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Digital car keys arrive on Pixel 6 and Samsung Galaxy S21
A YouTube Music widget is rolling out on Android 12, along with updates for Google Assistant and Photos.
Pixel-only Photos and Gboard features are coming to more Android devices
Google is bringing a suite of Pixel features to other Android phones, including Locked Folders in Photos and a 'fix' for distracted walking.
Google adds Gboard input to Wear OS
Google is rolling out the Gboard app to Wear OS.
Android gets auto-narrated audiobooks and expanded Voice Access
Google has rolled out a host of new Android features, including expanded Auto access, automatically-narrated audiobooks and app sharing.
Google is beta testing a new emoji shortcut bar for Android
The new feature will let you quickly tack on ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ to try and make up for ruining a persons day. Or drop a when it's time for another Zoom happy hour, without having to open a separate emoji keyboard. Sure, it might sound minor, but considering just how reliant we've become on picture-based communication, any shortcut is a huge help.
Gboard for Android combines old emoji to create new ones
Google has launched a new feature for Gboard on Android, which uses existing emoji as ingredients to create new stickers. The tech giant aptly calls it Emoji Kitchen, and it's rolling out to Android users starting today. Unfortunately, you can't create your own recipes to fuse any two expressions you want -- you'll just have to hope that one of the designers who worked on the project thought of what you have in mind.
Google's iOS keyboard can translate text into more than 100 languages
If you use Google's iOS keyboard Gboard, you can now translate to and from all languages supported by Google Translate -- that's currently 103. This means you can effectively type and translate in any supported language, in any app on your iPhone. The feature is a welcome addition, but it's a bit overdue. Gboard has supported translation on Android since 2017.
Google adds haptic feedback to its iPhone keyboard
Haptic feedback has been a feature in iPhones for the past few years, but you wouldn't know it while you were typing -- even third-party keyboards either use it in limited situations (like SwiftKey) or ask you to pay up. Google is willing to step up to the plate with a full and free solution, though. The latest version (1.40) of Gboard for iOS has introduced an option for haptic feedback with key presses, giving you reassuring thumps as your fingers hit the glass. You can't fine-tune the vibration strength like you can with Android, but that tactile experience will be there.
Gboard supports 500 languages just two years after launch
Just two years after launching, Google's Gboard virtual keyboard supports 500 languages on Android. That, according to Google, enables around 90 percent of the planet's human population to communicate on their phones in their first language.
Google adds GIF and emoji recommendations to Gboard
Users of Gboard are about to see their keyboard get a lot smarter. Google announced that its first-party keyobard will use artificial intelligence to recommend GIFs, emoji and stickers based on the context of the conversation you're having. The new suggestion feature will start rolling out today for English speaking users on Android, with more languages to come in the future. Google didn't make mention of the feature coming to iOS.
Google Gboard creates emoji-style stickers that look like you
Emoji are more expressive than ever, but the odds are that you'll never be completely represented no matter how many new characters there are. Google, however, has a simple solution: create your own emoji. It's expanding Gboard's Minis with stickers that recreate your face in a range of emoji-style expressions. If you dye your hair, pierce your nose or wear a stylish hat, you can share that look when you send someone a "hug" or "yum."
Google Gboard's floating keys make your giant phone more comfortable
Google is giving you the power to make its mobile keyboard float and to move it anywhere you want to. No need to chant Wingardium Leviosa -- it's Le-vi-O-sa, by the way -- just tap on Gboard's G icon, and you'll find the "Floating" option under its more (the three dots) menu. Android Police first reported about the feature back in September, but now it seems to be live for a lot of people. You won't find it in Gboard's change log on the Play Store, but we can confirm that we can already access it.
Google's latest Gboard stickers celebrate American Sign Language
One of the benefits of using Google's Gboard, aside from predictive emojis and GIF searches, is the cute animated stickers. Sure, most of them are fun and silly, but there are a few that carry deeper meaning. One example is a recently released sticker pack of phrases in American Sign Language (ASL). Google developed them under the guidance of Jessica Flores, a San Francisco-based artist and YouTuber who's also an activist in the deaf community. In creating these stickers, her goal wasn't just to give a voice to the deaf and hard-of-hearing, but also to educate the world about the language she loves.
Gboard bug breaks glide typing for some Android users
The glide typing feature of Google's Gboard isn't working for some Android users, with many reporting the issue on Reddit and Twitter over the last 24 hours. As 9to5Google reports, though users can still swipe the keyboard, the word results don't match up with the letters they glide typed. Google acknowledge the issue, telling 9to5Google, "We're aware of a bug that affects glide typing accuracy in Gboard. We're working on a fix." The company recommended that any user affected by the bug try force-quitting Gboard or rebooting their phone, which could fix the problem temporarily.
Google Gboard test makes finding a relevant GIF even faster
The whole point of Google's Gboard is to help you find relevant items without leaving your phone's keyboard, but how do you know there's something useful available while you're casually typing away? You might get a clue soon enough. Android Police has learned that Google is testing a smarter Gboard search feature that changes the distinctive "G" button when there's a relevant GIF, info or sticker search for what you're typing. Punch in "works for me" and you may see a sticker icon, while typing a famous name may show a magnifying glass to indicate that there's an info card. Tap the button and you'll search for the material without having to retype a thing.
Google Gboard can use selfies to create a 'Mini' version of you
If you want to send friends custom emoji using Gboard, you can either tap into your Bitmoji sticker collection... or use the keyboard's latest feature. Google has launched "Mini" stickers for iOS and Android, which use machine learning to craft personalized emoji from your photo. More precisely, the feature uses a combination of machine learning, neural networks and artist illustrations to conjure up the best representation of you, taking into account various characteristics like your skin tone, hair color and style, eye color, face shape and facial hair. Just access Mini from within Gboard and start the creation process by taking a selfie. It will then automatically create your avatar and generate packs of stickers you can use.
Google adds support for 16 new languages to Gboard
Google has been regularly adding new language support to Gboard, its popular keyboard for iOS and Android. Today, it updated the Android version of its keyboard app with 18 new languages, according to the changelog. You can see the full list of languages the app now supports over at Google Support (over 400!) and download the app from the Google Play store.
Google is resurrecting blob emoji again
Fans of Google's now-dead blob emoji have a reason to be happy today. The company announced that it's resurrecting its cute, flatly designed characters, albeit as a sticker pack for Gboard and Android Messages. What's the occasion? Well, it's World Emoji Day, of course. This isn't a direct replacement for the standard circular emoji Google adopted after unceremoniously killing its own version off, but if you're feeling nostalgic for a time before Android O it should do the trick.
Google brings accessible Morse code typing to Gboard on iOS
Google is expanding the reach of Gboard's Morse code support. The search firm has introduced the accessibility-focused keyboard to Gboard for iOS, making communication easier for iPhone and iPad owners with limited motion. As before, it replaces the usual letters with giant dot and dash buttons and offers text suggestions that include the Morse code for a given word. If you're not sure how to write, don't worry -- Google is providing some help on that front as well.
Google brings Morse code to Gboard
During Google I/O today, the company announced that Gboard would soon support Morse code, a move inspired by developer Tania Finlayson who communicates through head movements that are translated into Morse code and then into speech. She and her husband partnered with Google to bring Morse code to Gboard, and Finlayson said in a statement, "I'm very excited that Gboard now has a Morse keyboard that allows for switch-access, with various settings to accommodate more people's unique needs."
