It's been about a year since Google Keyboard 4.1 came out, and users had to suffer through incremental updates throughout that period, with no new major update in sight. Rather, that was the case until Monday when Google introduced Google Keyboard 5.0 which brings a bunch of improvements and changes to the fold.
That isn't to say that older versions of Google Keyboard didn't bring anything of worth. The previous version of Google Keyboard addressed a bug that caused users to lose auto-correction, suggestions and gesture typing, while the one before it added a couple hundred new emojis. However, version 5.0 is far more substantial, so much so that previous updates look meager by comparision.
To start, Google's lastest version of its keyboard app on the Android has an overhauled user interface with increased functionality. For example, not only can users adjust the shape and size of the keyboard, but they can also do this with one hand. After pressing the comma key, long pressing the key will toggle between one-handed and standard modes.
Next, Google has an added an option that allows users to dictate just how much screen space Google Keyboard takes up. Users can adjust the new Keyboard Height slider to either "Short, "Tall" or "Mid-tall" which lies right in between.
Furthermore, Google added the ability to show and hide keyboard borders on individual keys, which not only offers improved visibility but also kills off keyboard holo themes.
However, the most notable addition are the new gesture commands that users of the Swype keyboard will feel right at home with. For example, sliding your finger from letter to letter can complete a word before you've finished the gesture, while lifting your finger is the equivalent of using a spacebar. In addition, swiping the delete key to the left deletes words, while a left or right swipe across the space bar moves the keyboard cursor in the correspoing direction to make for easy edits.
Google Keyboard version 5.0 is already on the Play Store. Those who can't get it there can also go to APKMirror which is mirroring copies of the APK and can be downloaded HERE.
Check out a video of Google Keyboard 5.0 in action below:
