Google has rolled out a new beta update to Gboard bringing the version to V7.3. While there are not many features or changes, digging deep within the APK reveals some critical changes like OCR capabilities, battery saver mode support with a dark theme, custom text and more.
Gboard might soon get some OCR functionality, but for now, there are not many details about the same. It just states name and title. Obviously, the name of the string doesn’t match with any of the other toolbar features that are available in expanded menu button on the left. It is likely to allow users to either take existing images stored on the device or possibly open a camera to scan something immediately in front of you, then paste the content on the image into the current app. Since Google Lens also has similar functionality, it needs to be seen how the new feature changes things.
Google might soon bring the ability to add text to Gif. Users can add text, edit, and delete while you’re working on your GIF, and you can choose from seven different colors: Black, Blue, Green, Purple, Red, White, and Yellow. The company looks to be adding more effects to the ‘Make A GIF’ feature, this time Google looks to be borrowing from a couple of outsiders. The additions are called white hearts, an overflowing bag of popcorn, window shade rolls up, and more. There’s no sign when this would be rolled out to the final version.
Gboard might also be taking charge of cutting down some feature when battery saver is turned on. According to some new lines of text, when battery saver is turned on, Gboard may begin shutting off stickers and bitmoji. Interestingly it will also switch to a dark theme when battery saver mode is enabled. The setting for this will be in the Advanced setting screen once this feature goes live. The app might be gaining tons of new languages support coming very soon.
You can download and side-load the Gboard APK, and it replaces your existing app.