Damien is 9to5Google‘s resident Video Producer and has over a decade of UK media experience. He worked within the sports industry and with numerous sports-focused publications — including golfing publication National Club Golfer — prior to joining the 9to5Google team.
After completing a BSc in Computer Science at the University of Hull with a major focus on data analytics and UX, he joined the Press Association (now PA Media), developing growing sports data products for the Barclay’s Premier League. These’s data packages included the now-defunct ACTIM Index which eventually evolved into the EA Sports Player Performance Index.
While working with the UK’s largest media agency, he attained a MA in Journalism at Sheffield Hallam University after completing his studies in 2014. This is where a love affair with all things videography surfaced after a brief stint in student TV. A major interest and constantly growing know-how of technology and videography have seen Damien lead 9to5Google’s official YouTube channel since 2018. He previously hosted the 9to5Google Daily podcast from 2019 to 2021.
Damien’s expertise and focus area lie in a number of beats including Android and OEM software updates, mobile applications, smartphone and accessory reviews, and just about anything that makes a modern mobile nerd tick. He says that he is “platform agnostic” despite primarily using Android devices and attempts to regularly test the iOS waters to better understand the nuances of the tech he covers on a day-to-day basis.
Outside of the tech space Damien is an avid supporter of his boyhood soccer team Hull City and is even a fully qualified Barista — with 3 years of experience making speciality coffee. Be sure to follow him on Threads, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and Instagram for insights and upcoming video updates and tidbits. If you are interested, you can also check out just what video gear he is currently using on his dedicated Kit.co page.
2024 has been a solid year once again for Android phones. Taking stock of what has been released, you’d be hard-pressed to buy or pick an objectively “bad” device. That said, what was your pick for the “best Android phone of 2024”? Have your say here.
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Samsung is way behind schedule with its Android 15 release, but the One UI 7.0 Beta is now available and gives us a sneak peek at what we can expect in the coming weeks. Here are some of our favorite new functions and features in the One UI 7.0 for Samsung phones.
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The Google Pixel series is known for regular security patches and updates, but that has changed to one of the longest official support windows in the industry. If you have a Pixel, here’s how long your device will be supported—and steps if it isn’t supported anymore.
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Google’s most expensive phone was the last to hit the market, but now, some three months later, just what is it like to live with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold? This is our longer-term look at the latest folding Pixel phone.
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The third-party ROM scene is a shadow of its former self, but some bigger projects are still being maintained. One of these is Evolution X, and Android 15 builds are now available.
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Do we have enough “premium” accessories for the Google Pixel lineup? With increasing prominence, growing sales, and people making the switch, are third-party accessory makers letting the team down?
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Thanks to Google’s decision to get ahead of the curve and drop new devices in August, we’re almost 100 days into the life of the Pixel 9. The big drop of Android 15 means the final piece of the puzzle has been added, but does that make the entry-level model a better buy?
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YouTube Premium is one of a mountain of subscription plans for streaming services, but it’s for the biggest video-sharing platform on the planet – do you think it’s worth it?
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It’s that time of year when people might be looking to upgrade their phones. In 2024, we had 5 brand new Google Pixel phones to contend with—plus the previous generations sticking around—but how do you decide which is right for you? Here’s everything you need to know.
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The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ is positioned as a premium powerhouse player in the Android tablet space – but just how good is it?
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We have barely had time to process Android 15, but now we have the start of the next OS development cycle. This raises the question: What do you want to see from Android 16?
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With the launch of the global Oppo Find X8 series, we’ve noticed that Fitbit is now preloaded on the device as part of Google’s Android app suite, but this could become more common in the not-too-distant future.
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YouTube Music is already rolling out the 2024 Recap to streaming service users. The summary builds on the previous yearly updates of your listening habits.
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The Wi-Fi QR code sharing menu in Android 16 Developer Preview 1 has received a lick of paint and now has new visuals when connecting other devices.
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The latest Android 16 Developer Preview is now live and while it doesn’t bring many huge user-facing changes, there are some that have been spotted before and now live. One such feature is Audio sharing, which can be enabled and activated in Android 16 Developer Preview 1.
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We’re a few months down the line form the Pixel 9 launch and those with a Pixel 6 might be thinking “should I upgrade?” Here’s everything you need to know.
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After a brief beta period, Arc Search for Android is now officially available to all via the Google Play Store, with a number of new features.
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If you like to play games from your PC on your couch, the Steam Link app for Android TV is a great way to do so. The latest Steam Link v1.3.12 for Android TV has received some important quality-of-life upgrades to enhance that experience.
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After a closed beta program, the anti-AI camera replacement Zerocam is now available on Android via the Google Play Store.
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In years past, every deep dive into Android has unearthed a wealth of new functions, features, and alterations. So, what is causing Android updates to feel smaller than ever?
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After several new takes since Android’s “The Bot” mascot came to the Google Store in the US, it’s the turn of those of us located elsewhere as the collectible figures are now available in the UK.
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When Google launched the Pixel 9, one of the AI features that caused some concern and copyright problems was Pixel Studio. Since then, it has been tamed, but Pixel Studio needs a new home inside Gboard.
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A new report suggests that the main reason people return Pixel phones according to Google is overheating related to the Tensor chipset. It’s no secret that thermals are not the best on Google’s first-party chip, but just how widespread is it?
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According to a new report, the One UI 7.0 beta could come as early as next week and bring a slew of new functions to Samsung Galaxy phones.
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