Gboard Testing Circle, Pill-Shaped Keys On Android (9to5google.com)
- Reference: 0176637591
- News link: https://slashdot.org/story/25/03/06/2242258/gboard-testing-circle-pill-shaped-keys-on-android
- Source link: https://9to5google.com/2025/03/06/gboard-circle-keys/
> On paper, it's a bit more modern (and rounded) compared to what came before. However, it's a bit cramped if you have "Long press for symbols" enabled, which goes from the top-right corner to being directly above the letter. The physical analog Gboard is moving away from is how most keys on laptops and desktops are square.
[1] https://www.reddit.com/r/GooglePixel/comments/1j4sh0o/gboard_changed/
[2] https://9to5google.com/2025/03/06/gboard-circle-keys/
Ultra Modern UI (Score:2)
This is a step above Sun's OPEN LOOK design. Well done, 1995 won't know what hit them!
Just like the original Speak and Spell (Score:3)
[1]Apparently going for the small but intensely loyal Gen X nostalgia market [wikipedia.org]. Now if they'd just put the keys in alphabetical order too.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speak_%26_Spell_(toy)
It's Fashionable (Score:2)
> The physical analog Gboard is moving away from is how most keys on laptops and desktops are square
In harmony with today's national trends, they're harking back to the Roaring 20s, when a handful of industrialists called the shots and the mechanical typewriters had round keys.
Your keys have shapes? (Score:2)
I just turn outlines off since I'm either swiping or taping directly on the letters. Seeing them in a row and nothing more is fine.
Also, sounds like some UX designer at Google has been looking too much at old early '60s typewriters.
Re: (Score:2)
You mean pre-60's before the boomers fucked the world over.
"Please don't fire me" (Score:2)
Literally, topic. This seems like a lot of UI designers desperate to justify their salaries doing random but highly visible shit.
Yea that's a nope. (Score:2)
I don't think I've ever heard anyone say they want round keyboard button on a phone.
I tried it on a physical mech keyboard of decent quality and it sucked this would be x10 worse.
Re: (Score:2)
> I don't think I've ever heard anyone say they want round keyboard button on a phone.
They wouldn't sell physical keyboards/keycaps with round keys if there was nobody that wanted them. I'm sure there is likely a subset of themers that would appreciate it. I see nothing wrong with giving people options, as long as it actually is an option.
> I tried it on a physical mech keyboard of decent quality and it sucked this would be x10 worse.
From a preference standpoint, I would agree. From a purely functional standpoint, I wouldn't.
Re:Yea that's a nope. (Score:4, Informative)
How would the experience using a touchscreen keyboard would be any different with round outlines, pill-shaped outlines, square outlines, or no outlines at all? It's just a matter of personal preference for what it looks like, that's all. And if you like the layout or not.