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.
We’re deep into 2019 and we’re still having issues with Android apps not supporting Dark or Night modes despite millions of devices now using AMOLED displays. Here’s a list of our favorite Android apps that support the dark side…
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While the Galaxy Note 10 has already broken cover in a series of reference renders and 360-degree videos, it’s now the turn of the bigger Galaxy Note 10 Pro. The device looks set to break up the Note line for the very first time since the Note Edge in 2014.
One area that saw massive improvements on the OnePlus 7 Pro was the camera and it’s associated hardware. Even with that said, there have been plenty of complaints about the overall camera performance not quite being up to scratch. OnePlus has pushed the OxygenOS 9.5.7 OTA specifically to address the camera performance, with supposed big improvements across the board.
It’s amazing that we’ve already reached the fourth iteration of the Android Q Beta program. Beta 4 is now here and it brings with it a ton of updates, improvements and overall feature enhancements to really whet the appetite ahead of the next release.
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Google Stadia pre-orders are now live with pricing for the Founder’s Edition starting at $129.
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Google SOS alerts are getting quite the overhaul, with new additions enhancing the now two-year-old feature.
While the Samsung Galaxy S10 line is the current top-tier offering from the South Korean tech giant, the upcoming Galaxy Note 10 will no doubt take that formula, refine it, and then pump out one of the most wanted devices of 2019. Now thanks to some leaked reference renders by notorious leakster @OnLeaks and 91Mobiles, we’ve got a glimpse of what we can expect from the Samsung’s most wanted — the Galaxy Note 10.
The rolling out of Waze features into Google Maps continues as a live speedometer is appearing on-screen for users in the US and in some EU nations.
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Despite being the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer, Samsung is set to make cuts to its solitary smartphone plant in China.
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Screen sharing on Skype is now available to the masses, as the feature is officially out of beta and rolling out to iOS and Android devices right now.
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While you’re unlikely to see the OnePlus 7 on US shores any time in the near future, the device has only just gone on sale in the UK, mainland Europe, India and China. Anyone picking up the device will be pleased (or not) to hear that the OnePlus 7 is shipping with a day one update to Oxygen OS 9.5.4.
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At the point of release, the Samsung Galaxy S10+ was one of the most anticipated phones of 2019. Leaks, leaks and more leaks showcased the S10+ in its entirety before it was even unveiled — but it still didn’t dull the public appetite for this top-tier device.
Google Maps is now capable of showing live train, bus, and even mixed-mode rickshaw journeys in ten cities within India starting today.
While the OnePlus 7 Pro is receiving all of the plaudits, the slightly cheaper but still impressive OnePlus 7 is now quietly going on sale in the UK, Europe, India, and China today.
We reported recently that the EMUI 9.1 beta is rolling out to a number of Huawei and Honor devices. Huawei has now confirmed that EMUI 9.0 is rolling out to seven more devices with the Huawei Watch GT also receiving an important Always on Display update of its own.
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The latest Oxygen OS 9.0.6 and 9.0.14 for the OnePlus 6 and OnePlus 6T respectively are now rolling out to devices via an OTA download.
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The OnePlus 7 Pro now has support for the popular custom recovery TWRP, giving you finer control over your Android experience and potential for ROM installation.
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The Samsung Galaxy A50 could be heading to the US in the not-too-distant future after the update changelog for Samsung Pay included references of support for “A50 US”.
While it may be a terribly tough time for Huawei of late, it’s even tougher in many regards for the millions around the globe that already have the Chinese handsets. That said, despite a short 90-day reprieve from Google, Huawei is pushing an update for their EMUI 9.1 beta which adds 14 more devices to the program.
The death of the notch is one thing we can all applaud. Having a cutout on your display is not only distracting, but it has also become a trend many OEMs have simply adopted to ‘fit in’. Now Xiaomi and Oppo have showcased their own takes on the under-display selfie cameras at almost the same time.
In the early days of Android and iOS, there was already another established player on the market — Blackberry. The keyboard flaunting devices have since adopted Android as their primary OS, but before that was the case, they had an ace up their sleeves in the form of BBM.
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The growth of online video streaming services means that services like Plex might not be as popular as they once were but the cost involved means that a central hub for all of your downloaded video is still a neat and tidy one.
Netflix has certified a further 23 devices for full HD playback with the updated list now officially including the Pixel 2, 2XL, 3, 3XL, newly released 3a and 3a XL, alongside the OnePlus 7 Pro, and Huawei P30 Pro.
The Pixel 3a and 3a XL are fantastic devices for the price, and even though it’s made from typically more durable polycarbonate, it can still be prone to damage. That’s why protection is always recommended. For that reason, we’ve collated a few of the best third-party Pixel 3a and 3a XL cases for you to pick up.
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