For a version of the OS that is supposed to minimize distractions, the fact that Android Auto is now only just adding the option to silence notifications seems a bit odd.
Android Auto gains ability to silence notifications when driving
Author
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.
Essential Chromecast tips and tricks you need to know [Video]
The Chromecast should be the cornerstone of a growing smart home for a number of reasons, reasons we won’t go in to here because we just want to help you get the most out of the stripped-back streaming device.
9to5Google Daily 384: Android 11 is bringing us 62 new emoji, Google wants you to install Opinion Rewards, plus more
Listen to a short-form recap or roundup of all the top 9to5Google stories of the previous 24 hours. 9to5Google Daily is available on Google Play, iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Pocket Casts and other podcast players.
Report: Huawei surpassed Apple to become 2nd largest smartphone vendor in 2019 despite sanctions
According to a new report, Huawei has surpassed Apple to become the second-largest smartphone vendor globally for 2019, as Samsung retains top spot yet again.
9to5Google Daily 383: Google is making yet another messaging app, Galaxy Z Flip breaks cover, plus more
Listen to a short-form recap or roundup of all the top 9to5Google stories of the previous 24 hours. 9to5Google Daily is available on Google Play, iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Pocket Casts and other podcast players.
The Google Vulnerability Reward Program handed out a whopping $6.5 million in 2019
2019 was a record year for the Google Vulnerability Reward Program as payouts to researchers amounted to a whopping $6.5 million — almost double the $3.4 million that was paid out in 2018.
Nubia Red Magic 3S review: Incremental updates to a mobile gaming Goliath [Video]
The Nubia Red Magic 3S is here to take back the crown from all of the other gaming smartphone upstarts by stacking the specs at an attractive price-tag.
9to5Google Daily 382: Gylt and Metro Exodus going free for Stadia subscribers, Pixel 4 Assistant now works with 3-button nav, more
Listen to a short-form recap or roundup of all the top 9to5Google stories of the previous 24 hours. 9to5Google Daily is available on Google Play, iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Pocket Casts and other podcast players.
Google puts temporary suspension on paid Chrome Web Store extensions
Google has put a temporary suspension on paid Chrome Web Store extensions after a recent increase in fraudulent transactions using the paid extension system.
The Sony Xperia 1 and Xperia 5 now receiving the January 2020 security patch
Sony is now rolling out the January 2020 security patch for the Xperia 1 and Xperia 5.
Google posts ‘Loretta’ Super Bowl commercial featuring Assistant, Photos [Video]
In previous years, we’ve seen Google target specific areas of its own “ecosystem,” but for its Super Bowl LIV commercial, the star of the show is undoubtedly the Google Assistant.
9to5Google Daily 381: YouTube Premium subscribers get free membership perks, Google Camera to add 24fps support, more
Listen to a short-form recap or roundup of all the top 9to5Google stories of the previous 24 hours. 9to5Google Daily is available on Google Play, iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Pocket Casts and other podcast players.
OnePlus vows to improve video on all of its smartphones in 2020
OnePlus has vowed to enhance the video experience on all of its smartphones throughout 2020.
Motorola appears to be working on a cut-price stylus-equipped Galaxy Note competitor
Motorola appears to be working on a stylus-equipped cut-price alternative to the popular Samsung Galaxy Note line according to new leaked renders.
Android 10 heading to Galaxy S9 in February according to new update roadmap
A new Android 10 update roadmap now has the Samsung Galaxy S9 One UI 2.0 upgrade slated for a February 2020 release.
Huawei Watch GT/GT2, Honor Band 4/5 update adds new watch faces, optimizations
While Huawei and by extension, Honor face US trade sanctions, they are still plugging away with two of the most impressive smartwatches for Android in recent years. The latest update for the Watch GT and Watch GT 2 includes a series of optimizations and some new watch faces.
The Poco X2 set to launch February 4 w/ 120Hz display, 64-megapixel camera
The long-awaited Poco X2 is set to launch on February 4th, 2020 in Dehli, India after being confirmed by the now-standalone company.
Hands-on with all of Google’s latest experimental Digital Wellbeing apps [Video]
Google wants us to use our phones less, or at least curb our smartphone usage. This has led to a number of standalone Digital Wellbeing apps that all have weird and wonderful notions of how we should be using our phones in a healthy manner.
9to5Google Daily 380: Google I/O to take place in early May, Sprint fixes any Samsung Galaxy screens for just $50, plus more
Listen to a short-form recap or roundup of all the top 9to5Google stories of the previous 24 hours. 9to5Google Daily is available on Google Play, iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Pocket Casts and other podcast players.
[Update: Coming next month] Poco confirms next smartphone will launch this quarter with ‘top-end SoC’
After recently going solo and breaking free from Xiaomi, teases were dropped by Poco, but the company has now confirmed that the Poco F1 follow-up will launch as early as “this quarter.”
9to5Google Daily 379: Drive gets a Progressive Web App, Samsung Messages preps Duo integration, more
Listen to a short-form recap or roundup of all the top 9to5Google stories of the previous 24 hours. 9to5Google Daily is available on Google Play, iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Pocket Casts and other podcast players.
OnePlus showcases stunning all-black prototypes of the Concept One [Gallery]
The OnePlus Concept One may never come to market, but it’s a hint at some potential new tech heading to future OnePlus smartphones. The company has since shared some further details alongside some stunning early all-black prototypes of the OnePlus Concept One during development — yes, a prototype of a concept.
Mario Kart Tour opens multiplayer racing to all players on Android and iOS
At launch, Mario Kart Tour was missing the key multiplayer component, but it was quickly added in follow-up updates.
You can now bring back Play Store update notifications with AppNotifier
In a bid to declutter notification drawers, Google decided that disabling Play Store update notifications was something that was needed, despite being pretty useful.