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.
Samsung really seems to make an effort to create some great looking handsets that aren’t available outside of Asian markets and that tradition continues with the Galaxy Note 9 “First Snow White” version — available exclusively to Taiwan.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Perhaps like many of you, I’ve had to embrace the world of Bluetooth headphones and earbuds much sooner than I would’ve liked. Mobvoi makes some superb Wear OS smartwatches, but the IndieGoGo-backed TicPods Free finally give Android users a solid alternative to Apple AirPods.
Smartwatches come in an array of shapes, sizes, and styles. At the low-end, these are a utilitarian affair. Plastic dominates with quality not always top of the priorities list. That makes the Fossil-made Michael Kors Access Runway smartwatch all the more attractive to anyone wanting a more ‘high-end’ feeling wearable.
Expand
Expanding
Close
A brand new update for the Oxygen OS beta program is rolling out. The OnePlus 6 Open beta 7 adds tons of new features for an incremental update including UI improvements, telephony extras and two major inclusions: OnePlus Roaming and Video Enhancer.
From January 7, 2019, SMS notifications from Google Calendar will cease to work for all users. Instead of SMS notifications, standard Google Calendar in-app notifications will be the main method of reminder for users regardless of device or wireless connection.
Expand
Expanding
Close
LG doesn’t have the best track record with Android updates, but with the LG G7 One being part of the Android One program, this is set to change. The program does wonders for hardware that would otherwise chug under the weight of a heavy third-party OS skin. With this update, the G7 One becomes the company’s first device to run Android 9.0 Pie.
Expand
Expanding
Close
We reported last week that popular Android automation app, Tasker, had been denied access to call logs and SMS send, receive and read functions. That meant the disabling of a multitude of app features due to Google’s policy to protect the privacy of users. Google has since restored Tasker access to these functions so long as the developers adhere to some rules and regulations.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Anyone who has already bought or is planning on picking up the OnePlus 6T from T-Mobile will be pleased to hear that the first carrier OnePlus 6T Oxygen OS update is rolling out to users right now. Initially being available on launch day for those with unlocked devices, this release improves a few of the core features on the OnePlus 6T.
Expand
Expanding
Close
While we’ve gone seriously in-depth with our OnePlus 6T coverage thus far, we still haven’t delved into one of the most obvious aspects of using the device on a daily basis: cases. In this week’s Friday 5, we’re going to take a look at a few great case options for the brand new OnePlus 6T.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Changing your status bar icons on Samsung devices just got a little easier thanks to the updated Good Lock app. If you’re not a fan of the settings on your Galaxy S9 or Galaxy Note 9, then you can access this further customization tool right now and begin tweaking the navigation buttons to your heart’s content without needing to root your phone.
Expand
Expanding
Close
The Moto Z3 Play could be considered a great phone. It has an improved design, an exceptional software experience, solid build, and the ability to increase functionality with the Moto Mod system. However, the phone becomes more of an issue when you see just what other devices are achieving at the same price point, making the Moto Z3 much harder to recommend.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Google One might be the new all-in-one subscription package for Drive storage, online support for services and include other handy perks, but the system has so far been a US-exclusive. Now, this new system is slowly expanding beyond US borders with UK and Canadian users able to sign up to the service.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Samsung has unveiled a brand new flagship SoC, the Exynos 9820, which we expect to be packed into global variants of the as yet unannounced Samsung Galaxy S10. This latest high-end Exynos CPU adds the ability to record up to 8K video and support for up to five cameras. One key omission though: no 5G modem.
Whilst we won’t actually see 5G services go live for devices until 2019, Verizon has completed the world’s first 5G data transmission on a smartphone. The device in question, the Moto Z3 with a 5G Moto Mod attached, is now officially the world’s first commercially available 5G device.
If you are a OnePlus 5 or OnePlus 5T user stuck on Android Oreo, then you need not worry about your piece of Android Pie. OnePlus has begun rolling out Android Pie beta builds to the 5 and 5T in China, with a worldwide download option likely coming imminently.
When Samsung released the DeX solution alongside the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ it seemed like a big stretch. Would people would want to tether their Android phone and create a pseudo-desktop experience that relied solely on the mobile OS? The announcement of Linux on DeX and subsequent beta for this might finally give the hardware a new lease of life.
The EU’s copyright directive, Article 13 has come under scrutiny yet again from national and international media. Now an official response from YouTube was recently published on the official YouTube Creator Blog. In the post, YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki pushed back against these proposed European copyright legislation changes.
We covered a great deal of what makes the OnePlus 6T such a superb device in our full review, but that was only a minor dive into some of the extra features that have been brought about with the update to Android 9.0 Pie. Let’s take a look at some tips and tricks for getting the best out of your phone.
Expand
Expanding
Close
After the recent Samsung Developer Conference saw the South Korean tech giant show off its Infinity Flex foldable display, we were left in the dark about when this new foldable display tech would find its way to devices. Now, a new report out of South Korea has touted a March 2019 release schedule for the Samsung foldable smartphone along with a jaw-dropping price tag.
Expand
Expanding
Close
At the official launch of Xiaomi in the United Kingdom yesterday, the company announced that only one of their latest flagship devices — the Mi 8 Pro — will be made available to European users officially for the first time. That said, we are a little disappointed that the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 slider phone was nowhere to be seen at this launch. This might be of interest with the company heading to New York next month for a user taster session, which will no doubt include this device amongst the handsets that you can get to grips with.
Expand
Expanding
Close
A solitary leaked press render courtesy of MySmartPrice has shown off the supposed LG Q9, with the device following a somewhat by-the-numbers notched design and a 6.1-inch display. However, there isn’t yet any information regarding the resolution of the display.
Xiaomi might have made waves in the Far East, but until now they haven’t officially been available in many Western nations. At the official UK launch of the brand, Xiaomi announced the global release of the powerhouse Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro and that it will be available in the UK from £499.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Today marks the first steps in Xiaomi’s big move into the Western market with what the Chinese company is calling the ‘global launch’ of their popular Mi 8 Pro devices amongst almost all of the Xiaomi product lineup.
The OnePlus Switch application makes the often frustrating process of swapping or upgrading your phone a bit more simplified. But until now, those switching from iPhone to a OnePlus device couldn’t switch as conveniently. Now, a new update today changes that. iPhone users can now download the OnePlus Switch on their phone and use it to transfer contacts, photos, videos and even messages.
Expand
Expanding
Close