Summary
Gboard gains on-device Gemini for writing edits and tone; Emoji Kitchen adds remix search and favorites.
Pair two LE Audio headphones or share group audio via QR to create private broadcasts.
Quick Share redesign adds send/receive toggle, previews, and immediate file opening; uses Android 16 Live Updates.
Google is sharing a bunch of new stuff today, but it’s not all reserved for Pixel users. The Gboard app is getting some new writing tools and easier access to Emoji Kitchen stickers, nifty audio sharing features are rolling out, and the Quick Share menu gets redesigned yet again.
If you’re the type of person who doesn’t mind letting AI do your talking, Google is adding some AI writing tools to Gboard. The new “Writing Tools” button gives you the ability to use Gemini to proofread, rephrase, add emoji, and adjust the tone of text. All of the rewriting and proofreading happens on your phone, so your data stays private.
Emoji Kitchen is one of the most fun features of Gboard, and now it’s even easier to use. When you enter an emoji, you can now see all the available remixes without needing to enter a second emoji. And when you do choose another emoji, even more suggestions appear. You can also favorite your creations for easy use later on.
Sharing Bluetooth Audio
Sharing audio from your phone with friends should be easier in the age of Bluetooth, right? In reality, it’s not a great experience, and Google is trying to fix that. Now, you can pair two LE Audio Bluetooth headphones to your phone directly from the Bluetooth pop-up menu. You can also share audio with a group using a QR code. This lets you create a private broadcast, allowing everyone to listen in with their own headphones.
Quick Share is Getting a Redesign
Google has pretty much never stopped messing around with the Quick Share menu, and it’s getting yet another redesign. Sharing photos and videos with a friend should get a bit easier—at least that’s the hope. Now you can quickly switch between sending and receiving files, get a preview of the photos you’re sharing, and open files you get immediately. There’s also now takes advantage of Android 16’s Live Updates feature.
Google didn’t share specific timelines for when to expect these features to roll out. However, I would expect to see them relatively soon, as they don’t rely on full system updates.
Source: Google