Gboard

AppWizard
June 25, 2025
Google has introduced the Pixel Studio app for the Pixel 9 series, allowing users to access custom AI-generated images and stickers. The custom AI stickers feature was launched with the June 2025 Pixel Feature Drop and is exclusive to the Google Pixel 9 series, including the Pixel 9, Pixel 9a, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. This functionality is available for devices set to English, Japanese, or German. Users must update to Android 16 and may need to update Gboard and Pixel Studio via the Google Play Store to access the feature. To create custom AI stickers, users can open the keyboard in any app, tap the emoji symbol, press the AI sticker button, and follow the prompts to generate and save their stickers. Custom AI stickers cannot depict anything resembling a person. The base-model Google Pixel 9 supports the latest AI innovations, including custom AI stickers.
AppWizard
June 20, 2025
Google is preparing to roll out enhancements for Gboard, including a feature called "SmartEdit" that uses generative AI for voice-driven editing, allowing users to add, remove, or replace words with their voice. Another rumored feature, "Magic Cue," may integrate with Gboard's clipboard to recognize relevant information in apps like Gmail for easier data sharing. Magic Cue has previously been known as "Pixel Sense" and "Pixie" and aims to provide time-saving actions. Additionally, a "favorites" list for Emoji Kitchen will allow users to save their favorite emoji combinations. These features are still in development.
AppWizard
April 16, 2025
Google is set to announce a significant update to its Material Design framework, focusing on enhancing expressiveness in app development, at Google I/O 2025 next month. Developer discussions have revealed a new theme called “Material3Expressive,” and a Google engineer confirmed efforts to help developers create more engaging applications. Evidence of this update includes a patch in the AOSP Gerrit related to “I/O 2025 Expressive talk code demos,” which introduces new code for the Material 3 Compose library. The update may refine the existing framework rather than completely overhaul it, with indications of a more visually engaging interface in recent Android Settings app updates. Anticipation for Google I/O 2025 is high, but the new design elements may not be immediately available in the stable release of Android 16, with a gradual rollout expected in future updates.
AppWizard
April 1, 2025
Google is developing a home screen widget for its Pixel Screenshots app, which will allow users to display the latest screenshot on their home screen for quick sharing or editing. The widget currently shows a single screenshot without customization options and is expected to be exclusive to the Pixel 9. The Pixel Screenshots app utilizes Google's Gemini Nano AI to organize and search through screenshots by text, dates, or specific details. Future updates are anticipated to introduce widget support and enhanced customization options.
AppWizard
March 5, 2025
Google has announced the March 2025 Pixel Feature Drop alongside Android 15 QPR2, which includes various enhancements for first-party applications, camera functionalities, and connectivity options. The update features Gemini Live powered by Gemini 2.0 Flash, enabling multilingual conversations in over 45 languages. The Pixel 6+ introduces Talk Live for discussions about images and videos, while the Pixel 9 series gains a "Connected Camera" feature for livestreaming with GoPro HERO10 Black or newer devices. The Pixel Fold series adds Dual Screen mode for video recording. The Satellite SOS service is now available in Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, the UK, and Europe for Pixel 9 users, allowing emergency contact without cellular coverage. T-Mobile and Verizon users can utilize carrier satellite messaging for emergency calls and texts. The Pixel Studio app on the Pixel 9 series can now generate images of people, and Pixel Screenshots will suggest items for Collections. Japanese users gain access to Pixel Screenshots, Studio, AI summaries, and weather reports, while German users receive similar enhancements. The Phone by Google app introduces real-time Scam Detection, and Google Messages will show scam alerts in conversations. The Gboard Voice Toolbar is now available on phones.
AppWizard
March 3, 2025
The Xiaomi 15 series integrates AI writing tools directly into the Android text selection menu, allowing users to summarize, proofread, extend, or rewrite text across all applications. Users can access these features by selecting text and tapping the AI writing button in the selection menu. In contrast, competitors like Google Pixel and OnePlus limit their AI writing capabilities to specific first-party applications. Samsung's upcoming One UI 7 update will also enable system-wide access to AI writing features, indicating a potential trend in the smartphone industry towards broader integration of such tools.
AppWizard
February 9, 2025
The Google Play Store is experiencing a bug that causes some Android users to receive repeated app update notifications for applications that are already up to date. This issue appears in the "Pending downloads" section, where affected apps show notifications for updates despite having the latest versions installed. Genuine pending updates display the update size and date, while these repeat notifications do not. Affected apps include Gboard, Google Messages, Pocket Casts, and The Athletic, which download minimal data (1 to 2 MB) without making any changes. Reports of this issue have surfaced previously, indicating it is a recurring problem, and Google has not issued an official statement regarding it.
AppWizard
February 8, 2025
A glitch in the Google Play Store affected Android users, causing repeated app updates for already installed applications without changing version numbers. Popular apps like Gboard, Google Messages, Pocket Casts, and The Athletic displayed no update sizes and indicated "Updated at [time]." Users noticed that a small file (1 to 2 MB) was downloaded for each app, leading to an "Installing" process, but the version numbers remained unchanged. Other apps experienced normal updates, indicating the issue affects both Google and third-party apps. Users have not reported functional problems, and the main consequence is unnecessary data consumption. The issue has been observed on Android 14 (Samsung) and 15 (Pixel) devices.
AppWizard
December 26, 2024
In 2024, Made by Google released multiple updates for the Pixel phone, introducing new features and enhancing existing functionalities across six updates. - January Feature Drop: Launched with the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, it included the Pixel Thermometer app for forehead temperature readings, Circle to Search, and the rebranding of Quick Share from Nearby Share. - March Feature Drop: Introduced with Android 14 QPR2, it featured an expandable Bluetooth Quick Settings Tile, a Material You volume slider, new casting options, and a "Hello?" button for the Call Screen feature. The Pixel Tablet received the Gboard Voice Toolbar. - June Feature Drop: Marked by the early launch of the Pixel 8a, it introduced Audio Emoji, Display Port Support for external screens, Gemini Nano technology, and camera improvements for various Pixel models. The Android 14 QPR3 update focused on minor tweaks. - Pixel 9 Series Launch: Debuted alongside Android 14, backporting features from the Android 15 Beta. Introduced three new applications: Pixel Screenshots, Pixel Studio, and Pixel Weather, along with Gemini Live and on-device Call Notes. - Android 15/October Drop: Introduced Android 15 with a Private Space option, Predictive Back functionality, a redesigned screenshot interface, underwater photography capabilities for the Pixel 9 series, and an enhanced Adaptive Vibration feature. - December Drop: Included Android 15 QPR1 with a Material You redesign for Settings, charging optimization, enhancements to the Pixel Screenshots app, a clear voice feature for the Pixel Recorder, broader rollout of contextual replies for Gemini, and Dual Screen Portrait Mode for foldable devices. Google extended Android OS updates for the Pixel 6 and 7 series.
AppWizard
December 20, 2024
Google is releasing Android 16, which includes the WritingTools API that allows app developers to control the use of AI writing tools. The API introduces two methods: isWritingToolsEnabled() and setWritingToolsEnabled(), enabling applications to manage AI interactions with specific text fields. By default, AI writing tools are enabled, but developers can disable them in sensitive areas such as password fields and email addresses. This aims to standardize practices across Android keyboards, as not all third-party keyboards currently follow similar protocols. The API is part of a broader set of innovations in Android 16 Developer Preview 2, which also includes enhanced haptic controls, searchable cloud media items, and an adaptive refresh rate API.
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