Gboard's New Shortcuts Button Breaks the Symmetry of Your Keyboard Layout

Gboard Changes the Shortcuts Button, Breaking Symmetry

Summary:

• Event: Gboard, Google's popular Android keyboard, has modified its shortcuts button.
• Context: The change comes shortly after Gboard surpassed 10 billion downloads on the Play Store.
• Details:
  • The 2×2 square icon for accessing additional shortcuts is no longer housed in a circular container.
  • Rounded squares within this icon are now filled-in, matching the shortcuts to the right.
  • The color of the button (white or black) now aligns with the theme settings.
• Visual Impact:
  • This change breaks the visual symmetry of the keyboard's shortcut row.
  • Previously, the circular container matched the voice dictation button at the opposite end.
• History:
  • Gboard has been gradually simplifying this icon over time.
  • Recent changes included a Dynamic Color background and a 3×3 grid of circles before the current iteration.
• Rollout:
  • The update was first introduced in beta earlier this month and is now widely available in version 14.9 on Gboard’s stable channel.