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The UK's payment landscape is undergoing a rapid transformation. While regulatory initiatives, such as the mandatory authorized push payment (APP) reimbursement scheme, provide safeguards, sophisticated cyber-attacks and elaborate scams relentlessly evolve.

To reduce fraud, strong data-sharing frameworks and collaboration across the financial services industry are essential. Collaboration between big tech, telecoms, banks and the public sector can help combat fraud through a joined-up approach to data-sharing aimed at driving out scammers and identifying potentially fraudulent transactions.

Current landscape

The scale of UK fraud is stark, with losses reaching £1.28 billion in 2025, a 4% increase year-on-year. Fraud is now operating on an industrial scale, with criminals using increasingly advanced tools and techniques to target victims. Fraud increasingly funds serious and organized crime in the UK and globally, reinforcing its status as a national security threat.

Authorized Push Payment (APP) fraud is a growing area of concern – this type of fraud continues to rise, with 248,070 cases recorded in 2025 (up 7%), showing that fraudsters are consistently adapting, pivoting to exploit new vulnerabilities, even as defenses strengthen. New scams have focused on investment, purchase-related, advance fee, invoice, and mandate scams as well as romance and impersonation scams.

Total losses from APP fraud rose sharply to £576.4 million (up 19%). This reflects a clear shift in criminal behavior, from exploiting systems to manipulating people through increasingly sophisticated social engineering.

Purchase scams made up 71% of all APP cases, demonstrating the scale and diversity of modern fraud tactics. This impact extends beyond financial loss, affecting individual livelihoods, disrupting businesses, and undermining national economic confidence.

Crucially, most APP fraud now originates outside the banking system. 66% of cases begin online (accounting for 32% of losses) and 17% via telecommunications networks, highlighting the growing role of digital platforms and telecoms in enabling fraud. Criminals are no longer primarily hacking systems; they are manipulating people, using sophisticated social engineering to bypass even the strongest technical controls.

Key considerations for the payments industry

Tackling these challenges requires a multi-faceted approach, combining robust technology, seamless collaboration to enable effective and compliant data-sharing, effective regulation, and public awareness. Key considerations are:

What does government strategy mean in practice?

Initiatives, such as the Government Fraud Strategy, provide an important framework for government, law enforcement, and the private sector. Infrastructure and data-sharing initiatives need to be effective, compliant, and aligned with national priorities to disrupt and prevent fraud. This ensures the fight against fraud remains a national priority that continuously adapts.

New data-sharing initiatives with Faster Payment System participants can play a key role here. Pay.UK’s work with participants on Enhanced Data Exchange (EDEx) will facilitate secure, timely data-sharing to empower financial institutions to detect and prevent fraudulent payments before they happen.

While still in development, its principles will complement the FCA’s APP fraud guidance and the Home Office’s Data Strategy ambitions: to enable secure, proportionate information exchange that helps prevent fraud before funds leave the system.

How can the industry continue to build cross-sector collaboration?

Cross-sector intelligence sharing and advanced data analytics are increasingly vital. Real-time, secure data exchange illuminates patterns, identifies emerging threats, and enables proactive intervention before attacks occur. When combined with strong governance and clear accountability, this kind of collaboration shifts fraud defense from isolated warning signs to a coordinated, system‑wide response.

Confirmation of Payee significantly reduces misdirected payments and various APP fraud types such as impersonation and invoice scams. It's a vital, preventative layer of security before funds are transferred. It has implications beyond its intended purpose and has strongly influenced the development of Verification of Payee in Europe.

There is a growing call for greater enforceable responsibilities for technology platforms and telecommunications providers, not only to prevent fraud at source, but also to contribute financially and operationally to combating it.

How can the industry empower and educate end users?

Beyond technology and industry collaboration, fraud prevention has a vital human dimension. Educating and empowering end users remain central – recognizing the warning signs of a scam is still one of the strongest protections available. But education alone is not enough. Consumers also need better information at the moment a decision is made.

