Today Google started rolling out a major update to its Keyboard app for Android having new features and other much-needed changes. This update brings the app version to 5.0. The highlight of Google Keyboard v5.0 is that it can be handled with a single hand which turns out to be a welcomed feature for users with large screen phones. It is accessible by long pressing the comma or search/enter button. It uses an arrow key that enables users to switch hands. You can quickly turn it back to the full-sized version easily with the help of the expand button. The company has removed the previously available Holo themes and introduced the option to show key borders on Material Light and Material Dark themes. If you select this feature, you can share snippets with Google and let it meliorate the keyboard for everyone. To make the word prediction more accurate the function deals with keyboard’s suggestions
The height of the keyboard can be adjusted in five different choices ranging from short to tall. It also includes the option to long-press to drag and remove the suggestions from the suggestions bar. Some gesture in typing changes have also been introduced such as removal of dynamic floating preview, deletion of complete words by sliding from left on the delete button, and cursor control by swiping left and right on the space bar. Another new feature is the inclusion of shortcuts to the numpad and emoji keyboards in the alt/number layout that can be seen on either side of the space bar. Users can now also switch the long-press functionality for hinted symbols.
Finally, Google has also created a new password entry keyboard for users that replaces the suggestion bar in the keyboard layout by replacing the number keys, thereby helping to enter alphanumeric passwords.
