Google Keep could be up for a powerful upgrade that will bring new features to allow users to create drawings on their notes and add annotations in photos.
Google's note-taking app has been updated to v.3.2.415, and while the update for Android appears to mostly consist of bug fixes and performance improvements, a recent teardown by Android Police of the update reveals Google Keep is about to receive major new user-facing features.
Drawing mode will allow users to scribble in their sketches and doodles to their notes instead of typing in the text. We imagine the feature will be well used by users of devices that come with their own stylus, such as Samsung's line of Galaxy Note phablets. According to the teardown, drawings can be made from scratch or as annotations over existing images.
To add a drawing, users will have to tap on the Add drawing option that will appear in the overflow menu. There will also be an option to edit a drawing once an image or a drawing is already open in Google Keep.
Google has added a number of simple tools to enable users to draw on the app, including three drawing tools: pen (round edges), marker (straight edges) and highlighter. All three will come in eight different sizes. An eraser tool has also been added, as well as a Clear command to delete everything drawn on the note.
A full color palette is also available, but it is currently unclear what colors users will be able to use once the drawing feature comes out. Android Police found two color lists in the teardown, one containing 24 colors and the other 12, and no information about which list will be available for the update.
The full-blown drawing mode will be available for Android users and possibly for iOS in the future as well, but it appears Android Wear users will also get at least some limited functionality too. It is possible that Google Keep for Android Wear will let users view but not create or edit drawings on their smartwatches, since drawing on a wearable's screen doesn't seem very plausible right now.
The update message for Google Keep says drawing mode will sync with other devices, allowing users to pick up where they left off on other devices with the app installed. Users will also be able to share their drawings, as they can with their notes, and allow others to edit and annotate their drawings.
As for when the update rolls out to users, Android Police says the resources appear complete, and Google could be getting ready to push out the new feature very soon via a Google Play Store update. Of course, it's also worth noting that teardowns are not based on official information, and Google could very easily decide not to introduce drawing mode for Google Keep at all. Until word comes from the Big G itself, it's always best to take reports like this with a grain of salt.