It’s encouraging to see that, as a payments community, we are already building richer data-sharing across the ecosystem to provide clearer, more relevant context when prompting customers to pause before making a payment. Banks are moving beyond generic warnings, providing genuinely useful guidance and strengthening the point of payment as a powerful, collective line of defense.

The APP reimbursement scheme is a significant consumer protection funded by UK banks. Data from the PSR shows that £215 million was reimbursed to victims of APP fraud in 2025 alone. Across the first 15 months of the scheme (October 2024 to December 2025), 89% of the money lost to APP scams has been successfully claimed back from a payment firm and returned to victims.

While not a direct comparison, this is a significant uptick from the 65% reimbursement rate reported by UK Finance for personal accounts in 2024. Providing a safety net of up to £85,000 for victims, this scheme offers a clear recovery mechanism and brings more consistency for customers than the previous voluntary Contingent Reimbursement Model (CRM) Code.

Further, the scheme continues to evolve in line with the shifting payment landscape. The PSR has appointed Frontier Economics to carry out an independent evaluation and review of the APP fraud policies, the results of which are due to be published in the second half of 2026.

These findings, which look at the current effectiveness of the policies, fraud performance reporting and the reimbursement requirement, will influence the future of APP fraud prevention strategies and regulatory requirements, ensuring the creation of safe and trusted payment infrastructure

The battle against payment fraud is ongoing, demanding constant vigilance and strategic adaptation. While the digital age has transformed how we transact, it has also presented fraudsters with new avenues for exploitation. Yet, as outlined, it is a battle we are actively and collectively winning.

By embracing a multi-faceted approach, combining robust technological defenses, seamless industry collaboration, effective regulatory frameworks, and comprehensive public awareness, we are building a formidable shield against these threats.

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• HP India has been fined 1.42 billion rupees ($14.7 million) for two separate cases
• Self-reporting ultimately landed it with lighter fines
• Both cases relate to government tender manipulation between 2017 and 2020

India's Competition Commission (CCI) has accused HP India and some related resellers of coordinating bids for Indian government contracts on the Government e-Marketplace.

According to the CCI, the company and certain partners manipulated government tenders by predetermined or communicated bid prices, submitting deliberately uncompetitive bids to create the appearance of competition and controlling discounts.

The regulator revealed two separate cases for investigation – one relating to PCs, and the other relating to printing consumables like ink and toner.

HP accused of manufacturing bids to win Indian government contracts

In the printing case, the CCI uncovered emails, witness statements, WhatsApp group conversations and even a 2019 video from a reseller meeting. Discussions around which companies would submit supporting bids, prices and discounts, and which reseller should win particular contracts were found.

The CCI declared that a total of 16 Tier-2 resellers had violated its Competition Act through bid rigging, with HP India fined 119.8 million rupees and its resellers fined a combined total of 23 million rupees.

A separate case revealed similar conduct covering laptops, desktops, workstations, POS systems, peripherals and more. Similarly, five additional resellers were highlighted on top of HP India's core businesses, bringing this case's fines total to 1.3 billion rupees and 12.2 million rupees respectively.

The CCI's final orders bring HP India's total fines to around 1.42 billion rupees, or $14.7 million, excluding the fines imposed on its partners.

But the fine could have been a lot worse had HP India not come forward and admitted to its wrongdoing between 2017 and 2020, having submitted a lesser-penalty application to buy itself a discount on the fines.

TechRadar Pro has asked HP for a comment, but we did not receive an immediate response.

The enterprise technology industry has a peculiar relationship with accountability. When it comes to cloud uptime, latency, and data security, we expect contractual guarantees, SLAs, and clearly defined remedies. But when it comes to AI-generated outputs, the actual content these systems produce, we've quietly accepted a different standard: best effort.

