Now, there’s a development in this story - a couple of screenshots of the alleged Gboard split keyboard have been posted online by the Twitter user @RKBDI. Looking at the screenshots, it seems that Google is using the conventional approach to slip the keyboard into two symmetrical halves, duplicating some of the letters (as mentioned in the previous leak).
Gboard Split Keyboard
The concept of a split virtual keyboard is not new, not in the slightest. Samsung and Microsoft have both employed the split option in their keyboard apps at some point, and even though there are some minor differences (Samsung splits the spacebar in two halves, while in Gboard it’s one piece), the idea stays the same.
There’s no information about potential rollout, or anything official for that matter. It’s safe to say that this option will be available through the dot menu on the Gboard app (you can see the button under the menu in one of the screenshots) but at this point there are no users with that functionality enabled, even in beta.
Tablets and foldables targeted
Anyone who tried to type on a virtual keyboard in landscape mode, would know how difficult this task might get. This difficulty grows exponentially with the size of the screen, and in reality, you just can’t hold a 10-inch tablet and type with both hands without some serious hand gymnastics (if at all).
The case with the foldables is a bit strange, as even the big guns like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 aren’t wide enough to cause any issue, landscape mode or otherwise. Splitting the keyboard onto the two folding halves might make sense, though, as users would be able to type on a partially folded device (for whatever reason).
Another far-fetched conclusion from this leak could be that Google is preparing the software support for its upcoming foldable device - the Pixel Fold. News broke yesterday that the company has canceled the device for the second time, and the alleged reason is that the phone is just not good enough for an official launch.
If that’s the case indeed, the Gboard split keyboard news is probably not tied to the Pixel Fold and the new software feature will serve primarily tablets running Android.
Back to the Gboard! It’s interesting to see if there’s a need for such a feature. Have you ever used a split virtual keyboard on any large-screen device? How was the experience? Type your thoughts in the comments below (on your regular or split keyboard).
Mariyan, a tech enthusiast with a background in Nuclear Physics and Journalism, brings a unique perspective to PhoneArena. His childhood curiosity for gadgets evolved into a professional passion for technology, leading him to the role of Editor-in-Chief at PCWorld Bulgaria before joining PhoneArena. Mariyan's interests range from mainstream Android and iPhone debates to fringe technologies like graphene batteries and nanotechnology. Off-duty, he enjoys playing his electric guitar, practicing Japanese, and revisiting his love for video games and Haruki Murakami's works.
Recommended Stories
Loading Comments...
COMMENT
All comments need to comply with our
Community Guidelines
Phonearena comments rules
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed: