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.
The end of software support for the Galaxy S9 series is not too far away, but before that does eventually happen, you can grab the February 2021 security patch.
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With travel currently feeling more like a necessity rather than something you do for fun, you’re probably not using Google Maps as much as you did previously. However, it looks like the Google Maps app on Android is testing a UI refresh for the route option section.
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The latest beta build of the Microsoft Authenticator on Android and iOS is gaining the ability to import any of your saved passwords from the Chrome browser.
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The latest Google Contacts v3.38 update has added a convenient feature that lets you alter or change your Google Account profile picture from right within the application.
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The OxygenOS Open Beta 6 based upon Android 11 is now rolling out for the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro, bringing with it the January 2021 security patch and some new Shelf features.
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The Galaxy S21 series is arguably one of the most well-defined series from Samsung in a long time, but you still might some things explained or at least addressed. So we’re going to go into detail so that you know just what to expect.
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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 probably the world’s biggest photo-sharing app, Instagram has seen many overhauls and changes. The latest update is adding a “Recently Deleted” section to Instagram on Android and iOS that will let you restore recent posts.
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Microsoft is on a roll at this early stage of 2021 with several Android app overhauls already underway. Another notable but important change is to Office Lens, which has now officially been rebranded to “Microsoft Lens.” That’s not all, as the app has also added some much-needed new scanning features.
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LG has decided that Microsoft’s Link to Windows app isn’t enough and very quietly released their own take — called Virtoo — on the wireless connection app connecting a Windows 10 PC or laptop.
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Microsoft OneDrive for Android is now receiving a bit of an overhaul while simultaneously adding support for Samsung Motion Photos and 8K video playback.
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HMD Global has now officially launched the Nokia 1.4, its entry-level Android Go-powered smartphone aimed at the low end of the market.
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The first press renders of the upcoming Oppo Find X3 Pro have now leaked online, giving us a high-resolution look at the upcoming flagship.
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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.
The latest Android 11 update has now started officially rolling out in waves for the Nokia 8.3 5G — including the US.
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LineageOS 17.1 now supports the cutesy Nextbit Robin and a bunch of Moto devices including the Moto G5, but disappointingly is dropping the Galaxy S9 and Note 9.
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Firefox 85 for Android appears to have unceremoniously re-enabled the ability to playback DRM content on streaming sites like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and more.
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While the 5G rollout continues at some pace, those in the US with the Pixel 5 and LG Wing will have more to crow about with a C-band upgrade allowing connection to an even wider array of the superfast wireless networks.
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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.
The ASUS Chromebook Flip CM3000 has leaked ahead of release with the Chrome OS-powered device taking the dual-purpose use-case concepts from the impressive Lenovo IdeaPad Duet.
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The February 2021 security patch has already started rolling out for the Samsung Galaxy S20 in some regions.
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Netflix has started testing a sleep timer feature on Android that, like any good implementation, will stop streaming content after a preset period, meaning you won’t forget what just happened when binging your favorite shows.
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The OxygenOS 10.0.11 and 10.0.6 updates are now rolling out for the OnePlus 7/7 Pro and OnePlus 7T respectively as the final Android 10-based builds for both sets of hardware.
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After an official launch in China in late December 2020, the Xiaomi Mi 11 will officially go global on February 8.
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