The latest Gboard update is rolling out to the beta channel, and this one comes with the promise of a very heavily requested feature: Clipboard integration. Soon we'll be able to copy stacks of things between applications without hopping back and forth for each and every line. There are also interesting strings suggesting we might get improved voice typing.

Teardown

Disclaimer: Teardowns are based on evidence found inside of apks (Android's application package) and are necessarily speculative and usually based on incomplete information. It's possible that the guesses made here are wrong or inaccurate. Even when predictions are correct, there is always a chance that products could change or may be canceled. Much like rumors, nothing is certain until it's officially announced and released. Disclaimer: Teardowns are based on evidence found inside of apks (Android's application package) and are necessarily speculative and usually based on incomplete information. It's possible that the guesses made here are wrong or inaccurate. Even when predictions are correct, there is always a chance that products could change or may be canceled. Much like rumors, nothing is certain until it's officially announced and released. The features discussed below are probably not live yet, or may only be live for a small percentage of users. Unless stated otherwise, don't expect to see these features if you install the apk. All screenshots and images are real unless otherwise stated, and images are only altered to remove personal information.

Clipboard manager

We previously came across the first hints of a clipboard manager a couple months ago with the v7.5 teardown, but quite a bit more has been added and it looks like this thing might be ready to launch.

The original hints didn't really detail much, but it was a safe bet that this would be a fairly traditional clipboard manager with a history of copied text that could be pasted in from a list. With the text in this update, that can now be confirmed. Additionally, there are lines showing that it will also be possible to pin items so they'll remain permanently available. This is particularly useful for things like mailing addresses, email, prepared text messages, etc.

strings < string name = " feature_card_clipboard_title " > Copy & paste with clipboard </ string >

< string name = " feature_card_clipboard_description " > You can now copy multiple pieces of text to your clipboard so you can paste them later. </ string > < string name = " clipboard_access_point_content_desc " > Clipboard </ string >

< string name = " clipboard_add_content_desc " > Add one item </ string >

< string name = " clipboard_batch_delete_content_desc " > Delete selected items </ string >

< string name = " clipboard_batch_pin_content_desc " > Pin selected items </ string >

< string name = " clipboard_batch_unpin_content_desc " > Unpin selected items </ string >

< string name = " clipboard_body_empty_label " > Empty in clipboard </ string >

< string name = " clipboard_body_empty_tutorial_label " > Copy a clip and it will show up here. </ string >

< string name = " clipboard_close_edit_content_desc " > Close edit menu </ string >

< string name = " clipboard_edit_content_desc " > Open edit menu </ string >

< string name = " clipboard_header_name " > Clipboard </ string >

< string name = " clipboard_header_select_label_default_hint " > Select Items </ string >

< string name = " clipboard_header_select_label_selected_number_hint " > %d selected </ string >

< string name = " clipboard_inactive_empty_reason " > Disabled because empty clipboard </ string >

< string name = " clipboard_others_separator " > OTHERS </ string >

< string name = " clipboard_pinned_separator " > PINNED </ string >

< string name = " clipboard_tooltip_hint_click " > Tap to paste. </ string >

< string name = " clipboard_tooltip_hint_long_click " > Long press to delete or pin. </ string >

< string name = " clipboard_tooltip_text " > Here is the clipboard </ string > < string name = " item_board_delete_button_content_desc " > Delete item </ string >

< string name = " item_board_paste_button_content_desc " > Paste item </ string >

< string name = " item_board_pin_button_content_desc " > Pin item </ string >

< string name = " keyboard_type_clipboard " > clipboard </ string > < string name = " pref_key_clipboard_first_time_to_use " > clipboard_first_time_to_use </ string >

< string name = " pref_key_clipboard_tooltip_shown_times " > clipboard_hint_shown_times </ string > < string name = " show_popup_for_item_board " > Show detailed information for a clip item. </ string > < string name = " add_clip_item_dialog_cancel " > CANCEL </ string >

< string name = " add_clip_item_dialog_confirm " > SAVE </ string >

< string name = " add_clip_item_dialog_shown " > Dialog shown to add clip item. </ string >

< string name = " add_clip_item_dialog_title " > Add a new item </ string >

< string name = " add_item_dialog_no_text_input_toast " > Please input some text before saving. </ string > < string name = " show_popup_for_undo_delete " > Undo delete view shown. </ string >

< string name = " undo_delete_popup_button_label " > UNDO </ string >

< string name = " undo_delete_popup_label " > %d items deleted. </ string >

< string name = " undo_delete_popup_label_for_single_item " > 1 item deleted. </ string > < string name = " system_property_enable_clipboard " > ro.com.google.ime.clipboard </ string >

The clipboard integration hasn't gone live for me yet, but it looks like all of the necessary text, icons, and layouts are here. There's even text for a feature card. I wouldn't be surprised to see this going live before the next version. I've only tried tinkering with it for a moment, but I'll see about enabling this shortly.

