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.
It looks as though the OnePlus 9 series is set to arrive sooner than expected, with a likely mid-March launch event for the upcoming smartphone series plus the long-rumored OnePlus Watch.
Expand Expanding Close
While March has now begun, the OxygenOS Open Beta 7 update is now rolling out for the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro touting the February security patch and not a great deal else.
Expand Expanding Close
The OxygenOS Open Beta 3 is now rolling out for the OnePlus 7T and 7T Pro with the update bringing a fix for HD playback with Netflix, plus much more.
Expand Expanding Close
The latest Tasker 5.12.33 beta is now rolling out and allows you to create rudimentary routines that track your sleep patterns.
Expand Expanding Close
The AI-generated Google Photos Memories collections continue to grow with a bar game billiards or pool-focused “Let’s Play” grouping for images of you and your friends playing the popular table games.
Expand Expanding Close
For better or worse there has been a ton to unpack for cloud gaming wholesale as we leave the second month of 2021 behind us. Even if you’re feeling positive, from afar it may look very much like the writing is on the wall for Google’s premiere gaming platform, which — sadly — makes February 2021 yet another eventful month for Stadia.
Expand Expanding Close
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.
A new update is rolling out for the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live that brings the hearing enhancement feature plus a few other minor performance-related improvements.
Expand Expanding Close
The Pixel 5a is most definitely on the horizon, but until such a time as Google unveils the next affordable Android, the Pixel 4a is still a superb smartphone stuffed full of awesome features.
Expand Expanding Close
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.
While Huawei smartphones have been a hard sell across the globe due to hard US sanctions limiting Google Mobile Services access, the Chinese firm’s wearables division had grown substantially. One major criticism of Huawei’s LiteOS-powered wearables has been the lack of third-party app support.
Expand Expanding Close
In emerging markets, saving data usage and ensuring performance on modest hardware is a must. That’s why Facebook launched Instagram Lite, which although a solid alternative lacked some features including Reels.
Expand Expanding Close
For those still happy to root and tinker on their Android devices, Magisk is an essential. The latest Magisk v22.0 build is now available, and it adds support for the recently released Galaxy S21 series alongside a few extra tweaks.
Expand Expanding Close
After the whirlwind launch of Android 12 Developer Preview 1, we have been diving into the first build of the upcoming OS to find some hidden gems and brand new features you might have missed.
Expand Expanding Close
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.
Often the US gets some of the best pre-order bonuses for smartphones, but with the Pixel 5, we Europeans were given the gift of a free pair of Bose QC 35 II noise-cancelling headphones so long as orders were placed before a certain date.
Expand Expanding Close
Samsung’s recent smartphone camera sensor efforts have been a little hit or miss, but with the introduction of the new 50-megapixel ISOCELL GN2, the firm is looking to improve autofocus speed and accuracy.
Expand Expanding Close
As champions of affordability, the BBK-owned Realme is set to release its first 2021 flagship in the guise of of the GT 5G.
Expand Expanding Close
The gold standard of smartphone haptics has — unfortunately — been Apple and the Taptic Engine for years at this stage. We’ve seen great improvements from the likes of Google, Oppo, Xiaomi, and OnePlus, but Qualcomm and Lofelt have now partnered with the express aim to “bring advanced haptics to the Android ecosystem.”
Expand Expanding Close
One of the biggest bonuses with the Spotify mobile app has always been the ability to cast audio from a “free” account to your Google Assistant-powered speakers and Smart Displays. A recent, quietly made change means that this privilege is now only reserved for Premium account holders.
Expand Expanding Close
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.
After an extended hiatus, development has resumed for the immensely popular Lawnchair Launcher with a brand-new team at the helm of the third-party launcher.
Expand Expanding Close
Samsung’s efforts to get devices updated in super-quick fashion are to be lauded, as the One UI 3.0 update has been issued far quicker than at any other time. We’ve been diving into the One UI 3.0 and 3.1 upgrades to determine just what the top new features might actually be.
Expand Expanding Close
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.