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It would be so great on Android if we could totally disable button and setup nagging screen for the voice assistant. The last thing that appears recently is th

It would be so great on Android if we could totally disable button and setup nagging screen for the voice assistant. The last thing that appears recently is the setup of the voice assistant forcefully showing up each time you connect and reconnect to a Bluetooth audio device. I'm so pissed off about that.

buro9 3y ago
Move the launcher to Nova, install Firefox, then stop and disable the Google app. That's it. That's how to get an Android without Google forcing anything on you.
- deaddodo 3y ago
  I'm using Nova and Brave, the behavior described by OP still happens everytime I connect my Sony BT headphones.
  - buro9 3y ago
    did you force stop and then disable the Google app? this is the step that takes care of it changing the launcher and browser have to be done first as the Pixel Launcher and Chrome really do expect the Google app to be running.
    - deaddodo 3y ago
      It's a Samsung, it never had Pixel Launcher. And yet, it still notifies.
      - buro9 3y ago
        did you force stop and then disable the Google app? this is the step that takes care of it
- fredley 3y ago
  That's how I was rolling until I got a new (to me!) car to replace a very old banger. It has phone connectivity and it's great, but it basically requires voice control, which works quite well. This meant I had to re enable the Google app. I want the feature, I just want to be in control of when and how that feature is used, not have it pushed hard in my face repeatedly.
jansan 3y ago
On Pixel 7 if you press the power button, even for a long time, it will not shut off. Instead Google Assistant is popping up, which is very annoying and unintuitive. Not sure if they fixed it for the Pixel 8.
- pastrami_panda 3y ago
  There's a setting to disable it, I own a Pixel 7 and turned it off on day one.
  - NotCamelCase 3y ago
    I'm considering getting a Pixel 7 or 8, how do you like your device in general? I'm looking for a cheapish, hassle-free device that doesn't require much maintenance or tinkering with and that just works.
    - yencabulator 3y ago
      For cheapish, put an "a" at the end. Unless you're looking for a status symbol or the ultimate camera, you won't care about the difference in models. Pixels are great phones, I've been on them since they were still called Nexus. There are hints of enshittification, with Pixel-only features and what not, but it's not gotten out of hand yet, and I will argue Pixels are the best (non-de-Googled) Android experience -- as they are meant to be Android showcases.
      - NotCamelCase 3y ago
        Thank you! This sounds like it's what I am after. I've been using Xiaomi phones for the same purpose, but they started neglecting software side heavily since last year or so. This should be a good replacement.
- halflings 3y ago
  Counterpoint: On iPhone, I use this feature all the time (mostly to set alarms tbh, but occasionally to start loading some music or else). There's a reason it's there and easily accessible. (and you can disable it from settings if you'd rather not have that)
rchaud 3y ago
I'm on a Samsung Fold, the default UI mercifully keeps the Bixby assistant well out of my way. But I have to disable the Google app to get rid of the voice assistant activating at random times.

buro9 3y ago

Move the launcher to Nova, install Firefox, then stop and disable the Google app. That's it. That's how to get an Android without Google forcing anything on you.

deaddodo 3y ago
I'm using Nova and Brave, the behavior described by OP still happens everytime I connect my Sony BT headphones.
- buro9 3y ago
  did you force stop and then disable the Google app? this is the step that takes care of it changing the launcher and browser have to be done first as the Pixel Launcher and Chrome really do expect the Google app to be running.
  - deaddodo 3y ago
    It's a Samsung, it never had Pixel Launcher. And yet, it still notifies.
    - buro9 3y ago
      did you force stop and then disable the Google app? this is the step that takes care of it
fredley 3y ago
That's how I was rolling until I got a new (to me!) car to replace a very old banger. It has phone connectivity and it's great, but it basically requires voice control, which works quite well. This meant I had to re enable the Google app. I want the feature, I just want to be in control of when and how that feature is used, not have it pushed hard in my face repeatedly.

jansan 3y ago

On Pixel 7 if you press the power button, even for a long time, it will not shut off. Instead Google Assistant is popping up, which is very annoying and unintuitive. Not sure if they fixed it for the Pixel 8.

pastrami_panda 3y ago
There's a setting to disable it, I own a Pixel 7 and turned it off on day one.
- NotCamelCase 3y ago
  I'm considering getting a Pixel 7 or 8, how do you like your device in general? I'm looking for a cheapish, hassle-free device that doesn't require much maintenance or tinkering with and that just works.
  - yencabulator 3y ago
    For cheapish, put an "a" at the end. Unless you're looking for a status symbol or the ultimate camera, you won't care about the difference in models. Pixels are great phones, I've been on them since they were still called Nexus. There are hints of enshittification, with Pixel-only features and what not, but it's not gotten out of hand yet, and I will argue Pixels are the best (non-de-Googled) Android experience -- as they are meant to be Android showcases.
    - NotCamelCase 3y ago
      Thank you! This sounds like it's what I am after. I've been using Xiaomi phones for the same purpose, but they started neglecting software side heavily since last year or so. This should be a good replacement.
halflings 3y ago
Counterpoint: On iPhone, I use this feature all the time (mostly to set alarms tbh, but occasionally to start loading some music or else). There's a reason it's there and easily accessible. (and you can disable it from settings if you'd rather not have that)

rchaud 3y ago

I'm on a Samsung Fold, the default UI mercifully keeps the Bixby assistant well out of my way. But I have to disable the Google app to get rid of the voice assistant activating at random times.