Who says Android users get all the fun? Today, Google released GBoard, a keyboard that brings search, GIFs and emojis literally at your fingertips. Instead of opening iMessage to chat with a friend, leave the app and go to Google to search for directions to the restaurant where you’re meeting for lunch, then going back into iMessage to copy and paste the information, you can search right in the keyboard, and paste it directly into the message.
It also brings a feature that the default iOS keyboard lacks (and I’ve been cursing it for): a way to search for emoji, instead of endlessly scrolling back and forth to find that sweet robot head I want. In addition to emoji, you can search for that funny cat GIF you’ve been looking for, which is in direct competition to the keyboard that Giphy recently released.
Gboard works in any app, just like a regular keyboard. It also has Glide Typing, so you can swipe your way through a long message or email instead of typing as fast and possible while your thumbs scream at you.
According to this comment on ProductHunt, a Google employee has confirmed that they’re trying to bring similar functionality to Android, most likely by baking it into Android’s default keyboard.
Now if only I could access my Google Now information through the keyboard. Check out the app link here: GBoard.
