LG’s next flagship handset, the LG G7 ThinQ, could be getting a dedicated Google Assistant button, according to a new report from CNET. 

Set to be revealed in New York on May 2, 2018, the G7 ThinQ will reportedly include a physical button on the left side of the phone that will launch Google Assistant when pressed. 

The featured button is very similar to what competitor Samsung has implemented on each of its flagship phones since last year’s Galaxy S8, all of which sport a dedicated (and somewhat controversial) button for the company’s own proprietary AI voice assistant, Bixby.

Better than Bixby?

Though it pioneered the dedicated voice assistant button, not everyone is a fan of Samsung’s approach with Bixby, with stories explaining how to disable the Bixby key still being quite common over a year after its launch. 

If accurate, the LG G7 ThinQ will be the first product with a dedicated button for launching Google Assistant — we just hope LG also offers the ability to disable or remap the button, because nothing is more frustrating than the accidental launch of a voice assistant. 

The South Korean electronics giant appears to be doubling down hard on artificial intelligence this year — it’s the the company’s second 2018 handset to boast its AI-focused ThinQ branding after the LG V30S ThinQ.

http://www.techradar.com/news/lgs-upcoming-g7-thinq-could-have-a-dedicated-button-for-google-assistant

Since 2014, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has been fighting a legal battle with Valve over what it believed to be breaches to the Australian Consumer Law made by the company’s online PC marketplace, Steam.

Now, the High Court of Australia has upheld its December 2017 ruling on the matter, denying the appeal that the company has since made, and Valve Corporation will have to pay AU$3 million for “misleading or deceptive conduct”.

No swap-backs

While Valve introduced a legitimate refund policy for Steam games halfway through 2015, its official policy prior to that was, “unless required by local law, we do not offer refunds or exchanges”, and this is what the ACCC took issue with.

Australian Consumer Law (which just happens to be “local law” in this case) requires that refunds be available to customers on faulty goods, and while Valve was known to offer refunds on a case-by-case basis, it’s official stance was not to offer them at all.

Over the years that the trial took place, Valve defended its position by claiming it didn’t actually conduct business in Australia, and that its games weren’t technically “goods”, but this didn’t fly with the court.

ACCC Commissioner Sarah Court views this as an “important precedent” for local Australian consumer rights being applied to goods bought from overseas companies.

http://www.techradar.com/news/valve-has-copped-a-audollar3-million-fine-for-breaching-australias-consumer-laws

PayPal Australia has made a number of changes to its financial services guide, including adding a new $5.99 fee for overseas personal money transfers to a “friend and family member”.

If all or part of that transfer is covered by a credit or debit card, Aussies will also cop a 2.6% fee, plus a currency conversion fee. Before the updated terms, this fee was 2.4%.

It’s important to note that the new fees are incurred by Australian account holders sending money out of the country that doesn’t involve international commercial transactions. 

And while it might be meant for sending your family some dosh when needed, it should be noted that some sellers request a “personal transaction” as opposed to a “goods and services” settlement when making a purchase. 

Commercial transactions, however, will not incur any fees if there is no currency conversion required. So as long as you pay in Aussie dollary-doos, you won’t be paying extra fees for buying something.

[Via Reddit]

http://www.techradar.com/news/paypal-australia-introduces-a-new-dollar6-fee-for-overseas-money-transfers