Google Play Games Update to Publicly Display Your Gaming Activity.

A new update to Google Play Games is set to launch, with a primary focus on publicizing users' gaming activities. The update will transform the Google Play Games profile into a central hub, making your gaming journey visible to others.

Your Gaming Profile Becomes Public.

The upcoming changes, rolling out starting September 23, 2025, will make it easier for people to see what you play. Your updated profile will showcase aggregated statistics and progress tracking from your entire gaming history on Android, and with the option to import your past activity, your new profile will be a comprehensive public record of your gaming life.

This new feature is designed to help users build a gaming community. The public profiles will make it easier for people to see what games you play, what your achievements are, and what your stats look like, which is likely to encourage new connections among gamers.

What to Know About Your Data.

The new profiles will be accessible directly from the Google Play Store, making your gaming activity more visible to the wider Android community. While the update aims to enhance the social aspect of gaming, Google has stated that you will have full control over your data. This includes the ability to manage the visibility of your profile and data and the option to delete it entirely.

Also Read: Google's New Play Games Sidekick Brings an AI Coach to Your Android Games.

Google Teases Major Nest Cam and Gemini Updates for October.

Google has officially teased a new era for its smart home products, with a major announcement scheduled for October 1. The company's teaser confirms that new Nest Cam and Gemini updates are on the way, promising a significant evolution for the Google Home ecosystem.

The most anticipated reveal is a new generation of the Nest Cam. While Google's teaser image shows a redesign, with a new look for the camera sensor, prior leaks suggest more is coming. The new indoor Nest Cam is rumored to feature a 2K video update, a significant jump in resolution that would improve image clarity and detail. Updates to the outdoor camera and doorbell are also expected to be part of the announcement.

In addition to hardware, Google is also focused on software. The teaser confirms that "Gemini is coming to Google Home," indicating that Google's advanced AI model will be integrated into the smart home experience. A new Gemini-powered speaker is also expected to be unveiled. This integration is likely to enhance the capabilities of Google Home devices, offering more intuitive and intelligent interactions.

Is that you, Gemini? Come in and make yourself at Home 🏠

Sign up for updates: https://t.co/V85WgPJvQN pic.twitter.com/JJaVRW385A

— Made by Google (@madebygoogle) September 2, 2025

This forthcoming event on October 1 marks the first official teaser for a new generation of Nest Cam products and signals Google's commitment to bringing its AI innovations to the smart home.

Gboard Gets a New Font Size Setting.

Gboard for Android is receiving a new update that gives users more control over their keyboard's appearance. The update introduces a standalone "Font size" setting, which allows you to adjust the size of the keyboard's font independently of the system-wide display and text size settings.

This feature is particularly useful for users who prefer a smaller or larger system font but don't want the keyboard's keys to be disproportionately sized. The new setting ranges from 85% to 200%, with "Match System" being the default. When you change the font size, the letters, numbers, and tool icons on the keyboard are adjusted accordingly, but the size of emojis and their category titles remain unchanged.

How to Change Gboard's Font Size?

1. After receiving the update (currently rolling out to Gboard beta version 15.9), you may see a "Keyboard font size updated" banner on your Gboard.
2. Tap the gear icon on this banner to be taken directly to the new setting.
3. Alternatively, you can manually navigate to the setting by going to Gboard Settings > Preferences > Font size.
4. Use the slider to adjust the font size to your preference, from 85% to 200% of the default size.

This update is part of Google's ongoing effort to bring a more personalized and cohesive experience to its apps through the Material 3 Expressive design language and simplifying Gboard Settings.

Gmail for Android Gets a Fresh Look with Material 3 Expressive Redesign.

Google is rolling out a significant visual update to the Gmail for Android app, which aligns with the company's new Material 3 Expressive design language. This redesign, which has been in testing for some time, is now reaching a wider user base, offering a more modern and cohesive experience across the app.

The most noticeable change is the introduction of "expressive containers". Instead of a continuous, flat list, each email in the inbox is now placed within its own distinct card with rounded corners. This creates a cleaner, more visually separated look for each message, which some users have already started to receive. This builds on an earlier design iteration that placed the entire email list within a single, larger container.

Gmail Old Vs New

The update also brings subtle but meaningful changes to interactions and buttons. Swipe actions for archiving, deleting, or marking an email as read now feature a "pill-shaped" animation that is both fluid and modern. When you open a message, the Reply and Forward buttons at the bottom of the screen are more prominent and leverage Dynamic Color to stand out against the background.

