How do I get rid of Google Assistant on my home button

[dgcamero]

Most of the content is visual being enhanced by voice. Assistant is much more friendly to accessibility users than Now ever was, with the obvious exception of those who cannot speak... who can use assistant in Allo, or the Google search widget, Google app, browser, etc. Nothing has changed for those users.

Still, much less convenient for the hearing impaired (or those who are in their typical daily situations where they're not able to use voice for search) to have to stop what they're doing, hit home (pause to not activate camera if they're doing the next step), and possibly hit home again...and then hit another button or widget to access the most frequently used input method. Versus just holding down the home button and either typing, doing nothing to get screen search results, or having to say "OK Google" to activate the voice input / Assistant.

I'm going to guess there are more hearing impaired people currently using the devices with text inputs than vision impaired people who are using the devices essentially sans display. The only thing they're gaining is the ability to not have to say "OK Google" with their default input method on the device. And Assistant removes sound feedback!

I understand that many people think that the Assistant is the greatest thing since sliced, Blendtec'd, organic Siri bread, and that's fine if it works for them. My point is that Google actively chose to force a half baked revision of their premier app that makes the app considerably less accessible for the hearing impaired, and to a lesser degree, visually impaired people, and breaks easy, one touch, text Google searches. I don't care if they're going to add text input in the next revision, it's unacceptable to remove one touch text input, a long time key feature of Android, for a forced voice interaction interface. I just don't understand all of the apologies for Google for this exclusion.

 

[Aquila]

The screen search and all that is also still in assistant from any screen outside the launcher.

 

[LeoRex]

My point is that Google actively chose to force a half baked revision of their premier app

On Tap was extremely underutilized. Outside of my 'in the know' acquaintances here, I haven't come across anyone out on the world that even knew that it existed, never mind used it on a regular basis. There have been several articles here on AC and on other Android sites discussing On Tap/Screen Search's lack of popularity and use... And Google knows exactly how many users access the tool, and how often they do it. Most everyone just used the google search widget that gets popped on to every home screen.

Google has been trying to add in utility to that search. First, they incorporated Google Now, along with a home button ring shortcut to access it. Then they decided to make that shortcut more intelligent and introduced On Tap. But you can lead a horse to water and all that and no one used it. Google Now, which is 100 levels of awesome, is even vastly underutilized... most get reminders and updates from it and don't give it a second thought. So as great a feature as it might be, Google was left with a decision; take a whole new approach and shift to conversational interface or continue to expend a lot of resources on a feature that may never be utilized.

They took option A... just as Apple, Samsung, Amazon, Microsoft and pretty much every other tech provider has. So the Google Search widget is still there, that hasn't changed. And Google Now is still available, that hasn't changed (other than a replacing the old voice search with the far from half-baked Assistant).

 

[Iantuition]

Assistant is trash. Period point blank. No reason to deprecate the most commonly used feature of search engine (text input) to prioritize TALKING to an INANIMATE OBJECT. If they plan to "reimplement" it, that just proves even more how inept they are. How Apple of them.

 

[Aquila]

Assistant is trash. Period point blank. No reason to deprecate the most commonly used feature of search engine (text input) to prioritize TALKING to an INANIMATE OBJECT. If they plan to "reimplement" it, that just proves even more how inept they are. How Apple of them.

It didn't replace that. That functionality is still in the search app.

 

[Iantuition]

It didn't replace that. That functionality is still in the search app.

I said "deprecate".

 

[Aquila]

I said "deprecate".

Same answer

 

[Iantuition]

Same answer

Then your answer is irrelevant, as it does not apply to what I said. Also, I didn't ask a question.

 

[Aquila]

Then your answer is irrelevant, as it does not apply to what I said. Also, I didn't ask a question.

Sorry. 100% of the functionality is still there and though the same input. That's what I meant.

 

[Iantuition]

Sorry. 100% of the functionality is still there and though the same input. That's what I meant.

Now you're lying.

Also, this is what I meant: "In several fields, deprecation is the discouragement of use of some feature, design or practice; typically because it has been superseded or is no longer considered efficient, or safe – but without completely removing it or prohibiting its use."

