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.
As we delve deep into the minutiae of the third Android 12 Developer Preview, we’re finding more notable changes including the screenshot editor and markup tool.
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Android 12 is set to provide some of the most extensive UI tweaks and redesigns, with a wide array of UI elements and menus receiving a larger “bubbly” look in the latest Developer Preview 3.
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Listen to a short-form recap or roundup of all the top 9to5Google stories of the previous 24 hours. 9to5Google Daily is available on Spotify,Google Podcasts, Amazon, iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Pocket Casts and other podcast players.
As the “main” flagship for Xiaomi in 2021, at least on paper, the Mi 11 Ultra really doesn’t disappoint. No smartphone is used on paper though and how it stacks up is far more nuanced.
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Listen to a short-form recap or roundup of all the top 9to5Google stories of the previous 24 hours. 9to5Google Daily is available on Spotify,Google Podcasts, Amazon, iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Pocket Casts and other podcast players.
Google Play Games is making it easier to manage all of the installed titles on your device with a dedicated “Games” homescreen folder that will auto-populate with any new additions.
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After being critical of OnePlus’s recent update track record, OxygenOS 11.2.4.4 has now started rolling out for the OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro with the latest April 2021 security patch in tow.
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After hints, teasers, and then confirmation from EA, the immensely popular free-to-play battle royale FPS Apex Legends Mobile is finally set to arrive on Android.
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Listen to a short-form recap or roundup of all the top 9to5Google stories of the previous 24 hours. 9to5Google Daily is available on Spotify,Google Podcasts, Amazon, iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Pocket Casts and other podcast players.
Our colleagues over at 9to5Mac recently shared details of a report that suggests iPhone owners tend to hold onto their devices for on average three years. This got us thinking about how the supposed “iPhone of Android” fares. Do Google Pixel owners wait longer to upgrade or are you looking to get a new device when the newest Made by Google cohort joins the wider hardware family?
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OxygenOS 11.0.0.2 is now rolling out for the entire OnePlus 7 and 7T series with the overdue March 2021 security patch and a substantial number of tweaks in tow.
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Google Photos growing AI-generated Memories collections now has a new church-centric “Silent Reflection” grouping for you to enjoy — provided you have pictures of places of worship.
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I’ve used quite a few of the very best Android-powered smartphones over the past 18 months, but even after a brief stint I always feel the pull of the Google Pixel 4a.
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Listen to a short-form recap or roundup of all the top 9to5Google stories of the previous 24 hours. 9to5Google Daily is available on Spotify,Google Podcasts, Amazon, iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Pocket Casts and other podcast players.
With the world slowly starting to reopen as control over the COVID-19 pandemic begins to come to fruition, Google Arts & Culture is launching a new video series called “Perspectives” that sees celebrities sharing their hidden secrets in their favorite cities.
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9to5Google’s Game of the Week is brought to you by GeForce NOW. GeForce NOW Instantly transforms nearly any laptop, desktop, Mac, SHIELD TV, Android device, iPhone, or iPad into the PC gaming rig you’ve always dreamed of. And, every GFN Thursday, new games are added to the GeForce NOW Library.
The first time I pulled off a meticulously planned out assassination in the opening level of Hitman 3, I was in love with this game but little did I know just how much freedom the game would offer me to play the way I saw fit.
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Listen to a short-form recap or roundup of all the top 9to5Google stories of the previous 24 hours. 9to5Google Daily is available on Spotify,Google Podcasts, Amazon, iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Pocket Casts and other podcast players.
Google has unceremoniously revamped the dedicated Wear OS Play Store landing page giving more prominence to featured apps and watchfaces on the wearable platform.
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A growing number of complaints about Google Docs layout and formatting issues have arisen over the past couple of days, and it looks like the culprit might be your adblocker.
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As much as we love Google Photos and the features it brings, the search feature could do with some extra tweaks. Sure, you can search for people, pets, places, and that is great, but it looks like Google Photos could soon save that hassle with enhanced search filters or image tags.
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After another third-party ROM brought Android 11 to the Galaxy Note 9 and S9, it’s the turn of the Galaxy S8 and Note 8.
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After a small initial rollout, Google Photos’ brand-new enhanced video editing tools should be live for everyone using the photo and video application on Android — but just what is new here?
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Listen to a short-form recap or roundup of all the top 9to5Google stories of the previous 24 hours. 9to5Google Daily is available on Spotify,Google Podcasts, Amazon, iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Pocket Casts and other podcast players.
TCL has officially unveiled the 20L, 20L+, and 20 Pro 5G as follow-ups to last year’s affordably focused Android entrants.
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