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.
The Google Material Theme began rolling out to Google.com on the desktop web in late November with a pill-shaped Search field on the results pages. Earlier this month, that new Search bar made its way to the iconic homepage. Google is now testing Material Theme icons alongside each Search category on the web.
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Android Q might be a pretty big update over Android Pie, but it is still very early in the testing phase. After the first beta revealed that you could only swipe away notifications in a single direction, Google has mentioned that a future release will add a setting to change that direction.
The world of Android tablets is not exactly in good health. Yes, there are plenty of options, but not many that are easy to fully recommend. That said, Samsung has very quietly unveiled a brand new Galaxy Tab A 8.0 that even includes S Pen support (via XDA-developers).
After an extended wait, anyone with an AT&T or T-Mobile Galaxy S8 or S8+ should now be receiving the Android Pie update — along with all the One UI extras.
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For all of Huawei’s questionable comparisons between itself and the iPhone throughout its entire launch keynote, its flagship, the Huawei P30 Pro, is most definitely more of a contender within the top-tier Android space — which is currently no doubt occupied by the Samsung Galaxy S10.
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The upcoming Lenovo Z6 Pro could be the first smartphone to market with a 100-megapixel camera if a new statement by the company is to be believed.
OEMs are now racing to outdo each other in the folding stakes. The latest to be showcased is the impressive Xiaomi foldable phone, which utilizes a dual outward fold rather than a single inward or solitary outward fold.
Google is giving all basketball fans the ability to tune into March Madness for free simply by asking your Smart Display, Home Hub, Google Home, or simply the Google Assistant to play the game.
The latest Oxygen OS open beta program update for the OnePlus 5, OnePlus 5T, OnePlus 6 and OnePlus 6T bring an array of software enhancements and improvements alongside some neat tweaks.
Even though the Huawei P30 and P30 Pro were announced just yesterday with Android Pie in tow, there are two older Huawei-made handsets picking up the update in the form of the Huawei P10 and Honor 8X.
Alongside its new Huawei P30 series of smartphones, Huawei has today also announced a new set of wireless earbuds with FreeLace.
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Huawei has officially unveiled the Huawei P30 and Huawei P30 Pro, the handsets are most definitely camera focused as they become the first available smartphones with a 10x lossless hybrid zoom lens.
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Over the past few years, fast-charging technology has come on leaps and bounds. Xiaomi’s brand new 100W charging tech looks set to leave the rest in the dust if the benchmarks are to be believed.
Motorola may have just released the Moto G7 to reasonably little fanfare, but they have a completely new handset on the horizon in the form of the Motorola One Vision or Moto P40.
Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ devices on Sprint should now be getting a taste of Android Pie, as several reports on the Sprint community forums are confirming they are now receiving the OTA (via PhoneArena).
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Google Maps is currently rolling out the ability for users to create public events at a specific business or location.
Not all cases are created equal and neither is any smartphone. My personal (and subjective) opinion is that the Pixel 3 is a great looking smartphone only let down in a few areas. Because of that, I’ve recently been testing out four superb clear case options, all at different price points.
If This Then That, better known as IFTTT, will soon drop support for Gmail integration after Google announced that certain third-party apps will no longer be able to connect to your email account for automation purposes.
Just yesterday we reported that a beta test of the Chinese equivalent of Oxygen OS — Hydrogen OS — with Android Pie was currently underway. Well, if you are a OnePlus 3 or OnePlus 3T owner you can rejoice, as you can now apply to be part of a closed beta test of Android Pie.
Unfortunately, the stereotype of Chinese brands seeking to steal or at least procure your data by any means is set to continue after reports that certain European Nokia 7 Plus phones have been secretly sending detailed user data and information to China.
After some speculation on when the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G would get a more solid release date, we now finally have partial confirmation that the handset will be available starting April 5.
The ongoing Android Pie update saga for the OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T might finally be drawing to a close. This comes as the company has now recruited Chinese testers for its HydrogenOS fork of Android Pie.
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Google Duo has now officially added a series of bright and colorful video filters that add colorful powder, borders, sunglasses, and food to short messages to help Indian users celebrate the Holi festival.
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Not too long ago we took a look at a similar high-end Wear OS option in the form of the Armani Exchange Connected. But for anyone not wanting a massive watch face, the Emporio Armani Connected might be a much more palatable option.
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