14 ANDROID ADVISOR • ISSUE 46
REVIEW
of the home button from any screen, or by Active
Edge, a feature carried over by HTC from its U
(though it can also be found on the LG-made Pixel 2
XL). The pressure sensitive sides of the phone have no
physical give in them but can detect levels of pressure.
Setting the squeeze to your preference lets you open
Assistant from anywhere in the phone or even when
it’s locked. Unlike the U11 though, that’s all it can
do – it’s either on or off and you can’t assign it to do
different things like open the camera (it can be used
to silence calls though, it’s only other optional use).
Assistant baked into Google Pixel hardware is
still the best way to experience it, despite it being
present on other Android devices. Connection to
Google Home devices worked for me brilliantly,
and it all simply felt right at home on the Pixel 2,
whereas I have felt Assistant is tacked-on to other
phones, especially when they offer it alongside
Bixby (Samsung) or Alexa (HTC).Daydream View
Google also sent me a Daydream View, its improved
VR headset, to try out. It is very comfortable even
over my glasses and it’s easy to navigate the UI with
the included controller. Apps are a tad scarce but
the available games are entertaining enough, while
YouTube VR will surely be a gateway to the VR living
room of the future once everyone has a smartphone
capable of it. But if you’re after an HD VR experience,
this isn’t it. Having the Pixel 2 that close to your face
shows up, well, pixels. Text and video becomes blurry
and I’d rather just watch a TV.