Third-party ROM brings Android 11 to Galaxy S8 and Note 8
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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Author
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.
Hands-on with Google Photos enhanced video editing tools [Video]
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?
Expand Expanding Close9to5Google Daily 639: Google Home 2.36 brings neat new controls, Android Fast Pair redesign goes official, plus more
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 launches 20L, 20 Pro 5G w/ quad cameras, more
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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Google Podcasts reaches 100 million-downloads milestone
With more people now consuming podcasts than ever before, it kind of makes sense that Google Podcasts would see an uptick in downloads. It has, however, skyrocketed to the 100 million-downloads milestone over on the Google Play Store.
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Xperia 5 and 10 III complete Sony’s 2021 smartphone lineup
Alongside the Xperia 1 III, Sony also officially launched the Xperia 5 III and Xperia 10 III to complete the Japanese firm’s smartphone lineup for 2021.
Expand Expanding CloseSony Xperia 1 III goes official w/ 120Hz 4K display, variable telephoto lens, more
Sony has just unveiled the firm’s 2021 flagship, the Xperia 1 III, with some pretty notable hardware, including what is the first 120Hz 4K display on an Android smartphone.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel 5a 5G explained: What’s happening? [Video]
The confusing pre-birth of the Pixel 5a 5G has started, with twists and turns that you simply wouldn’t have expected.
Expand Expanding Close9to5Google Daily 638: Play Movies & TV set for shutdown on Roku, Samsung, LG TVs in June, Android Auto preps connection troubleshooter, plus more
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.
9to5Google Daily 637: The Pixel 5a lives, Oh So Orange Pixel Buds discontinued, plus more
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 and Apple block NHS COVID-19 contact tracing app update over privacy issues
The UK government is bungling yet another aspect of the pandemic response as it appears Google and Apple have blocked a recent update to the NHS COVID-19 contact tracing app over location sharing issues.
Expand Expanding Close[Update: OxygenOS 11.2.3.3 hotfix] Overheating issues plague some OnePlus 9 Pro devices, but a fix is coming
After only launching last week, early adopters are already experiencing some overheating issues with the OnePlus 9 Pro.
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TomTom AmiGo arrives on Android Auto as further third-party navigation option
Now that Android Auto has opened up the system to developers, we’re going to see a real explosion in the number of alternate navigation apps, the latest being that of TomTom AmiGo.
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Magisk v22.1 adds more features, will be last to support legacy Android builds
Magisk v22.1 is now available for tinkerers and the true Android enthusiasts wanting “full” control of their tech with the update adding some notable new features – but for those still clinging on to older Android devices, we have some bad news, as Magisk v22.1 will be the very last to support some of the oldest versions available.
Expand Expanding CloseDigital Wellbeing ‘Heads Up’ mode begins rolling out
A few weeks ago we found that Google was prepping a new “Heads Up” mode for Digital Wellbeing that helps remind you to pay more attention to your surroundings when staring at your smartphone while walking. That feature now looks as though it is starting to roll out to devices.
Expand Expanding ClosePoco F3 review: A truly exceptional budget smartphone [Video]
I think I may have jumped the gun in late 2020 by declaring that the OnePlus Nord might offer price-to-performance perfection because clearly, I hadn’t thought about Xiaomi’s efforts in the mid- to-low-end range. If you want a taste of things often reserved for far more exorbitantly priced devices, then the Poco F3 is an absolute steal.
Expand Expanding Close9to5Google Daily 636: Apple thinks iMessage on Android would ‘hurt’ iPhone sales, plus more
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.
The OnePlus Nord LE is a literal 1-device limited edition
OnePlus has decided that concept phones are not enough and made the OnePlus Nord LE, which is a special limited-edition-device run of one, and it plans on giving it away.
Expand Expanding CloseOnePlus 9 series drops File Dash in favor of Nearby Share
With the OnePlus 9 series launch, the new additions were core focus points – but it looks like there have been a few sneaky removals, including that of File Dash from the File manager app in favor of Google’s Nearby Share.
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Google Phone app update lets you record calls from unknown numbers automatically
The ability to record callers in the Google Phone app is a popular addition, but the feature is expanding to include the ability to automatically record all calls from numbers not in your contacts.
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Google Doodle celebrates Hull’s rugby league legend Clive Sullivan
Today’s Google Doodle in the UK is celebrating the 78th birthday of a genuinely legendary rugby league star — Clive Sullivan.
Expand Expanding CloseWhat we’re playing: Outriders helps fill a Gears of War-shaped looter-shooter gap
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.
After playing through several hours of the recently released Outriders, I can honestly say that this is the fusion of Mass Effect, Gears of War, Destiny and — to a certain extent James Cameron’s Avatar — that I didn’t think I needed in my life, but here we are.
Expand Expanding Close9to5Google Daily 635: Google I/O set for May 18-20, new Play Store navigation and settings redesign rolls out, plus more
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.
Nokia launches six new C, G, and X-series affordably focused devices
Nokia has unveiled a whopping six new Android-powered smartphones today, as part of the new C, G, and X-series.
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