You probably don’t think about it very much unless you’re using your smartphone to type a long email to a co-worker or are engaged in a heated debate with a friend, but your mobile keyboard likely plays a huge role in helping you communicate smoothly and quickly. That’s precisely why it’s a good idea to get informed about Google’s mobile keyboard update for Android users, and a mobile keyboard called Giphy Keys that lets you communicate more clearly via GiFs.
What You Need to Know About Google Keyboard for Android
Google has just released its fifth version of a mobile keyboard for Android smartphones, and this one has lots of user-requested features. First, it offers a few more personalization options compared to previous keyboards. Some old keyboard themes are now gone, but you can customize the keyboard height, as well as the outlines of your toggle keys. Those may seem like small changes, but they could be significant to people who endure intensive typing sessions or just want their typing to be finished as quickly and accurately as possible.
However, the appearance isn’t the only thing that’s changed in version five. Reviewers are particularly excited about a few specific functionality additions. Thanks to some redesigned buttons, you won’t have to fumble around to switch between typing letters and numbers on the keyboard.
You can also go into a one-handed mode that causes the keyboard to get smaller and only take up the left or right part of the screen. Not only might that make it easier to type something if your other hand isn’t free to use the phone, but it could also be useful if your device has a very large screen. That way, you don’t have to take extra time to move your fingers across a keyboard that consumes a lot of space.
There’s also an easy way to delete unwanted text. Just swipe left on the delete key to highlight the unwanted letters, and then lift your finger to get rid of them. Furthermore, if you’re fed up with unwanted word suggestions that appear as you type, just hold your finger on them and drag them to the trash can icon.
Thanks to features like those that make it more efficient to write long messages, you might find typing responses becomes a more pleasant necessity. When used to answer emails or with apps that transcribe voicemails for you, Google’s new keyboard could really save time.
What about Giphy Keys?
Since 2013, Giphy has satisfied people’s cravings for memorable GIFs. Some are even able to express feelings better than words. Recently, Giphy has released its own mobile keyboard, Giphy Keys, and as you might expect, it makes it simple and quick for users to express themselves through GIFs. It’s not the first mobile keyboard with that function, especially since iOS 8 was the first Apple operating system that permitted people to use third-party keyboards. However, Giphy Keys is generating a buzz because it also serves as a GIF search engine.
Once you decide a GIF is necessary to thoroughly convey your feelings while typing something, just tap the Giphy Keys button on the keyboard to go to the search engine so you can find the perfect option. Then, just select your desired GIF to insert it into your correspondence. Also, the most-used GIFs get stored for faster retrieval later, no matter which app you’re using.
Which of these new keyboards is better?
If you’re trying to decide which of the keyboards is worth your time, that’s best answered by evaluating how you depend on your smartphone’s keyboard, plus what operating system you’re using. This is especially true since Google’s update is Android specific, and currently, Giphy Keys only works with Apple products.
Either way, both these keyboards could potentially cut down on the amount of typing you have to do, which not only saves you time, but could also save you from wrist fatigue.
Photograph by Kaboompics