Speak Your Mind: The New Gboard Update for Advanced Voice Typing on Android

Advanced Voice Typing in Gboard for Android

In a recent update, Gboard on Pixel devices and some Samsung Galaxy models introduces an enhanced voice typing feature that goes beyond the traditional method of hitting the microphone icon. Here’s how to use it:

1. Activating Voice Typing:

   • Open Gboard and tap the mic icon.
   • A small toolbar button with two downward arrows will appear.
   • Tap this button to collapse the keyboard into a pill at the bottom of the screen, giving you more space for other tasks.

2. Using the Pill Menu:

   • Tapping the hamburger menu in the pill reveals additional options such as pasting from the clipboard, translating text, and inserting emojis.
   • You can also switch the orientation of the pill to vertical for better visibility.

3. Voice Commands:

   • With the mic active, tap 'Show voice commands' to see a list of phrases you can use.
   • Examples include 'send,' 'stop,' 'delete,' and 'clear.'
   • You can correct words by tapping them and spelling out the intended word.
   • Emojis can be added by dictating their names.
   • For online forms, use commands like 'next' and 'previous' to navigate and fill out forms via voice.

This new mode in Gboard is a versatile tool that can enhance productivity, especially in situations where typing isn’t practical. It might not be for everyone, but it’s a useful feature to know about.