I've spent years in commercial and operational roles at companies like Gap, Amazon, and Door Dash / Wolt. In every one of those environments, product visuals weren't a marketing nice-to-have. They were infrastructure. A wrong color on a listing didn't just look bad; it drove returns. A missing ingredient on a food image wasn't an aesthetic issue; it was a trust issue that compounded at scale and was dangerous to our customers.

So when AI-generated images started entering enterprise workflows in earnest, I watched with real interest. The efficiency gains were compelling: the ability to generate, retouch, and adapt product visuals at a speed and scale that traditional studio workflows simply cannot match.

But something fundamental was missing from the enterprise conversation: accountability for outputs.

The gap between impressive and dependable

There's a difference between AI that produces impressive results in demos and AI tools you can stake commercial operations on. For enterprise buyers, that gap matters enormously.

Consider what happens when am AI-generated product image fails at volume. A wrong product color in a hero image doesn't trigger one return; it triggers thousands. A distorted shape on a fashion listing doesn't affect one conversion; it affects an entire category. The commercial exposure from visual inaccuracy compounds at scale in a way that individual errors simply don't.

Yet for most of the AI visual tools currently available to enterprise buyers, the contractual position on this exposure is essentially zero. You buy credits, you run images, and what comes out is what you get. If the output doesn't match the brief, you absorb the cost: in regeneration time, in quality control overhead, and ultimately in the downstream commercial impact of content that doesn't perform.

This isn't an indictment of the technology. AI-generated images have genuinely transformed what's operationally possible for enterprise visual production. But the commercial model hasn't kept up with the commercial reality.

Why ownership changes everything

The reason most AI visual vendors can't offer meaningful output guarantees isn't reluctance; it's architecture. If you're building on third-party foundation models, you have no ability to evaluate, course-correct, or stand behind the quality of what those models produce at the output level. The accountability stops at the API.

The vendors who can make guarantees are the ones who own the full stack: the generation models, the evaluation models, and the remediation process. This is the structural distinction that makes contractual guarantees viable, not as a commercial gesture, but as something that can actually be operationalized.

When a proprietary fidelity evaluation model is running on every output before delivery, you have a mechanism for identifying failures before the client does. When you own the rater, the fixer, and the generation pipeline, you have the ability to correct those failures.

When you've run a feasibility check on a customer's actual catalogue before any commercial commitment, you know what the pass rate will look like in production.

That's the architecture that makes a guarantee meaningful: not a promise, but an auditable process with contractual teeth.

What contractual accountability looks like in practice

The mechanics matter here, because "guarantee" can mean many things. In practice, an enterprise visual guarantee should do three things: define pass/fail criteria upfront based on the customer's actual brief; evaluate every output against those criteria before delivery; and trigger a clear remedy, regeneration or credit refund, when failures occur.

Critically, the criteria need to be specific. Product fidelity failures, an altered color, a missing ingredient, a distorted product shape, are measurable and contractually defensible. Subjective aesthetic preferences, a lighting angle, a background tone, are not. The boundary between these two things is where a real guarantee lives, and where vague commitments fall apart.

For enterprise buyers, this specificity is valuable in itself. It forces the conversation about what "quality" actually means for a given catalogue before procurement, rather than after. That clarity typically improves outcomes on both sides.

The accountability moment for enterprise AI

We're at a point in the enterprise AI cycle where the conversation needs to shift from what these systems can do to what vendors are willing to stand behind. Capability is no longer the differentiator; the market is full of capable tools. Dependability is.

For enterprise procurement teams, this means starting to ask harder questions. Not just "what's your accuracy rate?" but "what happens when it's wrong, and what are the contractual terms?" Not just "can you handle our volume?" but "what remedies apply when you don't meet the standard we've agreed?"

For the vendor community, it means recognising that the era of best-effort AI in enterprise contexts is ending. Buyers who are running tens of thousands of product images through AI pipelines need the same accountability from those systems that they expect from any other mission-critical infrastructure.

