GoKawiilDamien Wilde / Android Authority
TL;DR Google is working on several new tweaks for Gboard that could make the app much better.
Gboard could get a toggle to let users long-press the spacebar to switch to cursor mode, and a slider to adjust emoji sizes.
It could also get a new layout with full-sized keyboard keys.
Google seems to be working on some welcome new features for Gboard on Android. The keyboard is already packed with useful features, and the company is working on adding new ones. While taking a look at Gboard beta v17.7.4.932364120, we were able to get hands-on with several new features that could make the Android keyboard much better.
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Back in February, we reported that Google was working on adding a cursor mode to the keyboard. While that feature isn’t enabled yet, it’s clear that Google is still working on it. We were able to enable a new Gboard setting to toggle the “Long press for Trackpad” feature. If this toggle is enabled, you will be able to long-press on the spacebar to switch to cursor mode. Otherwise, you will be able to swipe on the spacebar to control the cursor.
AssembleDebug / Android Authority
This option is great because it means that the new feature will be entirely optional. If you don’t want to use the trackpad in Gboard, you will be able to disable it and use your keyboard normally.
We also reported a few months ago that Gboard could soon scale emojis based on your font size setting. However, it seems Google isn’t going forward with that option. Instead, in the latest beta, a new setting is in the works that lets you customize emoji sizes independently.
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