long. But all is forgiven. The Android version of Gboard brings everything the iOS one does, we couldn’t ask for a better early tmas gift.