A major update to the Google Keyboard app has added a one-handed mode and more.
It’s a commonly held distinction between Android and iOS. Flagship Android phones typically have bigger and sharper displays then their iPhone counterparts, but they’re less easy to wield one-handed.
Now Google has gone some way to addressing that distinction with a big update to its Google Keyboard app.
Version five of Google Keyboard adds a number of UI tweaks and improvements, but perhaps the most significant change is the addition of a one-handed mode.
The new mode enables you to choose whether you want the keyboard to be aligned to the left or right. Once selected, the keyboard will be reduced in size and moved closer to one side, enabling you to type one-handed.
Other improvements include the ability to customise the keyboard to a greater degree. You can now switch the height between five options.
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There are also some new gestures onboard, such as the ability to delete entire words by swiping left from the delete key, as well as an improved tap-and-drag selection gesture.
As spotted by Android Police, word suggestions now appear in the suggestion bar, and these can be dragged to a trash can if you want to remove it.
Next, check out our Android N hands-on:
Google is gradually rolling out the Google Keyboard update now, so if you can’t see it on your phone, give it a few days.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.