> My grandma has an LG something or other with the volume and power buttons on the back, That design was actually based on Proper Market Research (tm) wherein

> My grandma has an LG something or other with the volume and power buttons on the back, That design was actually based on Proper Market Research (tm) wherein LG determined that most phone droppages occurred when people were using edge-mounted buttons and therefore only holding the phone lightly. With the buttons on the reverse you can keep a firm grasp of the phone whilst activating them. Plus of course it's a differentiator in a crowded market, but I wouldn't be surprised if it originated on a Chinese design. That's where the real innovation is happening.