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.
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.
Qualcomm has launched three brand new 4G-only chips aimed at improving connectivity in areas where 5G adoption is likely to be low. The brand new Snapdragon 720G, 662, and 460 chips offer faster 4G internet speeds with extended hardware features.
Expand Expanding Close
The Wind Down feature that comes as part of Google’s Digital Wellbeing tracking feature is now getting a 30-minute pause option.
The OnePlus 7T is arguably the best mainline OnePlus phone to date for a wide variety of reasons.
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.
We already know that OnePlus is planning on slapping an ever higher 120 Hz refresh rate AMOLED display into the upcoming OnePlus 8 Pro.
If you have fully switched over to use the new Android 10 gestures, you might be wishing you could customize them even just a little bit.
Chrome on Android might be preinstalled as standard, but that doesn’t stop it from being one of the best mobile (and desktop) browsers. Tons of new features have been added to the Android-version of Chrome over time, and one that might soon be added is the ability to copy images directly to your device clipboard.
Samsung Electronics has appointed Roh Tae-moon as its new mobile chief, who will take over from DJ Koh in a move aimed at tackling the growing pressure from Chinese smartphone manufacturers on the Korean firm.
There are only a few apps on the Google Play Store to have reached the mythical 5 billion install figure, bar some of the pre-installed Google options. Third-party messaging app WhatsApp is now only the second non-Google app to do so, having amassed the figure over a decade on Android and the Play Store.
With Huawei basically blocked from using Google services and infrastructure, the firm has taken steps to replace Google Maps on its hardware by signing a partnership with TomTom to provide maps, navigation, and traffic data to Huawei apps.
The rumors surrounding the Samsung Galaxy S20 are rife and we’ve sifted through the noise to filter out everything that you need to know ahead of the official launch event — Unpacked 2020.
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.
Xiaomi has spun off its popular POCO sub-brand into an independent brand in its own right.
Right on the heels of the LG G8 ThinQ receiving the Android 10 update, the LG V50 ThinQ is now joining the update party in South Korea.
We have some good news from Facebook. According to the Wall Street Journal, the firm is planning to drop its controversial plan for ads within WhatsApp messenger.
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.
While we await what Google has in store for the recently acquired Fitbit, the fitness tracker firm has laid out plans to develop sleep apnea tracking.
The January 2020 security patch is now rolling out for Samsung’s former flagships the Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S9, and S9+.
European lawmakers are in the process of discussing measures to essentially enforce a standardized USB-C charger for all smartphones sold within the region.
With absolutely no fanfare whatsoever, Google has now made it possible to make Duo calls on the web without needing to link your phone number.
Mobvoi has redesigned and refined the TicPods 2 Pro to offer a better overall experience while separating its truly wireless earbuds into two distinct price-points.
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.
One of the neatest new features of Android 10 on the Pixel 4 was the audio subtitling Live Caption feature. Live Caption support was adding to the Pixel 3 and 3a series shortly afterward but is now very quietly coming to the Google Pixel 2.