The Moto Z2 Force gains 5G support on Verizon thanks to Moto Mods
The Motorola Moto Z2 Force has now gained 5G support on Verizon thanks to an update that allows you to use Moto Mods to connect to the superfast network.
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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.
[Update: Mate 20 Pro too] Huawei P30, P30 Pro update adds DC Dimming, in-display fingerprint tweaks
Despite US sanctions weighing heavily on Huawei’s neck, their latest flagship devices, the P30 and P30 Pro, appear to be receiving an update in China that brings with it DC Dimming features along with much needed in-display fingerprint reader improvements.
9to5Google Daily 284: Nest camera status lights now can’t be disabled
Listen to a recap of all the top 9to5Google stories of the day. 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.
Nokia extending security patches by another year for its first Android phones
The ‘new’ Nokia unveiled its first wave of Android phones a couple of years ago at MWC 2017, initially with two years of security updates promised. Good news though, if you own the Nokia 3, 5, 6, or 8, you’ll now get security patches until at least 2020.
Android Q Beta 6: Top new features from the final Q Preview [Video]
So here we are on the last public developer preview build of Android Q before the full stable release, and it addresses a few complaints, issues and more to make it — expectedly — the most complete version of Android Q that we’ve seen thus far.
9to5Google Daily 283: Google announces ‘Doodle for Google’ 2019 winner
Listen to a recap of all the top 9to5Google stories of the day. 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 Maps adds tighter Lime scooter integration to improve your commutes
Lime is no stranger to Google Maps integration, it was the first electric scooter company to be added to the navigation platform back in December 2018. Now it is adding even more options to utilize the electric scooter service with Lime integrating with Google Maps transit tab.
OnePlus confirms ‘OnePlus TV’ name and logo
OnePlus has confirmed the logo, launch date, and name of its upcoming smart TV project that will be called the “OnePlus TV.”
[Update: T-Mobile Note 9] Galaxy Note 9 update adding dedicated camera Night Mode, June patch
Arguably one of the best value Samsung smartphones at this point in 2019, the Galaxy Note 9 is a beast of a device that has improved even more so since Android Pie arrived. Now the dedicated camera Night Mode is rolling out to Galaxy Note 9 users.
Latest EMUI update for Huawei P30 Pro brings Night mode selfies, August patch
We’ve just had a short hands-on session with the next full release of EMUI 10 for Huawei phones, but until then, EMUI 9.1 is still technically the latest and greatest from the company. With that said, the latest EMUI update for the Huawei P30 and P30 Pro is bringing some new features and even the latest security patch.
Super Chats for YouTube now available in 19 more countries
The Super Chat feature for YouTube has been around for a couple of years, allowing you to send cash to your favorite live streamers. It has been available widely and is now rolling out to a further 19 countries.
WhatsApp beta for Android brings fingerprint locking feature
Having biometric unlocking on your device is a necessary security inclusion that ensures that valuable data on your phone stays secure. The latest WhatsApp beta for Android increases your device security by adding the much-anticipated fingerprint locking — which is available starting today.
EMUI 10 hands-on: Not an extensive upgrade but a massive step forward [Video]
Huawei’s brand new EMUI 10 update is one of the first waves of Android Q re-skins and even with the release of HarmonyOS, is being backed by the Chinese OEM despite on-going US tensions.
Samsung unveils 108-megapixel smartphone camera sensor
Samsung has unveiled the industry’s first 108-megapixel ISOCELL smartphone camera sensor that could make a debut in an upcoming Xiaomi smartphone.
Report: Huawei Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro set to launch on September 19
The Huawei Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro look set to launch as early as September 19, as new reports come via Huawei’s Consumer Business Software president, Dr. Wang Chenglu.
Huawei’s new HarmonyOS isn’t an immediate Android replacement
Huawei has unveiled its long-rumored internally developed alternative to Android, which will be called HarmonyOS — which is directly translated from the Chinese word HongMeng.
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Google Trips: Five solid travel app alternatives [Video]
Google Trips is now no longer receiving updates or support. That means you’ll be wanting an alternative if you loved the trip-planning app.
Samsung Exynos 9825 chipset goes official just in time for the Note 10 launch
Samsung has unveiled the latest Exynos 9825 chipset just in time for the launch of arguably its biggest device of 2019 — the Galaxy Note 10.
[Update: Back to quarterly update schedule] Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge lose quarterly security updates
We’ve praised Samsung recently for really attempting to keep devices updated a bit more frequently, heck, they even have offered support for some devices like the S8 and Note 8 way longer than with previous releases. The good news kind of stops there, as it appears the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are getting dropped from quarterly security update support to just plain old “regular.”
9to5Google Daily 282: August patch rolling out to Pixel devices
Listen to a recap of all the top 9to5Google stories of the day. 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.
LG prepping another dual-screen phone for release at IFA 2019
LG has released an 8-bit style teaser video ahead of IFA 2019 that shows what appears to be a dual-screen phone slated for a September 6 launch date.
HTC ceases smartphones sales in UK amid patent disputes
HTC has ceased selling its phones in the UK after patent disputes appear to have forced the Taiwanese company to remove devices for sale.
EMUI 10 set to officially arrive on August 9
Ahead of the Huawei Developer Conference 2019, the big news has been the numerous rumors of the release of Huawei’s internally developed HongMeng OS. While we are unsure how grounded those rumors are, we do know for certain that EMUI 10 is set to be formally unveiled at the developer event in China on August 9.
[Update: Now official] Android Q Developer Preview 4 released for OnePlus 7/7 Pro
Android Q Developer Preview 4 is now rolling out to OnePlus 7 and 7 Pro devices right now, right off the back of the third recent Q taster download.