The goal in commerce was never the most beautiful image. It was always an image that sells, reliably, accurately, at scale. Enterprise AI that can guarantee that outcome is the next competitive frontier. The vendors willing to back their outputs contractually are the ones that will earn a place in enterprise infrastructure for the long term.

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A decade ago, technology used data to make commercial real estate processes faster. Brokers leveraged tech platforms to gather data, run it through a process, and serve up solutions that flowed from predefined formulas.

Today, data is used to make processes smarter. With the power of AI, platforms are giving brokers more than fast access to data and computations. They are also serving up decisions. Data is no longer simply an input for a system, but rather the intelligence of the system.

The change introduces a host of new capabilities. AI doesn’t just accelerate processes; it automates them.

But the change also introduces new dangers. Pre-AI, data issues resulted in platform failures. Now, data issues result in faulty thinking.

For commercial real estate brokers, as for any business professional who has integrated AI into their processes, faulty thinking leads to misleading outputs.

And decisions based on those outputs have the potential to lead to big losses. Consequently, brokers need clean data to execute in the Age of AI.

AI-driven systems need data that delivers context

When it comes to data, context is the key to AI’s effectiveness. Accessing data is not enough. AI systems need to understand data.

The traditional platforms brokers would use to gain real estate insights might show parcel boundaries, zoning codes, permits, or points of interest as separate layers. They streamlined the access and filtering process, but users had to determine the context.

For AI to function as intended, it needs to understand how the layers of data relate to each other. It has to know whether a zoning district allows a use, whether the parcel size supports the intended development, whether permit activity signals market momentum, and whether surrounding demand drivers support the investment thesis.

Clean data allows AI to reason across categories. It does away with fragmentation, inconsistencies, and exaggerations. The platforms that empower brokers have refined, normalized, and blended data into one usable intelligence layer.

In the world of AI, reliable data is often described as having representativeness. It gives AI an accurate representation of the environment it is being asked to assess. Clean data ensures representativeness.

AI-driven systems don’t warn users when data is bad

Brokers use AI-driven systems to uncover insights they need to make confident decisions. But when those systems run on bad data, brokers end up with dangerously misplaced confidence.

The threat of being misled by AI systems is often overlooked because AI doesn’t warn users when it is running on bad data. It will confidently provide an answer that sounds precise, even when the response is questionable because it is built on data that is incomplete, outdated, misclassified, or overstated.

For real estate brokers, moving on any outputs built on bad data can lead to real financial consequences. A developer may overestimate the buildable area. A retailer may misread a trade area. An analyst may recommend a site that fails zoning review. An investor may compare markets using datasets that are not actually comparable.

AI’s intelligence is based on the data used to train it. Good or bad, that is the well it has to draw from.

General AI models can’t deliver the context brokers need

General AI models like ChatGPT or Claude can help real estate brokers if they are looking for general information. They can explain zoning, offer alternative financing options, or help explore the possible outcomes of a real estate scenario. But their intelligence is constrained by their data, which typically won’t include the localized, up-to-date, contextual content that drives real estate developers’ decision-making.

To qualify as “clean,” the data driving platforms used by brokers needs to be complete and contextually connected. Foundation models like those developed by OpenAI are extremely powerful, but they are not a substitute for clean, domain-specific data.

They cannot reliably know whether a specific parcel in a specific county has current zoning coverage, whether the local assessor data is missing a building attribute, whether a permit record has been matched to the correct parcel, or whether two providers are using conflicting land-use definitions — unless that data has been cleaned, governed, and connected.

AI can provide brokers with the reason they need, but only when it is given trusted context. In commercial real estate, that context is highly local, highly fragmented, and constantly changing.

Counties publish data differently, municipal zoning codes vary, and permit structures are inconsistent, to name just a few of the contextual challenges. AI systems become useful for real estate decision-making by giving them a reliable data layer underneath.

