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.
After news that custom ROM project ProtonAOSP offers Pixel 6 owners the opportunity to run Android 12L ahead of the official stable release, GrapheneOS is the second such ROM to offer the latest build ahead of Google.
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As a way to accrue some free Play Store credit by answering surveys and questionnaires, Google Opinion Rewards is a neat application to have on your Android device. Since its launch, the app is now available in over 30 countries with a further five being added in recent days.
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As part of its almost constant evolution, the Google Photos app for Android is set to gain expanded Portrait Blur effects which will work on older images and even more subjects.
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To help aide those that suffer from hearing impairments Google is now expanding the Live Transcribe feature to work completely offline.
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Ethically minded smartphone maker Fairphone is now pushing out Android 10 to 2015’s Fairphone 2 and, in turn, offering the longest support period for any Android smartphone to date.
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While we await Android 12L for the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, the ProtonAOSP custom ROM has managed to beat Google to the punch with version 12.3.0.
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OnePlus promises to deliver regular system updates for its wide array of smartphones for at least two years and in some cases longer for flagships, so let’s see how they’re handling the February 2022 security update.
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If you have amassed a large pile of Google Play Points, you can use your existing balance for purchases on the Play Store.
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After recent leaks and teases, Carl Pei’s Nothing is moving closer to a follow-up to the ear(1) earbuds with March 23 event planned to discuss the future “product roadmap” which could include an Android-powered smartphone.
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While we’re very much anticipating a new wave of affordable Samsung A-series smartphones, the low-end lineup has increased with the launch of the Galaxy F23 in India.
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Last week we asked you — our readers — to tell us just what area you are hoping to see the biggest or most notable upgrades for the Pixel 7 series. The results are interesting, to say the least…
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A series of renders for the Xperia 10 IV hints that Sony is keeping things familiar with the design of the mid-ranger.
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Google Photos is now surfacing some of your best photos over the past few months with the rollout of the “Best of Winter 2021” Memories collection.
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In case launching Android 12L today wasn’t enough, Google has also released the March Pixel Feature Drop, the first such software update of 2022. Read on to learn about some of the top new features exclusive to Google Pixel phones.
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Android 12L isn’t exactly packed with features and new additions and falls very much into the “refinement” category for OS updates. It is, however, worth taking a closer look at.
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Oppo has grown almost exponentially over the past few years, and although once a tough sell, ColorOS 12 and 12.1 have toned down the iOS influence and the result is a nice alternative full of excellent features.
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After a great start to the new year update schedule, Samsung has started rolling out the February 2022 security update to selected Galaxy devices from January 28. Here’s every device that has been updated so far.
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Although almost entirely revealed by leaks, Motorola has now unveiled the Moto G22, which is firmly rooted at the low-end of the Android spectrum.
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After a lull with the Pixel 5 in 2020, it’s hard to argue that Google listened to fans and went right back to the drawing board with a reinvented and reenvisioned flagship Pixel 6 series in 2021. Early leaks indicate that the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro will pack modest upgrades but we’re wondering just where the bulk of changes will come from.
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Magisk v24.2 is now available in beta courtesy of developer John Wu, who has made a number of changes to help improvements and performance boosts.
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Sony has now started rolling out Android 12 to 2019’s Xperia 1 II and the previous flagship Xperia Pro having previously updated the Xperia 1 III and Xperia 5 III late last month.
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To help improve the auto-categorization of SMS and RCS messages, Google Messages is now asking selected users for SMS “donations.”
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Inbox’s demise was one of the most painful for millions of fans of the Gmail replacement. The very best of Inbox lives on through the team behind Shortwave.
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Gboard appears to be testing contextual text-based stickers as an expansion of a similar emoji-based option already available on the popular first-party keyboard for Android.
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