More themes

Speaking of feature cards, text for another feature card was added that promotes 53 new color themes. I don't see anything remotely like that from looking through the APK, but the name for one new theme was added: Sand.

< string name = " feature_card_first_party_theme_regal_title " > Change keyboard by colors </ string >

< string name = " feature_card_first_party_theme_regal_description " > 53 new themes so you can have a personalized, colorful experience. </ string > < string name = " kb_theme_color_sand " > Sand Theme </ string >

Sand doesn't appear in the list for me after updating, and that's not the only one. At least a few of the others listed in the APK seem to be missing, so perhaps there's a big reveal coming soon.

On-device voice typing

Voice typing has been a feature of Gboard since before it was even called Gboard. While it hasn't really changed much over the years, there's a lot of new text that might indicate something is about to happen. These additions seem to describe something that is almost exactly like the current offline speech recognition, but with possible performance and privacy improvements.

Specifically, one line explains that you can make voice typing faster by enabling on-device voice typing. Another line is a description of a preference that allows your voice and surrounding audio to improve speech recognition, but this one reads a bit like an opt-in that sends the audio back to Google.

strings < string name = " setting_agsa_voice_typing_settings " > Voice typing settings </ string >

< string name = " setting_agsa_voice_typing_settings_summary " > Manage all other settings related to voice typing </ string > < string name = " voice_activity_pref_title " > Voice & Audio Activity </ string >

< string name = " voice_activity_pref_summary_text " > Records your voice and audio on Google services to improve speech recognition. </ string >

< string name = " voice_activity_pref_summary_learn_more " > Learn more </ string > < string name = " voice_notification_on_device_title " > Make voice typing faster? </ string >

< string name = " voice_notification_on_device_content " > Tap to enable on-device voice typing (US English, 85MB download) </ string >

< string name = " voice_notification_on_device_progress " > Downloading on-device voice models </ string >

< string name = " voice_notification_on_device_enable " > ENABLE </ string >

< string name = " voice_notification_on_device_no_thanks " > NO THANKS </ string > < string name = " setting_enable_ondevice_voice " > On-device voice for English </ string >

< string name = " setting_enable_ondevice_voice_summary " > "Run voice typing offline for a faster experience. Speech won't be sent to Google or stored (US English, 85MB download)" </ string > < string name = " voice_language_picker_title " > Choose your speech language </ string >

< string name = " voice_snackbar_button " > Allow </ string >

< string name = " voice_snackbar_text " > Gboard needs microphone access in order to enable voice typing. </ string >

< string name = " voice_start_privacy_toast " > "On-device voice typing is active. Speech won't be sent to Google or stored" </ string >

While all of this sounds fairly normal, there was one anomaly that stood out. In one line of text, the English speech recognition pack was described as 85 MB, which is significantly larger than the 49 MB for the current speech pack. This alone has me pretty suspicious about the possible implications of an enhanced speech interpreter.

New languages

Left: v7.6. Right: v7.7.

With new versions comes support for more languages. While it's hard to identify each and every one, I can at least show the list of the names added and hopefully you'll recognize one that matters to you or those in your life. (Sorry, some names and letters are lost as a result of software that doesn't support all alphabets, which is why they have question marks or boxes in your browser.)

