LG G7's extra button on the side is apparently for Google Assistant

20 April 2018
Thankfully, LG is not going to develop its own virtual assistant like Samsung.

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Wondering about the usage of this assistants and so called "ai". I never seen anyone use it, not even for fun...may be just boring EU-customers, but what good is an assistant no one uses? And if you offer NO HiFi Audio to EU customers, why don't you offer "no OEM Assistant" to us as well? Want to push it for no reason at all? I hope Google pays money for including stuff like feed and assistant, I really dislike those products and wish to delete them. It's just nothing else than bloatware.

    ffs the power button Fingerprint sensor was fine

      Is there any stats how many ppl actually use these assistants? It seems to me that OEMs are spending time and effort on side things.

        • ?
        • Anonymous
        • 3DR
        • 22 Apr 2018

        Aspros, 21 Apr 2018How disappointing. LG being cheap as they are, they can't a... moreSamsung tried similar with S8/S8+ but I simply remapped my Bixby button to camera, even though they said you can't. A simple app download from Playstore and bham.

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • pVN
          • 22 Apr 2018

          Anonymous, 21 Apr 2018The bezeless trend is retarded. Bezels are useful. The beze... moreYou do realize that the phablet trend was/is even worse.

          People like big screens, but apparently not carrying f'n tabletops in heir pockets.

          Bezelessness partly eliminates the problem. I guess flexible foldable screens would completely eliminate it.

            • i
            • iMan
            • uwW
            • 22 Apr 2018

            LG designers were probably drunk when they decided to make the main flagship a 6" phone..
            They could've gone for a smaller screen with width not exceeding 69mm just like Samsung and then a plus sized phone like V3 for people who want larger screens with old aspect ratios.
            That would've at least kept some of their regular customers.
            They are done for.....

              • w
              • well
              • B{S
              • 21 Apr 2018

              If I bought this Quasimodo of phone, I'd probably need as much assistance as possible. Mostly from trained psychiatric professionals though, so I'm not sure how Google Assistant would help with that, but still good to have if I buy this disaster in the making! Another NOTCH on LG's wall of shame this one!

                How disappointing. LG being cheap as they are, they can't afford to invest in an assistant AI, so they naturally use Google's.
                Fine by me, less money wasted on a useless feature, more resources to try and fix the bootloop plague...
                Google make's money with every search. So we have this big search bar that follows on every game, the home button shortcut, which is more than enough for convince and already too intrusive for the one who don't need it. Why o why do we have to live with a button for a function we clearly DONT want to use? An extra button makes the phone heavier, more vulnerable, less waterproof, even more expensive. Since we don't need or don't want this function, why not be able to give it another use? Why trying to shove it on our throats?
                Money! Google will give them a cut...

                  • R
                  • RTX
                  • KgW
                  • 21 Apr 2018

                  Anonymous, 21 Apr 2018The bezeless trend is retarded. Bezels are useful. The beze... moreNot really. It is a matter of maximizing screen size over a smaller body. Just compare iphone X over iphone 6, not much difference in phone size but so much screen real estate. And yes, a lot of people can still hold a phone properly even with those slim bezels, maybe because of touch rejection or that people really does not care. People normally would want to see more stuff on their device.

                    • ?
                    • Anonymous
                    • 3gD
                    • 21 Apr 2018

                    Anonymous, 21 Apr 2018The bezeless trend is retarded. Bezels are useful. The beze... moreIt depends from what you mean by "bezeless". I have the LG V30 and for me its design represents a great compromise with its borders. In fact, I would still take off 1 or 2 mm per side and usability I think it would still be just as good (contrarily to the Samsung S8 or S9). Also, consider that many users use a cover as well.

                      nigerianprince, 21 Apr 2018You can only use it as zoom or shutter at once, not both to... moreOh. I understand now. XD

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • JG0
                        • 21 Apr 2018

                        Anonymous, 21 Apr 2018The bezeless trend is retarded. Bezels are useful. The beze... moreThis photo is an example of what I mean when I say holding the phone more securely:
                        http://www.devgaroto.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/person-woman-hand-smartphone-800x450.jpg

                        The thumb is on the front bottom bezel, and the rest of the fingers support the back of the phone. This means better grip. (I used Samsung phones before V20, and they had the navigation touch keys on the bottom bezel, so it was not possible to hold those phones this way.)

                        I also mapped the volume buttons to have functions in games and emulators. This usage would lead to more accidental screen touches on a bezel-less, curved screen edge phone.

                          Kiyasuriin, 21 Apr 2018You can set the buttons to be zoom as well, and even a vid ... moreYou can only use it as zoom or shutter at once, not both together, that's why he is talking about the dedicated shutter button where you can use it for clicking pics. and volume keys for zooming.

                            Good its not ThinQ button

                              Anonymous, 21 Apr 2018The bezeless trend is retarded. Bezels are useful. The beze... moreI agree. The PDA I own is built in a way that it has enough Screen estate for a good experience, and enough bezels to protect it from breaking the screen, it's simple minded people who push the companies to kill each available percentage possible of Bezels.
                              Frankly? I'd Rather have a device with the design of the G2 of LG, that ratio of bezels and Screen is perfect. In my humble opinion.

                                Shanti Dope, 21 Apr 2018It should be button for zoom function instead. Sony is doi... moreYou can set the buttons to be zoom as well, and even a vid start button.

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • JG0
                                  • 21 Apr 2018

                                  Anonymous, 21 Apr 2018The bezeless trend was about eliminating the last remnants ... moreThe bezeless trend is retarded. Bezels are useful. The bezels make it much easier to hold my LG V20 in hand, I can hold it more securely and comfortably. I can rest my fingers on the bezels. It also help in gaming to avoid accidental touch of the screen by palm and fingers. And bezels protect the screen from impacts when dropped.

                                    Shanti Dope, 21 Apr 2018It should be button for zoom function instead. Sony is doi... moreI wish it was also a programmable button like Samsung did on the S6 active before.

                                      Good thing they didn't follow Samsung's footsteps to make another virtual assistant. Nice!

                                        • G
                                        • Gibby
                                        • qbf
                                        • 21 Apr 2018

                                        I was excited about this phone until I saw the notch, then the IPS screen.
                                        Hopefully LG assigning the side button to Google Assistant will force Samsung to ditch useless Bixby and unlock the buttons on their devices to do the same.
                                        It's inevitable.
                                        Realistically who is ever going to surpass Google when it comes to their search engine capabilities