Google Keyboard for Android is a clean keyboard app, with spaced out keys, a nice big space bar and some innovative features that are going to make typing a breeze. On top of the swype typing that we are all used to seeing by now, you can swype through that big space bar between words. So you can swype-type whole sentences without even lifting your finger up. Actually, it didn’t find that I could type completely perfect sentences this way; but it’s a cool idea nonetheless.

There are additional language here, but what is really missing are East Asian languages like Chinese. There is a separate app – Google PinYin Input, with the same style of keyboard. It’s surely only a matter of time before Google integrate this properly into one app.

I found the layout of additional characters in Google Keyboard better than my stock HTC keyboard (in particular, it’s easier to access all the currency symbols); although there were also a few addtional symbols that I can’t imagine ever using, especially this one. I mean really Google, what possible use to me is a pilcrow sign when I’m texting?

You can quick access numbers along the top by holding keys, and with additional languages selected you can access all the accent keys you might need, by holding down “u” for example. Google Keyboard is fast, quick to set up, and visually appealing, but it still has its flaws. On the plus side, it's completely free!