Language tag

Arabic [ar]

Localized names for sub-locales

????? [bal_XT]

?????? [bgq_XU]

??????? [blk_MM]

???? ??? [bpy_XT]

Br?hu? [brh_PK]

Nkob? Bulu [bum_CM]

Chahta [cho_US]

?????????? [cu_RU]

??????? [dhd_XT]

Gedeo [drs_ET]

Kadazandusun [dtp_MY]

Bahasa Hulontalo [gor_ID]

Wayuunaiki [guc_CO]

Migulimancema [gux_BF]

Ekegusii [guz_KE]

Harar [hae_ET]

Kihehe [heh_TZ]

????? [hoj_XT]

Iban [iba_MY]

Iu Mienh [ium_CN]

???????????? [kaa_XB]

Jinghpaw [kac_MM]

Kikamba [kam_KE]

"Q'eqchi'" [kek_GT]

K?rmancki [kiu_TR]

????? ???? [koi_RU]

?????? [kok_XU]

Olukonjo [koo_UG]

?????? [kok_XU]

Olukonjo [koo_UG]

????????? [kum_RU]

???????????????? [kxm_TH]

Lugbara [lgg_UG]

??????? [lif_XD]

L?v? [liv_LV]

?????? [lmn_XU]

??? [lo_XT]

Dholuo [luo_KE]

"Basa Mangkasara'" [mak_ID]

Bahasa Pasar [max_ID]

K?m??r? [mer_KE]

K?m??r? [mer_KE]

???? ????? [ms_XF]

????? [mup_XT]

Chindau [ndc_ZW]

??????? [noe_XT]

Deitsch [pdc_US]

???? [ps_XT]

Sasak [sas_ID]

Sooninkanxanne [snk_ML]

?l?nski [szl_PL]

????? [taj_NP]

Ateso [teo_UG]

Tol??? [tly_AZ]

Trinidadian Creole [trf_TT]

??????? [xnr_XT]

Likpakpaln [xon_GH]

Sub-locales

Arabic (Algeria) [ar_DZ]

Arabic [ar_EG]

Arabic (Morocco) [ar_MA]

Arabic (Oman) [ar_OM]

Arabic (Morocco) [ar_MA]

Arabic (Oman) [ar_OM]

"Pa'O Karen" [blk_MM]

Brahui [brh_PK]

Bulu-Bene (Cameroon) [bum_CM]

Choctaw (US) [cho_US]

Church Slavonic [cu_RU]

Gedeo (Ethiopia) [drs_ET]

Kadazandusun (Malaysia) [dtp_MY]

Gorontalo (Indonesia) [gor_ID]

Gorontalo (Indonesia) [gor_ID]

Eastern Oromo (Ethiopia)> [hae_ET]

Hehe (Tanzania) [heh_TZ]

Iban [iba_MY]

Iu Mien [ium_CN]

Iu Mien [ium_CN]

Kekchi [kek_GT]

Kirmanjki (Turkey) [kiu_TR]

Komi-Permyak (Russia) [koi_RU]

Konzo [koo_UG]

Karay-a (Philippines) [krj_PH]

Karelian [krl_RU]

Kumyk [kum_RU]

Khmer Surin [kxm_TH]

Lugbara [lgg_UG]

Limbu [lif_XD]

Livonian (Latvia) [liv_LV]

Luo [luo_KE]

Makassarese (Indonesia) [mak_ID]

North Moluccan Malay (Indonesia) [max_ID]

Meru (Kenya) [mer_KE]

Malay (Latin) (Malaysia) [ms_MY]

Malay (Latin) (Singapore) [ms_SG]

Malay (Arabic) (Malaysia) [ms_XC]

Malay (Arabic) (Brunei) [ms_XF]

Ndau [ndc_ZW]

Pennsylvania Dutch [pdc_US]

Sasak (Indonesia) [sas_ID]

Soninke [snk_ML]

Silesian [szl_PL]

Eastern Tamang (Nepal) [taj_NP]

Teso [teo_UG]

Talysh (Azerbaijan) [tly_AZ]

Trinidadian Creole English [trf_TT]

Konkomba [xon_GH]

Variants

Baoul? [baoule]

Baoul? [baoule]

abc ? ???????? [bns_transliteration]

abc ? ????????????? ??????? [bpy_beng_transliteration]

Cree [cree]

Fantse [fantse]

Gagauz [gagauz]

Ibibio [ibibio_dynamic]

Ibibio [ibibio_dynamic]

Lakota [lakota]

Pontic Greek [pontic]

Rangpuri [rangpuri]

Romani [romani]

?????? [russian_jcuken]

abc ? ???? [tcy_knda_transliteration]

Download

The APK is signed by Google and upgrades your existing app. The cryptographic signature guarantees that the file is safe to install and was not tampered with in any way. Rather than wait for Google to push this download to your devices, which can take days, download and install it just like any other APK.