Android "L" Feature Spotlight: The Keyboard Selector Has Moved From The Notification Area To The Navigation Bar
Android L has brought a new version of the Google Keyboard with Material Design and an optional white KitKat theme, but if you're an avid fan of Swiftkey, its predictions, and themes, or any other third-party alternative, you will notice that the option to select your keyboard is now down in the right corner of the navigation bar, instead of the notification drop-down.
The new placement makes a lot more sense, because keyboard selection isn't a notification, is it? It's also closer to the keyboard and your fingers' position while typing. On the downside, it disturbs the navigation bar's balance by adding a fourth element to those clean geometrical buttons, and you may accidentally tap it when aiming for the Submit/Search/Enter button or Recents.
You might wonder what happens when this position collides with the menu button in apps that still use that legacy element. The resolution is graceful - the menu button appears in the bottom right corner throughout such app, but switches to the keyboard selector when you move to a text entry box. Logical, right?
Given that the L developer preview is only available for the Nexus 5 and 7 at this point, both of which have an on-screen navigation bar, we are still unclear on where the new keyboard selector will find its new home on devices with physical buttons, like the Samsung Galaxy S5 or the Note 3.
So, do you like the new position for the keyboard selector? Let's do a quick vote and discuss below.
source: androidpolice
0 comments :