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.
Android 13 is just around the corner with the public-facing beta set to arrive in the coming weeks. We’ve already had the opportunity to test drive the Developer Preview, but that hasn’t stopped us from dreaming up an Android 13 wish list of things we’d love to see later this year.
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Unlike most other launchers you’ll use on Android, the Niagara Launcher “Spring Update” has been detailed with a number of changes and tighter integration with some system services.
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When Samsung launched the Galaxy S22 series, the trio of handsets came with One UI 4.1. As a slightly updated Android 12 build, One UI 4.1 for Galaxy phones includes some new features and functions that will slowly come to more devices over the coming months. Here are some of the best new features.
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As part of the ongoing Google Arts & Culture experiments with machine learning, a new “Giga Manga” web app will now let you create your very own manga characters with a simple sketch.
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The original Google Pixel and Pixel XL now have a new lease on life courtesy of Android 11 support via the third-party LineageOS 18.1 ROM.
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As if bringing Android 12L to the nine-year-old Nexus 7 was not enough, a developer has ported the latest mobile OS build to the Raspberry Pi 4.
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After rapid expansion into more global markets, Realme is now starting to take on the flagship space in the truest sense with GT 2 Pro – and this could be the very best Realme phone to date.
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Despite having only launched a single product, during Nothing Technologies’ “The Truth” live stream CEO Carl Pei confirmed plans to launch an Android-powered phone called “phone (1)” in Summer 2022.
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Although Android 12L has only just come to the flagship Pixel 6 series courtesy of a delayed update, thanks to an unofficial port of LineageOS 19.1, you’re now able to install it on your 9-year-old Nexus 7 tablet.
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Still very much in its infancy, Nothing Technologies is set to enter the smartphone space, and its live stream branded “The Truth” could help give us an idea of what to expect — here’s how to watch.
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If there is one criticism leveled at Tasker, it’s the ease at which first-timers can get into the automation app. Thanks to Tasker 6.0 beta, a new easy mode UI called “Tasky” could change the experience for beginners and novices.
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While Google has effectively dropped the public-facing dessert names for Android builds, in years prior a new themed statue would appear outside the Mountain View base to coincide with a new software release. It seems that in recent days, Google has removed all of the Android dessert-themed statues from the tech giant’s headquarters.
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After a brief Open Beta period, the stable OxygenOS update atop Android 12 is now rolling out for the OnePlus 8, OnePlus 8 Pro, 8T, and the OnePlus 9R.
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It’s hard to believe that a month after the first developer-focused build, Android 13 Developer Preview 2 is now available with a whole host of new features and functions. Here is a shortlist of some of the best.
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Alongside the Galaxy A53 5G, Samsung has also unveiled two more affordable Android phones in the guise of the Galaxy A33 5G and Galaxy A73 5G.
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Samsung has unveiled the latest affordable Android phones in the guise of the Galaxy A33 5G and Galaxy A53 5G. Just what is different between the duo and do you miss out on anything on the cheaper model? Let’s find out.
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Twitter has acknowledged the issues surrounding video uploads and the associated processing on Android and has confirmed that a fix is coming.
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The latest UI test for YouTube on mobile makes yet more adjustments to the autoplay “Playback in feed” feature to make this more immersive.
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Xiaomi’s impressive sales records in recent years have been built upon the back of successful flagship-level devices such as the 12 Pro and Mi 11 Ultra — but which is the better device?
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After launching first in China at the end of 2021, the Xiaomi 12 series has now been officially unveiled for global markets.
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Thanks to an unofficial build of LineageOS 18.1, the latest Android TV 11 builds can be sideloaded onto third-generation Amazon Fire TV hardware.
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Samsung has set March 17 as the date for the unveiling of the next wave of Galaxy A-series smartphones.
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All of the very best third-party Android launchers offer something unique, be that customization or even a minimal aesthetic. Here are the best to install on your Android phone in 2022 – and beyond.
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It probably doesn’t need to be said, but the delayed update schedule for the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro not only hurts those of us that value prompt support. It cheapens and chips away at the perceived “flagship” experience being sold to prospective buyers.
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