Demanding clean data is especially important for commercial real estate brokers because the cost of error is high. A site evaluation can influence acquisition strategy, entitlement risk, development feasibility, lending assumptions, and a host of other critical components. A small data issue upstream can become a large financial mistake downstream.

The only platforms brokers should trust are those that treat data quality like infrastructure. You wouldn’t build a high-rise on a weak foundation. The same applies to AI. The model, interface, and automation layer are only as strong as the data foundation beneath them.

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• The UK has the second-highest energy costs and planning environments in a study of 10 countries
• Britain also ranks ninth out of 10 in terms of overall network quality
• VodafoneThree wants networks to be seen as critical national infrastructure

VodafoneThree has argued that the UK is falling behind the rest of Europe in its mobile infrastructure because of regulations, which make it hard for companies like itself to invest heavily in the right areas at the right time.

According to the report, the UK is being set back by pressers from all angles, including high energy costs for running mobile infrastructure, expensive property and site costs, planning delays, restrictive policies and even competition from mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs).

More broadly on a global scale, the UK is also falling behind countries like Singapore, South Korea, the US, Norway, Australia, Germany and Hungary.

VodafoneThree slates UK mobile network regulatory landscape

Of the 10 specific countries studied in the company's analysis, VodafoneThree revealed that the UK has the second-highest energy costs and second-most burdensome planning environment. The UK ranks ninth on the scale of 10 countries for overall network quality.

"Bringing the UK’s investment environment up to the standard of our international peers could help to support public services, eliminate digital divides and enable communities to thrive," Networks Director Andrea Dona wrote.

The report warns that the UK could fall behind peers in terms of digital public services, national resilience and economic growth if the landscape doesn't improve, which is why it's working with the UK Government "to examine the barriers holding back our mobile networks."

One of the biggest changes that could impact the landscape is a shift to recognize mobile network operators are providers of critical national infrastructure, so that they're protected against some cost fluctuations such as energy costs.

"Fast, reliable and quality mobile networks are a fundamental driver of economic growth and prosperity," Dona concluded.

• The Garmin Cirqa is a rumored screenless smart band, like a Whoop or Google Fitbit Air
• It's been the subject of a few unofficial leaks, and has been posted on Garmin's site in error before
• Another recent now-deleted post on Garmin's Romanian website has added fuel to the rumors

The Garmin Cirqa smart band is all but confirmed at this point. For months now, we've seen leak after leak about Garmin's Cirqa fitness tracker, and while we don't know too many details, it's seemingly a screenless smart band designed to compete with the likes of Whoop and the Google Fitbit Air.

Now it's reportedly leaked yet again. As spotted by Gadgets and Wearables, a recent update to Garmin's Romanian website, on the page explaining a feature called Health Status, mentions the Garmin Cirqa smart band (styled 'CIRQA') as a compatible device.

Health Status is a feature that combines five core metrics — heart rate, heart rate variability, respiration, skin temperature and pulse ox — to give an overview of your general health. It's a feature on most of the best Garmin watches now, so it's unsurprising that the Cirqa would be getting it.

The reference to Cirqa was reportedly swiftly deleted, but not before a screenshot was captured.

In January, Garmin posted the Cirqa on its own website, including color options (black and French Gray), before swiftly deleting it. It seems this has happened again. Add in other recent leaks, and you can see why it's basically confirmed at this stage.

The screenless 'focus wearables' category is having a moment. We've already seen the launches of the Oura Ring 5, Whoop competitors such as the Polar Loop (as seen in the image above, alongside the Whoop MG and Amazfit Helio Strap), and most recently the Google Fitbit Air. It makes sense that Garmin, one of the leading names in fitness tracking, wants in on the action while the category is still on the up.

I don't think a launch can be far away at this point, and I'll be keeping my ear to the ground for more Cirqa news as it breaks.

Spoilers for Heartstopper Forever ahead.

