Share locations using any messaging app

Google has updated the IOS version of Gboard, its keyboard app. You can now access Google Maps and Youtube from within it. This is useful for sending family and friends links to your specific location, or Youtube videos when using messaging apps, like imessage, Skype or Whatsapp.

Once you’ve installed Gboard ( www. snipca.com/25182), there’s a specific way to to set it as your device’s default keyboard app. First, open Settings, tap General, Keyboard, Keyboards, then tap Edit at the top right. Now tap and drag Gboard to the top of the list, then tap Done. Next, open any messaging app to see your default IOS keyboard. Tap and hold the globe icon at the bottom, then select Gboard.

You’ll see the ‘G’ (Google) icon at the top left of your keyboard, to indicate you’re using Gboard. Tap and hold the icon to see three options – Search, Youtube and Maps (see screenshot above). If you want to share your current location, select Maps, tap Turn On Location, then Allow. Next, tap Share, then tap the send icon within the app to share your location.

Similarly, you can send another location by typing the address/postcode of the place in the Map’s search field, selecting the correct option, then tapping the messaging app’s send icon. The process is similar to send Youtube videos. Select Youtube, search for the video you want, tap to select the correct option in

the panel below, then tap the app’s send icon. These features are not yet available on Android, but could be added with a future app update.