Gboard is a keyboard that has delighted iOS users. The most fans of iOS boast of the good keyboard that Gboard is and of that very striking capacity that allows them to search from it without having to relegate to a third party or another application. It is precisely Google that in version 7.1.1 of Android already includes the ability to offer support for sending animated GIFs from the same keyboard, or what would be the API, so it will be a common denominator that an app of this type have this type of services; It won't take long for SwiftKey and others to update to offer the same.
Today he has brought Gboard to the Google Play Store to replace the Android keyboard. The appearance of Gboard means another step towards another type of keyboard, since it means having the search from the «G» icon, sending animated GIFs and the option of shortcuts. It is a first step for a keyboard that will be more functional and that will make things more difficult than the rest of the alternatives that exist in the Play Store. Let's see what Google brings us with its Gboard, that keyboard that has enchanted many fans of the iPhone and iPad.
A fast and very functional keyboard
Gboard quickly draw attention to the colored "G" icon located in the upper left, right next to the word prediction. When you press it, you will have the integrated search to be able to access even some searches that Google thinks are the most used, such as the weather or news. Keyboard change look at the top, where the word prediction is located to be able to change the subject, one-hand mode, voice search and settings. This gives greater versatility at the end of the day and allows us to access certain aspects from the "G" button.
The other great Gboard option are the Animated gifs. They can be sent from the same app from the emoji area. You will see the button located in the center, so that when you press it you can send animated GIFs from some messaging apps. The problem is that it is not functional in some apps such as Telegram, although luckily in this app you can use it from there without having to relegate to Gboard.
A step forward to what is Android keyboard
What Google has achieved with Gboard is to have the feeling that we are facing a more complex keyboard than it has always been Android keyboard. That it is more complete in options, does not mean that it has lost those qualities in speed and agility when writing, so we are in luck, since Gboard also presents those virtues and is found as the one that offers the best performance and response of all that we have in the Google Play Store.
Now we have to ask ourselves where are the rest of the keyboards they can't integrate Google search yet. A feature that by itself attracts a lot of attention and will get fans of other apps like SwiftKey to think about whether to continue with this or go to Gboard. Hopefully they can offer the same solutions soon as they are at a disadvantage right now.
You can access the Gboard installation from the APK that you can download below, but mention that it is only valid for ARM 64-bit processors and with Android version 5.1 or higher. Gboard I have installed it in my Xperia Z5 without problems, but in the LG X Power it fails to install it due to the CPU.
In short, a cool google keyboard that is becoming more complete in features and that makes it very difficult for the competition with the inclusion of the search button.
Download the Gboard APK