GBoard keyboard from Google

By peter, 12 May, 2016

Forum
iOS and iPadOS
Just wondering if anyone has tried the new third party keyboard from Google called GBoard. Here is a link in the app store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gboard-search.-gifs.-emojis/id1091700242?mt=8 I'm wondering how accessible it is and if it has any advantages over the standard keyboard that might be enjoyed by visually impaired folks. Sounds intriguing. --Pete

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Comments

By Fatima.Hamoud10 on Thursday, May 26, 2016 - 02:14

I wanted to try downloading the keyboard on my iPhone 5S but it is only available in the U.S. store. I live in Canada so I hope Google can expand the keyboard to more countries and regions.

By That Blind Canuck on Thursday, May 26, 2016 - 02:14

I also live in Canada and after a buddy of mine posted the news about the GBoard on Facebook, and many people were excited, I checked and noticed it wasn't available in Canada. Usually it doesn't take long before it comes up North. They might want to try it in one country to work out the kinks and if it works out fine, then move it to other countries.

By Chris on Thursday, May 26, 2016 - 02:14

FOr those of you who want to get the keyboard, try using a VPN. Internet Censorship is ridiculous!

By Dalia on Thursday, May 26, 2016 - 02:14

Considering that Google makes it money by gathering information about people and then selling that data, the thought of using something which could potentially track and report every keystroke doesn’t grab me.

I really doubt that this is possible within Apple’s ‘walled garden’, but there are some very clever people at Google who are tasked with finding and exploiting every data mining opportunity.

By Jake on Thursday, May 26, 2016 - 02:14

Technically it's not censorship if a company chooses not to make something available to certain regions. That doesn't make it any less of a stupid idea. However, a VPN wouldn't help in this case, as your Apple ID is set to a specific country when you create an account. You can change said country if you have a valid address in another one, but if you've a Canadian address and your Apple ID is registered in Canada, no amount of VPN use is going to help you. You'll have to change your country to the US but, if you do, you'll lose the ability to re-download any Canadian-only apps (CBC Music for example) until you change it back.

By Devin Prater on Thursday, May 26, 2016 - 02:14

I tried it. Unfortunately, it is like every other keyboard not native to iOS, not very useful for voiceover users using a touch screen. I had high hopes, it being Google, the makers of Docs and such, but nope.

By Fatima.Hamoud10 on Sunday, June 26, 2016 - 02:14

Hello everyone, just wanted to let you know that the Gboard keyboard is available in the Canadian app store. Also it is accessible to VoiceOver users. Although most of the buttons are clearly labeled, it can still be used.