It's a mammoth task to bring a beloved IP like Heartstopper to a close, but creator Alice Oseman has done an incredible job with the new Netflix movie, Heartstopper Forever.

If you're bummed out because we're not getting a full fourth season, don't be. As Nick (Kit Connor), Charlie (Joe Locke), and the gang all brace before going their separate ways to university, a feature film actually reflects their growing maturity and crises of confidence much more fittingly.

As our favorite friends brace themselves before heading their separate ways to start university (and more, but more on that later), emotions are running high.

But do our beloved relationships survive the final farewell, and what is everyone planning to do next? Here's the full Heartstopper Forever ending breakdown that you're looking for.

Do Nick and Charlie stay together?

(Image credit: Netflix)

Yes... but that isn't without its challenges. We start Heartstopper Forever with Nick and Charlie as besotted and in love as they always have been, with the others gently roasting them as being the "perfect couple" while their own relationships experience problems.

But while Charlie embraces his newfound self-confidence through becoming Head Boy at Truham Grammar School, Nick is having a tougher time with his emotions. He's decided that he wants to put Leeds University as his first choice on his application, and the thought of drifting apart from Charlie is weighing on his mind.

Nick starts to close himself off from Charlie, not fully explaining why he's not feeling 100%. Charlie is left at a loss, only wanting to support Nick in the same way he's always felt supported in return. This all comes to a head at a house party, where the boys get into an argument.

As Charlie tells Tori (Jenny Walser), Nick is trying to prevent a future problem that hasn't presented itself yet... Charlie just doesn't know exactly what that problem is. At the party, Nick complains that Charlie has been avoiding him the whole night, with Charlie responding that he thought Nick might want some space to talk through uni and future plans with his friends.

Nick, slightly drunk, lashes out by saying that the pair could probably use some space. "So you want to break up then?" Charlie asks, with Nick replying, "Well, it sounds like you want to break up." With communication between them coming to a halt, that's exactly what happens.

(Image credit: Netflix)

Cue endless moping while keeping to themselves. Charlie stops eating and refuses to get out of bed, with Elle (Yasmin Finney), Isaac (Tobie Donovan) and Tao (William Gao) all staging an intervention by taking Charlie to Truham Pride. All goes well until Charlie spots Nick talking to a girl on the dance floor at a local gay club.

From Nick's perspective, he's just looking for friends. Just like Charlie, he's been unable to shake off the breakup, telling mum Sarah (Anna Maxwell Martin) that everything that has happened is his own fault, believing that it's too late to be fixed.

The day of Truham Pride, Imogen (Rhea Norwood) introduces him to a friend, who offers to hook him up with someone if he wants a rebound. He refuses and moves away, which is when Charlie spots him.

Days later, Charlie leaves a pack of printed disposable photos at Nick's door, asking him to meet at the beach. Charlie tells him that he thought that the pair could always talk to each other, but somewhere along the line, their communication has broken down.

Nick says that he envies the way that Charlie can express himself, as he often doesn't understand how he's feeling half of the time. The two make amends, promising to always look after each other. From there, it's back to being as loved-up as ever, just in time for the Truham prom.

What about Elle and Tao?

(Image credit: Netflix)

Elle and Tao are the relationship that doesn't survive Heartstopper Forever, as the pair get into an argument about their future plans. Elle wants to move to Berlin to become an artist, having a go at Tao for not frequently planning to visit.

Tao says that he can't afford it, with their argument made worse by a drunk Nick claiming that everything with Charlie is perfect (hint: we know that's not true).

The pair agree to a truce to help Charlie out of his funk post-breakup, and appear friendly at Truham prom. They have "one last dance" before things change for good, and are noticeably emotional at the thought of being apart.

However, there's a silver lining on the horizon. In the very last scene of the pair, we see Elle at an art exhibition in Berlin, with Tao arriving to surprise her.

What's next for the gang after they finish school?

