Slash Keyboard: A Great GBoard Alternative for Android

Google recently released the very cool GBoard keyboard app, which brings Google's search capabilities to a keyboard. Moreover, information technology brings features like GIF sharing, emoji search, glide typing and more than. However, the keyboard is only available simply for iPhone users, which is quite a surprise considering we are used to Google bringing its cool new offerings on its own Android platform showtime. This move has infuriated a lot of Android users and if you are one of them, we accept some good news for you.

While Google plans to bring GBoard to Android shortly, at that place's a cool keyboard app dubbed Slash Keyboard (Free) you tin can utilize on Android, which is like to GBoard. In fact, we are going to become alee and say that it'south even better than GBoard. So, let'southward go into the details of what makes the Slash keyboard better, shall we?

What makes Slash a great GBoard culling?

Third Party Service integration

GBoard brings bang-up Google Search integration, which lets yous search and send locations, videos from YouTube, images, news, atmospheric condition reports, sports scores and more than, right from your keyboard. GBoard is cool but Slash keyboard includes a ton of third party services integrated right into its keyboard. The 3rd party services available in Slash include Amazon, Google Search, Maps, YouTube, Twitter, Contacts, NY Times, GIFs from Giphy, Foursquare, Spotify, Apple Music and more. Then, after you start using Slash, you won't accept to switch among different apps to share something to people you are chatting.

Slash Keyboard

Custom Slashes

If you use a sure phrase or message regularly, you can create a custom "slash". This brings a message available at a tap from your keyboard, so you lot don't accept to type it all over again and again. For instance, you can create a custom slash dubbed "/wru" with the shortcut every bit "Where are you?". So, when y'alltype /wru from the keyboard, it volition automatically turn to Where are you? Pretty cool, right?

Slash keyboard custom slash

What Slash lacks when compared to GBoard?

Emoji Search

GBoard brings the ability to search for emojis. Yes, you heard that right, you tin type an expression like "Anger" and you will exist shown aroused emojis. Sadly, Slash lacks this power, so if yous like this feature, y'all will have to wait for GBoard to make it on Android.

Swipe typing

Glide aka swipe aka gesture typing is now the norm in most keyboard apps, then information technology's no surprise that GBoard packs in the functionality. However, Slash lacks this feature and that could be a deal breaker for some.

Set upwards and use Slash keyboard

If you are planning on using the Slash keyboard, hither's how to set things up and get slashing:

ane. When you start open up Slash, the app volition ask you lot to enable the keyboard. To do it, go to Settings-> Language & input and tap on "Current keyboard" and hit the "Choose Keyboards" button. Here, go alee and enable "Android Keyboard (AOSP)".

Slash Keyboard Enable

Note : While Slash says, y'all will observe the keyboard in the listing with the name "%due south", we found information technology as Android Keyboard (AOSP).

two. After you have enabled Slash, the app will ask you lot to switch from your current keyboard to Slash. You can do that past hit 'the link' app shows you or by going to Settings->Language and input->Current keyboard.

3. Afterwards you lot are done, the app will open up upward and you volition see all the slashes for dissimilar services along with your ain custom slashes. To create a custom slash, you can tap the "Create a slash" push at the bottom. You can even turn off a slash by just toggling it off from the principal page of the app. On the Settings front, the app includes the usual keyboard options similar auto-capitalization, text correction, theme etc.

Slash Keyboard Settings

When it comes to using the Slash keyboard, it'south fairly simple. The keyboard looks similar to Google keyboard but adds a shortcut bar at the top for emojis, GIFs, search and the third party services yous choose to accept. You lot can just tap on ane of the shortcuts to commencement using a third political party service correct from the keyboard. You lot can even type a "/" to get a list of all slashes. Also, when you share a YouTube video or a place from Square, they volition go through equally a link from Slash. To customize the shortcut bar, just hit the iii dot push button on the correct end.

Slash Keyboard options

Install: (Gratis)

Run across Also: How to Install and Utilize Google Voice Access App on Your Android

Try Slash Keyboard and you might forget GBoard

If you can live without swipe typing, which is tough if y'all are accepted to it, then you lot will surely enjoy Slash keyboard. In fact, you might end up liking Slash keyboard so much that GBoard'south absence from Android would non even carp you. To sum things up, Slash keyboard is more than simply a GBoard alternative and nosotros certainly promise that the developers pay some attending and bring features swipe typing to brand it an even better keyboard app.