Google releases Gboard, a third-party keyboard app, for iOS

Google is now offering a third-party keyboard for iOS.

Since iOS 8, Apple has supported third-party keyboards for iOS, each with their own unique features. As such, Google has released Gboard for iOS, a third-party keyboard that also incorporates a search functionality.

Third-party keyboards can be accessed from any app and Gboard features a dedicated Google Search function right from the keyboard. This means you can search Google from Messages, Twitter, Facebook, or anywhere else you can type on iOS without leaving that specific app. Google’s pitch here is that it minimizes the need to switch between various apps and rely on copy and paste to grab information.

The app allows for a swipe functionality, which means you can essentially trace out the word you’re spelling and the program will fill in the rest.

Finally, Gboard also benefits from featuring a full-fledged GIF search engine within. That means you can hunt for animated images to share with your friends right from the keyboard you already use without switching to a dedicated GIF keyboard or GIF search app.

Google offered the following description for the new app:

“Gboard is a new keyboard from Google for your iPhone. It has all the things you would expect from a great keyboard — GIFs, emojis, and Glide Typing — plus Google Search built in. No more app switching; just search and send, right from your keyboard.

Search and send anything from Google: • Nearby stores and restaurants • Videos and images • Weather forecasts • News and articles • Sports scores • And anything else you’d search on Google

GIFs — Search GIFs for the best reaction

Emoji Search— Find the perfect emoji, faster

Glide Typing — Type faster by sliding your finger from letter to letter

Privacy We know the things you type on your phone are personal, so we’ve designed Gboard to keep your private information private.

What Gboard sends to Google: • When you do a search, Gboard sends your query to Google’s web servers so Google can process your query and send you search results. • Gboard also sends anonymous statistics to Google to help us diagnose problems when the app crashes and to let us know which features are used most often.

What Gboard doesn’t send to Google: • Everything else. Gboard will remember words you type to help you with spelling or to predict searches you might be interested in, but this data is stored only on your device. This data is not accessible by Google or by any apps other than Gboard.”

Aboard is available for free and requires iOS 9.0 or later to install and run.

Via 9to5Mac and the App Store