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Gboard Introduces New Toolbar and Enhanced Voice Typing Features for Pixel and Select Devices

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Google’s Gboard app is introducing new voice typing features for Pixel smartphones and select other devices, making it even easier for users to dictate messages and interact with their phones without having to touch the screen. While Gboard has long supported voice typing, the latest update brings several enhancements aimed at improving the overall experience, particularly when users are unable to use their hands to type. With these new features, Gboard expands the functionality of voice typing, enabling users to perform a wider variety of actions using just their voice.

One of the key improvements is the addition of a new toolbar for voice typing on Pixel devices. Previously, when voice typing was activated, the Gboard keyboard would remain visible on the screen, allowing users to edit text as they dictated. However, with the new update, the voice typing toolbar is now minimized and appears as a pill-shaped icon at the bottom of the screen when activated. This change frees up more space for the user to interact with the text, offering a cleaner and more intuitive experience while dictating messages.

Additionally, the new toolbar includes a hamburger menu on the left side that provides quick access to various dictation tools. One of the standout features is the “Show voice commands” option, which displays a list of available voice commands users can issue. For example, users can say “Send” to send a message, “Stop” to turn off the microphone, and “Delete” to remove the last word or highlighted word. There are also commands for clearing the last sentence or all of the text, as well as an “Undo” command to reverse the last action. These voice commands make it easier for users to manage their text hands-free.

Moreover, Gboard now allows users to insert emojis using voice descriptions. For instance, users can simply say the name of an emoji, like “smiling face with heart eyes,” and it will be added to their message. This new feature not only streamlines the typing process but also provides a fun and efficient way to personalize messages without needing to touch the screen. With these updates, Gboard’s voice typing feature becomes even more versatile, offering Pixel users and others a powerful tool for hands-free communication.

Global Smartphone Shipments Rose 1.5% Year-over-Year in Q1 2025, with Samsung and Apple Maintaining Top Spots, IDC Reports

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The global smartphone market began 2025 on a strong note, with shipments increasing by 1.5% year-over-year (YoY) in the first quarter, according to a report by the International Data Corporation (IDC). Total shipments reached 304.9 million units, marking a positive start for the year. Samsung and Apple retained their positions as the top two players in the market, with Samsung continuing to lead the pack, followed by Apple. While Apple’s performance reached new heights with its best Q1 shipment numbers ever, the company faced a decline in China, an important market for its products.

Samsung maintained its leadership with a 19.9% market share, shipping 60.6 million units. The company’s strong performance was driven by the success of its Galaxy S25 series, as well as the popular Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A56 models. IDC’s report indicates that Samsung’s strategic focus on its flagship and mid-range smartphones helped it achieve significant growth in the first quarter of 2025, despite the ongoing trade tensions between the U.S. and China.

Apple also saw impressive results, recording 57.9 million units shipped and grabbing 19.0% of the market share. The company enjoyed a 10% YoY growth compared to Q1 2024, though its performance in China saw a decline. This was due, in part, to the exclusion of iPhone Pro models from the Chinese government’s subsidy program, which affected its overall sales in the region. Despite this, Apple’s performance globally was stellar, marking its best first quarter ever in terms of units shipped.

Meanwhile, Chinese smartphone brands continue to hold strong positions, with Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo securing spots in the top five. Xiaomi, in third place, saw a 2.5% increase in shipments, moving 41.8 million units and benefiting from government subsidies in China. Oppo, holding fourth place, saw its market share at 7.7%, though its international shipments dropped. Vivo rounded out the top five with 7.4% market share, driven by strong demand for affordable devices and its V series smartphones, which performed well in emerging markets.

Leaked Samsung One UI 8 Build Hints at Early Design Tweaks, ‘Now Brief’ Feature Could Expand to Older Galaxy Models

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Even as Samsung begins rolling out One UI 7 globally, work on its next major software update, One UI 8, is reportedly already underway. Although the Android 16-based operating system is still some time from an official launch, a recent leak has offered a first look at its early design and potential features. According to reports, Samsung appears to be making subtle visual changes to some of its core apps, including the File Manager and Gallery. Additionally, the company may be planning to bring an AI-driven feature, first introduced with the Galaxy S25 series, to older Galaxy devices.

The leak, shared by SmartPrix, revealed One UI 8 running on a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 prototype. At first glance, the new OS strongly resembles One UI 7, suggesting that Samsung’s major visual redesigns were likely completed with the previous update. This indicates that One UI 8 may focus more on refining the user experience rather than dramatically overhauling the interface. The early build hints at an evolution rather than a revolution in Samsung’s software design strategy.

Among the minor but notable changes are tweaks to the File Manager and Gallery apps. The File Manager’s Categories tab now features a translucent background, lending it a sleeker and more modern look. A similar refresh can be seen in the Gallery app, where categories like Videos, Favourites, Recents, Locations, and Shared Albums also appear against a translucent backdrop. However, given that this is an early version of the OS, Samsung may introduce further refinements — or completely redesign certain elements — before the final release.

Perhaps the most exciting development is the potential arrival of the ‘Now Brief’ feature on a wider range of devices. Originally exclusive to the Galaxy S25 series, Now Brief utilizes Galaxy AI to summarize daily activities and device usage into an easy-to-read, card-style interface. When paired with wearables like the Galaxy Watch or Galaxy Ring, it can even incorporate health and fitness metrics. If the leaks are accurate, this feature could soon make its way to more users, enhancing the everyday experience across Samsung’s device ecosystem.