Google launches the voice typing toolbar in Gboard for Pixel.

The voice typing bar of Gboard, a feature that integrates voice assistance, has started being tested on Google Pixel phones through the latest beta version of the app. After being implemented on the Pixel Tablet last year, the new voice typing interface is now being tested in version 15.0 of Gboard.

This assistance bar appears as a new element at the top of the keyboard and provides a microphone, a backspace key, and buttons that allow users to open the keyboard, minimize it, return to the previous page of the bar, switch the language, among other functions. By tapping the microphone located at the right end of the bar, voice typing is activated, and a prompt saying "Speak now" appears in the empty space of the bar, awaiting voice commands. If the microphone button is pressed again, voice typing stops and a "Paused" indication shows up.

An interesting feature of this bar is that it can remain at the bottom of the screen or be dragged to the side if more space is needed for other tasks. While voice typing is in use, when the user stops speaking, some options such as actions are presented, and the function remains active until the keyboard is reopened.

This new voice typing bar design is available only to beta testers who have a Google Pixel phone and have the Gboard app installed. It is still unknown when it will be available for all Pixel users and for other Android devices and iPhones.