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.
One of the core selling features of the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro appears to have a problem courtesy of the latest Google Photos update. It seems that Magic Eraser is causing the Google Photos app to crash on Pixel 6 devices.
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Android TV is an incredible entertainment OS at the very heart of many TV, projector, and home theater setups for millions across the globe. Android TV and by extension the new Google TV overhaul for selected devices is great as-is, but with just a few apps, it can be even better.
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After an extended wait, the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro are now officially available in Spain and Italy after going on sale via the Google Store in both regions.
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Popular custom recovery TeamWin Recovery Project, better known as TWRP, has now added builds that support the OnePlus 8, 8 Pro, and a small pool of budget Android devices.
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The very latest Google Doodle celebrates the Lunar New Year 2022 and start of the Year of the Tiger with an animated homepage splash image.
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It seems like Google may introduce limits to WhatsApp chat backups when linked to your existing Drive account.
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After my fourth or fifth switch back-and-forth between the latest flagship duo, I’m beginning to feel that while the bigger, more capable Pro model is objectively better, it doesn’t quite exude the same charm as the smaller, approachable, and infinitely more “fun” Pixel 6.
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Although not yet officially unveiled, Netflix has already confirmed that upcoming global Galaxy S22 models with the Exynos 2200 will be supported by the streaming service.
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With Chinese Year New set to begin on February 1, 2022, Google Search has added a neat Easter egg to help celebrate the Year of the Tiger.
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Samsung’s latest flagship smartphone lineup is right around the corner with the confirmation of Unpacked 2022. To prepare, here is every snippet, tidbit, detail, and rumor about the upcoming Galaxy S22 series.
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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 January 2022 security update.
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MediaTek has officially unveiled its next-generation Kompanio 1380 chipset designed for use in high-end Chromebooks and Chrome OS hardware.
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Magisk v24.0 has arrived from developer John Wu, with this update including Android 12 support and the debut of Zygisk.
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In the world of smartphone accessories, screen protectors come in a few flavors. Arguably the most expensive comes from Korean accessory maker Whitestone, and its Dome Glass is now available for the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro.
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While the Google Pixel 5a, Pixel 6 and 6 Pro have been available for awhile, it has taken Netflix some time to officially certify the device trio with HD and HDR playback support.
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The affordably focused Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 series has now officially launched with the quartet of Android devices touting some impressive camera specs and more.
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After supporting the high-end Pro model, LineageOS 18.1 builds based upon Android 11 are now available for the smaller, cheaper OnePlus 9.
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YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki has outlined the video streaming platforms “2022 Priorities” which, annoyingly, could include NFTs.
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Smartwatches can be a very mixed bag, and Wear OS hasn’t quite hit the heights most of us would have hoped. We’ll likely see a resurgence over the coming years as Google and Samsung really invest in the platform. The first sign of that increased investment is the Galaxy Watch 4, which we’ve lived with for an extended period to better understand where it sits.
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After issues, bugs, and tons of problems, the January Pixel 6 update at least appears to have fixed things for our readers.
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Designed as a way for celebrities and public figures to answer some of the most asked questions on Search, Cameos on Google is set to shut down in the coming weeks.
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The Samsung Galaxy A53 hasn’t yet been officially unveiled, but we’re being treated to some real-world images and specs for the upcoming mid-ranger.
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Samsung is now adding Pro Mode support for the Galaxy S21 Ultra’s dedicated telephoto camera via a new “Expert RAW” app.
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Sadly, the regular December update for the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro introduced a laundry list of issues and problems, which meant a later than usual January patch to resolve some high-level and a ton of low-level issues frustrating owners. Has this OTA update fixed things though?
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