Google is preparing for a significant update to the Gboard keyboard for Android, which appears to be a direct attempt to reduce a technological gap with its biggest competitor. A new beta version of the app (16.8.2) reveals a new cursor mode that allows users to turn the keyboard area into a full virtual touch surface, a feature that iPhone users have enjoyed for nearly a decade.
The change, first reported by Android Authority, is intended to solve a long-standing limitation in Google’s keyboard. Until now, navigation by swiping on the space bar in Gboard was limited to horizontal movement only (right and left), forcing users who wanted to move between lines or paragraphs to continue swiping to the end of the line or to try to tap with their finger on the exact location on the screen – An action that is often inaccurate.
According to findings in the early version, a long press on the space bar will hide the keyboard letters and turn the entire area into a sensitive “trackpad.” At this stage, the user will be able to move their finger in any direction, including up and down, and the on-screen cursor will follow the movement with high precision. This is an almost complete replication of the mechanism first introduced by Apple back in the days of the iPhone 6S, which has since become one of the most useful tools for mobile text writers and editors.
The need for this alignment has become more urgent with the rise in popularity of devices with large screens and foldable smartphones. On these devices, reaching with a finger to the top part of the screen to position the cursor is an ergonomically challenging task, and turning the keyboard into a remote control surface provides an effective solution to the problem.
Although the feature is already functioning in the beta version, Google has not yet announced when it will be rolled out to all users. However, it appears that the company has understood that the time has come to adopt the standard set by Apple and provide Android users with a smoother and more intuitive editing experience, even if it comes with a noticeable delay.