According to a brand-new report, OnePlus and Oppo have merged their respective hardware R&D departments, with Oppo taking charge of the entire recruitment process.
Expand Expanding CloseOnePlus and Oppo merge hardware R&D teams
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.
Sony Xperia 10 III renders hint at a familiar design
Sony may still be struggling to maintain a foothold in the smartphone space, but that isn’t stopping the release of new devices. Renders of the upcoming Sony Xperia 10 III have been shared online showcasing a familiar design and hinting at some internal inclusions.
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Firefox for Android makes it even easier to add new browser extensions
Although Chrome dominates the mobile browser space on Android, Mozilla’s Firefox is a decent alternative with added — but limited — support for third-party extensions that make it a potential candidate for your browsing needs.
Expand Expanding Close9to5Google Daily 590: Google Messages to stop working on uncertified devices from March, new ‘Save to Google Drive’ extension available, 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.
OxygenOS 11 Open Beta 1 now available for OnePlus 7/7T series
After what has felt like an extended wait, the OxygenOS 11 Open Beta 1 is now rolling out for the OnePlus 7 and 7T series bringing with it all of the Android 11 trappings and features.
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Tasker 5.11 adds ability to automatically block calls, plus more
While it proves to be one of the more daunting device automation apps on the Play Store, Tasker 5.11 is now rolling out with some notable improvements and the ability to screen calls before they even start ringing.
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Google Lens passes 500 million installs on the Play Store
Another core Google app has now reached the 500-million install milestone on the Google Play Store – this time, it’s the turn of Lens.
Expand Expanding CloseMediaTek unveils 6nm Dimensity 1100 and 1200 chipsets
MediaTek has unveiled two brand-new 5G-enabled chipsets in the form of the Dimensity 1100 and 1200, which improve upon the firm’s previous offerings at the mid- to high-end.
Expand Expanding CloseHands-on with State Share on Google Stadia [Video]
After a pretty minor rollout that turned out to be a beta test for State Share on Stadia with Crayta, the potentially game-changing platform feature has arrived in full with the release of Hitman 3 — and we have spent a few days getting to know it better.
Expand Expanding Close9to5Google Daily 589: Google surveys Wear OS owners on satisfaction levels, Play Store gains chart mover icons, 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.
OxygenOS 10.5.9 rolls out for OnePlus Nord N10 5G w/ January patch, power boosts
OxygenOS 10.5.9 is now rolling out for the OnePlus Nord N10 5G with barely anything of note beyond the January 2021 security patch.
Expand Expanding CloseSamsung Galaxy S21 joins Android Enterprise Recommended program
If you are looking for devices to deploy within an enterprise environment, then the Android Enterprise Recommend seal is something to be on the lookout for. The latest additions to the Android Enterprise Recommended program include the newly released Galaxy S21 series alongside a few other notable new members.
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Android 11 begins rolling out for TCL 10L
TCL has now started rolling out the solitary full OS upgrade promised for the affordable TCL 10L in the form of Android 11.
Expand Expanding Close9to5Google Daily 588: Google rolls out Seasonal Savings mode to Nest Thermostats, AV1 codec to be mandatory for Android TV, 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.
Samsung Galaxy S21 teardown shows minor internal differences from S20 series
The first teardown of the Samsung Galaxy S21 series has now been shared online with some admittedly minor internal differences from last year’s Galaxy S20 model.
Expand Expanding CloseThe Google Play Store adds icons to show chart position changes
New chart position icons have now joined the Google Play Store, making it easier than ever to track the rise and fall of specific applications within category leaderboards.
Expand Expanding Close9to5Google Daily 587: Stadia app teases ‘Project Hailstorm’, Google Fi delays Hangouts shutdown, 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.
[Update: Statement] US blacklists Xiaomi, preventing American trade and investment in firm
The US government has blacklisted prominent Android manufacturer Xiaomi, along with other Chinese firms for alleged military links.
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[Update: Spec changes] Planet Computers’ Astro Slide offers a sliding keyboard, 5G connectivity for under $500
Without foldable devices, smartphone design has hit a bit of a plateau. Enter Planet Computers’ Astro Slide, full-sized Android phone that includes a slide-out keyboard, 5G connectivity, and a sub-$500 price-tag.
Expand Expanding Close9to5Google Daily 586: Windows 10X takes ChromeOS design cues, Android Auto wallpaper support coming very soon, 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 Galaxy A32 launches as Samsung’s cheapest 5G phone to date
Samsung has quietly unveiled the Galaxy A32 ahead of the upcoming Galaxy S21 series, with this affordable device being the cheapest 5G-enabled phone from the firm to date.
Expand Expanding Close9to5Google Daily 585: Pixel 4a 5G touch issues arise, Assistant includes Dragon Ball Z secret, 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.
[Update: Wider rollout] YouTube on desktop gains pop-out preview player on Home feed
Likely to help surface new content to users, the desktop version of YouTube is now showing a pop-out video preview player when hovering over on-site content.
Expand Expanding CloseDell adds LTE connectivity to the popular Chromebook 3100 series
Dell has refreshed the popular Chromebook 3100 lineup to add LTE connectivity, making the entry-level devices a solid option for at-home learning or learning on the go.
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