 

[Aquila]

Now you're lying.

Also, this is what I meant: "In several fields, deprecation is the discouragement of use of some feature, design or practice; typically because it has been superseded or is no longer considered efficient, or safe – but without completely removing it or prohibiting its use."

Right but that didn't happen. Both voice and text input are still possible and easily accomplished. Please don't accuse me is lying. You not understanding something doesn't mean I'm trying to deceive you.

 

[LeoRex]

On Tap never had text input. Never. What it did have is an icon that dumped you back to the Google app where you could type in a query. The Google app is still there, the only thing missing directly from Assistant is the quick link icons.

In fact, On Tap deprecated the old ring launcher that brought you directly into Google Now... Requiring you to add an extra step to get into text input, which is no different than Assistant.

There are still several ways to get there... Hell, you could tell Assistant to 'open Google' and drop you into the same search On Tap to.

 

[Aquila]

Those quick link icons also seem to still be there.

 

[dgcamero]

On Tap never had text input. Never. What it did have is an icon that dumped you back to the Google app where you could type in a query. The Google app is still there, the only thing missing directly from Assistant is the quick link icons.

In fact, On Tap deprecated the old ring launcher that brought you directly into Google Now... Requiring you to add an extra step to get into text input, which is no different than Assistant.

There are still several ways to get there... Hell, you could tell Assistant to 'open Google' and drop you into the same search On Tap to.

Where is there no text input on Now on Tap? (the last version before Assistant was forced)

 

[dgcamero]

On Tap never had text input. Never. What it did have is an icon that dumped you back to the Google app where you could type in a query. The Google app is still there, the only thing missing directly from Assistant is the quick link icons.

In fact, On Tap deprecated the old ring launcher that brought you directly into Google Now... Requiring you to add an extra step to get into text input, which is no different than Assistant.

There are still several ways to get there... Hell, you could tell Assistant to 'open Google' and drop you into the same search On Tap to.

This is what happens when you start typing.

When I'm in a place where I need to be silent, and not say "open Google" (eh, about ⅔ of my searches) and I do want to search my screen at least half of those times, and the other third of the time, I just want to type my search without having to stop what I'm doing to open the app. It's inconvenient for Samsung users. I take it you're not a Samsung user because you mentioned the ring which Samsung never had, though they might for the S8.

 

[LeoRex]

And you can get to that same Google search widget any number of ways with as much effort. Besides, it's a matter of when, not if, Assistant gets a text entry shortcut, like the screenshot shortcut that's in there now.

So you have to alter your usage patterns a little bit. What did you do before On Tap? Software isn't static, it evolves in steps.

 

[Aquila]

Data from screen

Text search

Both still exist with either one or two button presses, depending on what you're doing.

 

[Brombones]

When I long press the home button Google usually comes up. Now all of a sudden it's Google Assistant. I went into the settings and turned the toggle switch off, but now when I long press the home button it only asks me to turn it back on again and won't go to Google. How do I fix this? I don't want assistant.
Galaxy s6

Change your phone language:
Settings > General Management > Language and Input
Try English (New Zealand), (Singapore) or (South Africa) or any local English which Google Assistant doesn't support.

Result: Long press of Home Button = Google Search

 

[cnpthe3rd]

Hate to break it to you... they are mostly going to just appease you a bit. Google Assistant is a core part of Google's services on your phone. You can turn it off, but it'll just ask to re-enable it, and you are not going to be able to go back to Google Now/On Tap (at least easily or without repercussions) ... because that feature is in the process of being deprecated by Google.

And you aren't going to get a lot of sympathy from Google, they are very proud of Google Assistant and have put a tremendous amount of time, money and effort into its development. (And they should, it's a great feature)

I don't have a problem with the app it is great but one of the best features of the Android operating system is the ability to use widgets from your home screen now the Google Assistant has completely voided this ability because you cannot tap your screen if you tap too quickly it thinks that you have double-tapped and opens Google Assistant.

 

[anon(238680)]

that you have double-tapped and opens Google Assistant.

You have to push and hold the home key to get GA. I can double tap my home screen all day and all I get is a sore finger.