(Image credit: Netflix)

Let's start with Nick and Charlie. While Charlie stays local, Nick gets into Leeds. The final scene shows Charlie going to stay with Nick for the weekend, being introduced to all of his new friends, clubbing, and getting pancakes for breakfast.

They're ready to write a new chapter in their relationship, and as they say, they feel as if they're "different" from typical teen romance... they're in it for the long haul.

Elle and Tao are accounted for, but it's Tao's video project at prom that lets us in on what's to come next for the rest of the gang. Tara (Corrina Brown) has asked girlfriend Darcy (Kizzy Edgell) to go interrailing across Europe with her, deferring their places at uni for at least a year.

Tori has a more skeptical answer, telling Tao that she will "do nothing, then die." However, things are going well with boyfriend Michael (Darragh Hand), having figured out the rhythm of their relationship.

Sahar (Leila Khan) tells Tao that the band, Queer Intentions, has broken up, but she's going to try a solo music career and see what happens.

Don't miss this epic Heartstopper Easter egg

Just as Nick gets on the train to Leeds, he walks through the carriage and passes a young woman reading at a nearby table.

If you're a Heartstopper fan, you'll know that this is Alice Oseman, creator of the original graphic novel series. She's also acted as the showrunner of seasons 1-3. She's also written the script for Heartstopper Forever.

All good things must come to an end, and unfortunately for Netflix subscribers, that includes the blossoming romance between Nick (Kit Connor) and Charlie (Joe Locke). The Heartstopper franchise is drawing to a close with Heartstopper Forever, a feature film in lieu of a full fourth season.

Like most fans when they first heard the news, I felt cheated. Much like the original graphic novel books by Alice Oseman, Nick and Charlie's story is one best told over time. Two teens grappling with their feelings and identities need time to breathe together, let alone without their smorgasbord of friends who also all have their own delicious narrative arcs.

Now I've seen all 114 minutes of Heartstopper Forever — which is the equivalent of about 4.5 standard episodes — I stand corrected. As Nick, Charlie, and the gang all brace before going their separate ways to university, a feature film actually reflects their growing maturity and crises of confidence much more fittingly.

Newsflash, people: Nick and Charlie aren't kids anymore. In fact, the new Netflix movie wastes little time reminding fans of that, with a significant increase in drinking, partying and all-out sex scenes. Tender and wholesome romance can have an incredibly passionate side, too.

As a Heartstopper fan who has been in the trenches since the release of Oseman's first novel installment, Heartstopper Forever feels like the most satisfying ending that's able to be delivered. Nobody really wants to be in this position, but all of my questions are answered, and every single character is set up for their future away from our prying eyes.

Heartstopper Forever delivers everything a hardcore fan will want

You're going to have to trust my (excellent) judgement on the above statement, because there's no way I'm divulging anything even faintly resembling a spoiler in this review. As we know, Nick is getting ready to leave for university, and Charlie is taking on new responsibilities at school.

Elle (Yasmin Finney) has her mind set on big artistic goals, which means her relationship with Tao (William Gao) also hits its snags. More than any other characters' storylines, both relationships hit on the central theme of worth: does teenage romance even mean that much anyway?

As the push-pull effect of university and a daunting, vague future takes hold, Nick falls apart at the seams. Unlike Charlie, who has always been able to effectively communicate how he's feeling, Nick doesn't know how to describe what's going on in his head. It has the pair doubting the validity of their love and connection, even though nothing is overly wrong from an objective point of view.

It should be frustrating to watch two teenage boys self-sabotage, but the reality is overwhelmingly poignant. Even though the movie is called Heartstopper Forever, nothing in life is guaranteed — and I, for one, am fed up with pretending that doesn't keep everyone up at night.

As Tao points out, everyone has assumed up until this point that Nick and Charlie are a "perfect couple," and it's fascinating to watch how they deal with actual grown-up problems. Oseman has always had a unique knack for conveying the best of what love has to offer, and she's just as adept at holding a mirror up to the worst.