This Gmail redesign is part of a larger push by Google to implement the Material 3 Expressive design across its suite of applications, including Google Keep and Google Messages. The new aesthetic emphasizes rounded edges, playful motion, and vibrant color palettes to create a more engaging and user-friendly interface. While the current rollout focuses on the main inbox view and message details, certain parts of the app, such as the Compose screen and the home screen widgets, remain unchanged for now.

Also Read:

• Chrome for Android Gets a Material 3 Makeover with Expressive Redesign.
• Google Clock App Gets a Major Material 3 'Expressive' Redesign.
• Google Calculator Gets a Slick Material 3 'Expressive' Redesign.

Google Reassures Users, Reaffirms Gmail's Robust Security Following Misinformation.

In a recent blog post, Google addressed and refuted inaccurate reports circulating online about a supposed major security flaw in Gmail. The company clarified that claims of a widespread Gmail security warning are false and misleading, reaffirming the service's strong and effective security measures.

According to Google, Gmail's protections successfully block over 99.9% of phishing and malware attempts from reaching users' inboxes. The tech giant stated that its security teams are constantly investing and innovating to protect users from evolving threats.

Google's Recommended User Best Practices.

Beyond its own system-level defenses, Google's statement also provides a clear call to action for users, outlining simple but effective best practices to enhance their own security. The company specifically encourages two key measures:

• Embrace Passkeys: Google strongly recommends that users move beyond traditional passwords and adopt more secure alternatives like Passkeys. This technology provides a more secure and convenient way to sign into accounts, offering greater protection against phishing attacks.
• Learn to Spot Phishing: The company advises users to be vigilant and learn the tell-tale signs of a phishing attempt. By understanding how to identify and report suspicious emails, users can act as a crucial first line of defense against cyber threats that manage to bypass automated filters.

Google's detailed response aims to not only correct the record but also to empower its users with the knowledge and tools needed to maintain a high level of security in the face of ongoing online threats.

How To Easily Turn Smart Compose On or Off in Gmail.

Google is constantly rolling out updates and features to its ecosystem, and keeping up with the changes can be challenging. One of the most helpful, and sometimes debated, additions to Gmail is Smart Compose. This AI-powered feature has been a game-changer for many, helping users write emails faster and more efficiently.

But what exactly is Smart Compose, and how can you take control of it? Whether you love the feature and want to ensure it's always on, or find it a distracting hindrance to your writing flow, this guide will walk you through exactly how to manage Smart Compose on any device.

What is Gmail Smart Compose?

Smart Compose is a feature within Gmail that uses artificial intelligence to help you write faster and more efficiently. As you begin to type an email or document, Smart Compose provides real-time, context-aware suggestions for words and phrases that it predicts you might want to write next. These suggestions appear in a light gray color, and you can accept them by simply pressing the "Tab" key on your keyboard.

Unlike older forms of predictive text that simply completed words, Smart Compose is powered by advanced machine learning models. This allows it to understand the context of your message, including the subject line and the content you've already typed. For example, if it's a Friday afternoon and you're drafting an email to a colleague, Smart Compose might suggest "Have a great weekend!" as you're finishing your message. It even learns your personal writing style over time to offer more tailored suggestions that sound more like you.

In essence, Smart Compose acts as a writing assistant, reducing repetitive typing, minimizing spelling and grammar errors, and helping you compose messages with a greater sense of speed and flow. It's a key part of Google's effort to integrate AI seamlessly into its core products to enhance user productivity.

How To Turn Smart Compose On or Off on Desktop?

The process for managing Smart Compose on a computer is straightforward and can be done from your Gmail settings. Follow the steps explained below:

Step 1: Navigate to Gmail Settings.

Once you're signed into Gmail, head to the top-right corner of the screen. You'll see a Settings gear icon (⚙️). Click on this, and from the dropdown menu that appears, choose See all settings to access the full list of options.

Step 2: Locate the Smart Compose Section.

After you open the settings, you'll be on the General tab. Scroll down until you see the section labeled "Smart Compose," which contains the options you need.

Step 3: Turn the Feature On or Off.

Within the "Smart Compose" section, you'll find a couple of options. Simply select the radio button next to "Writing suggestions on" to enable the feature, or choose "Writing suggestions off" to disable it.

Step 4: Save Your Changes.

To finalize your choice, scroll all the way to the bottom of the page and click the "Save Changes" button. Gmail will then reload, and your new settings for Smart Compose will take effect.

Personalization of Smart Compose.

