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.
In recent years, OnePlus has shifted so far away from the faux “plucky upstart” enthusiast brand, and the OnePlus 10 Pro is the biggest indicator of that. This is our long-term review of the latest OnePlus flagship.
Expand Expanding Close
Just a few days after the Chinese launch of the OnePlus Ace, the rebranded OnePlus 10R has now officially been unveiled in India alongside the Nord CE 2 Lite and Nord Buds Bluetooth earbuds.
Expand Expanding Close
Sony’s relaunched and reinvigorated Xperia line is set to gain new phones very soon as the Japanese firm has confirmed a May 11 launch event for new hardware.
Expand Expanding Close
Continuing the stellar efforts in recent months, Samsung is now rolling out the April 2022 security update to selected Galaxy devices. Here’s every device that has been updated so far.
Expand Expanding Close
After launching with Android 11 back in late-2021, it has taken quite some time for the latest OS version to come to the OnePlus Nord 2. That said, if you’re happy to run preview software, OxygenOS 12 Open Beta 1 is now rolling out and gives OnePlus Nord 2 owners a taste of the Android 12 ahead of an upcoming stable release.
Expand Expanding Close
OnePlus promises to deliver regular system updates for its wide array of smartphones for at least two years and in some cases much longer for flagship models, but how is the April 2022 security update being handled?
Expand Expanding Close
The first true post-release update for the OnePlus 10 Pro is now available for those that pre-ordered the handset. OxygenOS A.13 — not to be confused with Android 13 — is now rolling out for the OnePlus 10 Pro with a number of important tweaks and improvements.
Expand Expanding Close
After a series of developer-facing early previews, the public-facing Android 13 Beta 1 update is now available to a small pool of eligible Google Pixel handsets.
Expand Expanding Close
While digging through the Android 13 Developer Preview 1 build, we’ve spotted that the in-built “Silent mode” now completely disables haptic feedback across almost all areas of your Pixel device.
Expand Expanding Close
Over the past few months, we’ve seen a number of unofficial builds of LineageOS 19 based upon Android 12, but now this third-party ROM is officially available.
Expand Expanding Close
Xiaomi offshoot Pocophone has now officially launched yet another gaming-focused Android – this time in the form of the Poco F4 GT.
Expand Expanding Close
Just a few weeks after European Galaxy S10 owners started to see the latest One UI 4.1 update, those in the US will now begin to get the latest version of the third-party skin.
Expand Expanding Close
Not content with partnering with the Olympics, BTS, Thom Browne, and numerous other global brands, Samsung is now joining forces with Gamefreak for a limited Pokémon Edition Galaxy Z Flip 3.
Expand Expanding Close
After widespread outrage at the removal of “Dislike” counts on YouTube wholesale, it appears that Google is attempting to spread some cheer with a brand new “Like” button animation on mobile.
Expand Expanding Close
We may have only just received the OnePlus 10 Pro in global markets, but the OnePlus Ace has now officially been unveiled in China.
Expand Expanding Close
Outside of the US, the affordable Android market is more competitive than ever. The latest such device to launch exclusively in India is the Samsung Galaxy M53.
Expand Expanding Close
The Google Store is now offering a new bundle that pairs the Pixel 6 and Fitbit Charge 5 at selected global online storefronts.
Expand Expanding Close
Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic it feels exceptionally longer than three-and-a-bit years since the Pixel 3 series was officially unveiled back in October 2018. With most people holding on to devices for longer than ever before, just how does Pixel 3 fare in 2022 now that Google has officially dropped support for the handset? Let’s find out.
Expand Expanding Close
A new Google Play Store policy coming into force is set to block third-party call recording apps from the online storefront from May 11.
Expand Expanding Close
The automatically curated My Mix section sometimes labeled “Mixed for you” in YouTube Music appears to be getting updated cover art for some users.
Expand Expanding Close
Google Photos appears to be testing a new chip toolbar UI to help speed up the process of using Lens and other image editing tools specifically with text-based images.
Expand Expanding Close
To help streamline the process of restoring your new phone from an older Android device it seems the “Set up my Device” process has gained a Fast Pair UI.
Expand Expanding Close
The developers behind the popular Paranoid Android third-party ROM have confirmed that the Sapphire Beta is set to launch this week, with OTA support potentially arriving dependent on community donation support.
Expand Expanding Close
A new report by industry analytics firm Wave7 claims that carrier sales of the Pixel 6 series have been low despite high sales kickbacks for those in stores.
Expand Expanding Close