Google rebrands Keyboard app on Android

Google switches things up with its Google Keyboard app on Android. Now called Gboard, the app brings with it built-in Google search and easy multilingual typing. Voice and Glide typing is still present on Gboard but with improvements. Google search is within reach on your keyboard now, so when you want to look something up while chatting with someone, just tap on the G icon and start searching. Multilingual typing doesn’t need you manually switching languages this time. It’ll just let you keep typing what you want. There is now also auto-correct for other supported languages (which Google touts as over 100).

Aside from these changes, Google also lets you search for emojis and GIFs with the keyboard app. You just need to type in the emoji or GIF you’re looking for and the suggestions will show up. However, GIF sharing is currently only available on Google Messenger, Allo, and Hangouts.

Google's Gboard keyboard turbocharges typing and search on iOS

In a surprise move, Google has released a replacment keyboard for iOS that integrates swipe functionality, access to search, emoji and animated gifs. As Google explains it, "Searching and sending stuff on your phone shouldn’t be that difficult. With Gboard, you can search and send all kinds of things—restaurant info, flight times, news articles—right from your keyboard. Anything you’d search on Google, you can search with Gboard. Results appear as cards with the key information front and center, such as the phone number, ratings and hours. With one tap, you can send it to your friend and you keep the conversation going."

I've been using Goard for few days on my iPhone 6S Plus and my iPad and find it to be more versatile than many third-party keyboards including iOS's stock keyboard. If you already like Google services, this one's a no brainer and worth checking out.