So it seems like Google really wants to spread the Nexus experience. Google has now released the Google keyboard in the Play Store. So for those who don't like their stock keyboard, and don't want to pay for a keyboard like SwiftKey, then go give the Google keyboard a try.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Google Keyboard Now available and Free!
- Thread starter PollyK
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
It's an okay basic keyboard. I love the predictions in SwiftKey though. It goes on sale a lot too, and I bet they're going to use this opportunity to go down to $0.99 again. Well worth it. The built-in themes are pretty.
It's an okay keyboard, but Swiftkey blows it (and all other keyboards) out of the water. Worth every cent.
Though Flow still needs ton of work compare to Swype.
Though Flow still needs ton of work compare to Swype.
Last edited:
Wow. I downloaded it to try out for fun. It's TONS better than I remember it being on the Nexus 4.
Google's really going crazy with their minor but frequent upgrades to their apps. I'm loving these upgrades.
Swiping is so much better now on the stock keyboard. I'm very impressed. As is the ability to slide to get to the symbols. The little line that follows you when you slide to the symbols is great. Auto prediction and correction seem better, too.
Might give this a go. Doubt it'll dethrone Swiftkey, though, but will try it for a few days.
Impressive, Google.
PS. If Apple doesn't announce any sort of upgrade or revamp of the iOS keyboard on Monday, I will laugh, and then shake my head in sad disappointment. Wouldn't mind seeing some sort of swipe-like functionality, too. They're so behind in this department, it's absurd.
Google's really going crazy with their minor but frequent upgrades to their apps. I'm loving these upgrades.
Swiping is so much better now on the stock keyboard. I'm very impressed. As is the ability to slide to get to the symbols. The little line that follows you when you slide to the symbols is great. Auto prediction and correction seem better, too.
Might give this a go. Doubt it'll dethrone Swiftkey, though, but will try it for a few days.
Impressive, Google.
PS. If Apple doesn't announce any sort of upgrade or revamp of the iOS keyboard on Monday, I will laugh, and then shake my head in sad disappointment. Wouldn't mind seeing some sort of swipe-like functionality, too. They're so behind in this department, it's absurd.
Lol I "updated" my Xooms keyboard to the new google keyboard and its incredibly laggy and slow. Problem is I can't really revert back to the old one. The Xoom was a Google Experience Device....
Edit, I take that back. Android makes it VERY easy to uninstall an update.
Settings > Apps > Google keyboard > uninstall updates
Edit, I take that back. Android makes it VERY easy to uninstall an update.
Settings > Apps > Google keyboard > uninstall updates
Has Swift key really improved that much? I haven't used it recently. Hated how the key were spaced before.
Swype has and always will be THE Android keyboard for me...
I really like the design of Google's stock keyboard, though. It's very clean, simple, and functional.
I really like the design of Google's stock keyboard, though. It's very clean, simple, and functional.
It's sweet you can change the duration of long pressing now, too. I always thought it was too long before when I had my Nexus 4 and was disappointed you couldn't change it.
Google could really make this keyboard phenomenal if they keep adding customization to it. Things like allowing us to set which secondary symbol goes where, or allowing full blown long-presses for secondary symbols on every key. Long pressing the period button for secondary symbols is a nice start.
Google could really make this keyboard phenomenal if they keep adding customization to it. Things like allowing us to set which secondary symbol goes where, or allowing full blown long-presses for secondary symbols on every key. Long pressing the period button for secondary symbols is a nice start.
Now all they need is to make their stock dialer and stock SMS apps available, and we are good to go.
Wait... wait... wait. You can not praise Google updates on an Apple board! Everyone knows only Apple has timely updates.
Sarcasm aside, I much prefer these core app updates by Google, over having to wait months to a year just to get an update for iOS (most of which try and fix things Apple screwed up in the previous update!)
With 60% of all Android-based phones now on OS 4.x, the vast majority of owners can enjoy every single update. Google is slowly bypassing the slow-@$$ carriers and their crapware. Thank the gods of kobol.
It's decent but I'm spoiled by having the numbers on top on the Samsung keyboard. Also, swiping feels slow.
Trying it now, I kinda like better than swiftkey, will set it as the default and see how it goes for the next couple of days.
It's growing on me, too.
I'm giving it a shot for the next few days as well. Definitely could use even more auto prediction improvements though. Nothing predicts as well as Swiftkey. It's rare, but there are times when Swiftkey finishes whole sentences for me.
Maybe the stock keyboard is still learning. ... Does it learn?
----------
Me too.
And unless I'm mistaken, the iOS keyboard, in particular, hasn't been updated in any significant way for YEARS. I was and still am an avid critic of the iOS keyboard. I won't go into details here so as to not highjack the thread, but in short, the iOS keyboard is dreadfully bad, and in desperate need of upgrading.
I really hope iOS 7 brings some improvements and customization to the iOS keyboard; also some swipe-like feature, please, for the love of god.
That is why I use SwiftKey in landscape and Swype in portrait. When in portrait, gesture typing is very convenient. I decided to give the Google keyboard a try in portrait as it has gesture typing as well. It gave me a pretty good first impression when gesture typing, so I decided to give it a week to see if I like it more than Swype.
I came from the Nexus 4 when I bought my GS4, so I was very used to the stock Android keyboard, I actually prefer it over the keyboards the GS4 came with. I had to find a 3rd party copy of the stock Jelly Bean keyboard and it was alright. The swipe feature was a gamble most of the time. As soon as I saw this thread I downloaded the Google keyboard and immediately uninstalled that 3rd party copy. So much happier now.
Decided to give Google Keyboard a try and definitely liking it. The one thing I disliked about the Samsung keyboard is no auto correct. With the Google Keyboard, I've been purposely typing like **** and it still spells everything correctly.
I like this one better than SwiftKey. Much cleaner and simpler interface, plus I absolutely suck as texting and Swyping, or whatever you call it, so I don't use that stuff.