In addition to the main Smart Compose setting, you will also see a "Smart Compose personalization" option. This setting allows the feature to learn from your unique writing style to provide more tailored suggestions.

• Personalization on: Smart Compose uses your past writing patterns to offer suggestions that sound more like you.
• Personalization off: The feature will provide generic suggestions based on common phrases and grammar, but it won't adapt to your personal style.

If you find that Smart Compose is constantly suggesting irrelevant phrases, you may want to turn this personalization off and see if the more general suggestions are a better fit for you.

How To Turn Smart Compose On or Off on Mobile?

Managing Smart Compose on your phone or tablet is slightly different but just as simple. The settings are tied to your specific Gmail account, so if you have multiple accounts on your device, you will need to adjust the settings for each one individually.

Step 1: Open the Gmail App and Access Settings.

On your mobile device, open the Gmail app. From there, tap the Menu icon (☰) in the top-left corner, scroll down the list of options, and then tap on Settings.

Step 2: Select Your Account.

Since the settings are specific to each account, the app will present you with a list of all your linked email accounts. From this list, simply tap on the particular account for which you wish to turn the Smart Compose feature on or off.

Step 3: Turn the Feature On or Off.

From there, scroll down the settings menu until you find the "General" section. Within this section, locate the "Smart Compose" option. You'll see either a checkbox or a toggle switch next to it; simply tap on it to enable the feature or disable it, depending on your preference.

Note: Unlike the desktop version, changes on the mobile app are often saved automatically. There is no separate "Save Changes" button.

The Pros and Cons of Smart Compose.

Before you decide whether to keep Smart Compose on or off, it's worth considering its key benefits and potential drawbacks.

The Benefits: Why You Should Keep It On

• Speed and Efficiency: It dramatically reduces the time spent typing, making email composition quicker and more fluid.
• Reduced Errors: By suggesting full words and phrases, it helps minimize spelling, grammar, and syntax mistakes.
• Context-Aware Suggestions: The feature goes beyond simple predictive text, offering contextually relevant phrases based on the subject line, previous email body, and time of day.

The Drawbacks: Why You Might Want to Turn It Off

• Loss of Personal Style: While personalization helps, some users feel that the feature can make their writing sound generic or "robotic."
• Distraction: The constant suggestions appearing on the screen can be a visual distraction and may interrupt your natural thought process.
• Intrusiveness: For those who prefer complete control over their writing, an AI assistant can feel intrusive or even presumptive.

Conclusion.

Gmail's Smart Compose is a powerful tool designed to streamline your communication. Its machine learning capabilities are impressive, offering a glimpse into the future of AI-assisted productivity. However, like any tool, its value depends on the user.

Whether you're a fast-paced professional looking to save every second or a writer who cherishes every word, the choice is now in your hands. By following these simple steps, you can tailor your Gmail experience to fit your personal workflow perfectly.

Chrome for Android Gets a Material 3 Makeover with Expressive Redesign.

Google is rolling out a significant visual refresh for Chrome on Android, introducing what appears to be a new "Material 3 Expressive" design language. This update brings the browser's interface into closer alignment with the look and feel of other first-party Google apps, while maintaining its core functionality.

The changes, which have begun to appear on devices running Chrome 139 and Android 16 QPR2 Beta 1, are subtle but impactful. The most notable difference is a redesigned Omnibox, which now features a new segmented progress indicator with distinct rounded corners, replacing the older, continuous bar.

Image Credit: 9to5Google

Other key visual tweaks include:

• Circular Buttons: In the three-dot overflow menu, buttons for actions like "go forward," "bookmark star," and "refresh" have been placed inside circular containers, creating a more cohesive and visually appealing layout.

• Rounded Tabs: The 'new tab' button on the Tab Grid page is now housed in a rounded square container, and the tab, Incognito, and Groups switcher at the top of the page have also been placed within a similar container.

• Themed Tab Groups: The update introduces dynamic theming for unselected Tab Groups, adding a personalized touch that complements the rest of the interface.

Despite these changes, the overall button sizes remain the same, ensuring that the new design does not affect the usability of the browser. The update's rollout is not yet complete, but it signals Google's ongoing effort to unify its design language across its entire ecosystem, providing a more consistent and polished experience for users.

Also Read:

• Google Calculator Gets a Slick Material 3 'Expressive' Redesign.
• Google Keep Receives Fresh, Colorful Update with Material 3 Expressive Design.
• Google Clock App Gets a Major Material 3 'Expressive' Redesign.