On top of this, watching the boys get physically intimate, drunk, and accosted by topless men wearing leather chaps at the local gay club feels like emotional whiplash in itself. Socially, we seem to have a difficult time understanding that young people grow up to do adult things, and Oseman handles these changes with touching sensitivity. There are some fans out there who have been waiting on tenterhooks for these moments... and the reality is spot-on.

Anna Maxwell Martin, I love you... but Olivia Colman was the better Sarah Nelson

(Image credit: Netflix)

So we can tick off the fact that none of our favorite characters are left hanging, and we know exactly what's happening with them and where they're going. Fantastic. However, there are a few minor misdemeanors that need addressing.

The main thorn in Heartstopper Forever's side the recast role of Sarah, Nick's mum. I feel like an absolute heathen even bringing this up, seeing new Sarah, Anna Maxwell Martin, is one of my favorite actors in the country. But when you remember that you once had Olivia Colman in the same role — and that she delivered one of the best scenes in Heartstopper's history thanks to Nick coming out — well, there's a somewhat sour taste.

Heartstopper Forever is the most narratively and tonally different installment of Nick and Charlie's story to date, but it is still essentially more of the same at its core. Don't get me wrong, this isn't necessarily a negative... but if you've come to the movie looking for something new, you're not going to obviously find it.

Still, Oseman should give herself the biggest paycheck possible for what she's been able to achieve. It's not easy to deliver a finale that already looks nothing like what everyone expects it to, let alone make the final result compelling, endearing, and ultimately remarkably satisfying.

Heartstopper Forever really is forever... at least, it is in my house, where I'll be replaying it so much that Netflix might issue a warning. Its spirit and generation-defining impact will live on, and that might be the most special achievement the streamer has ever been responsible for.

Looking to upgrade or replace your tech for less but missed Amazon AU's Prime Day sale that ended earlier this week? Or perhaps there something you forgot to pick up while the sale was still on? Fret not — there are still plenty of affordable buys right now at the world's biggest online retailer, with discounts of up to 71%.

Fifty bucks (or often less) is all you need to grab a high-quality power bank to keep your devices charged on the go, a great-sounding pair of headphones, or some handy tech accessories that you didn't know you needed ranging from trackers to air dusters, Bluetooth speakers and a whole lot more. You can even get gaming-grade PC gear like mice and controllers for under AU$50!

I've put together some of the best Amazon deals under that have retained their discounts long after Prime Day's official end date — and better yet, you don't even need a Prime membership to take advantage.

Looking for more post-Prime Day Amazon deals? We've rounded up over 50 more right here.

Ugreen 65W Nexode USB-C Charger

Ugreen Magsafe Power Bank 10,000mAh

Ugreen 2-In-1 Qi Magflow Charging Stand

Anker Nano 621 Power Bank (22.5W with built-in USB-C connector)

Ugreen Finetrack Slim

Clevast Compressed Air Duster

Ugreen Revodok 105 USB-C Hub

Logitech Logitech Mk250 Bluetooth keyboard and mouse combo

Logitech G305 Lightspeed

Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2

Logitech Signature M650

Soundcore Select 4 Go

Soundcore Soundcore by Anker P20i

UGREEN USB-C earphones

GameSir Nova Lite

Tomtoc Slim Carrying Case for Nintendo Switch 2

JBL Tune 500

UGREEN 130w Car Charger

HyperX Cloud Stinger 2

UGREEN Laptop Stand

Charmast 10,000mAh Power Bank

While it's fair to say the Australian TechRadar deal-hunting team gets excited by major sale events such as Amazon Prime Day or Black Friday, we're actually a lot easier to please, and we'll even get excited when deals are still live following the aforementioned events.

That includes myself, so you can only imagine the size of the smile on my face when I found 55 deals my team and I spotted during the recent Prime Day sale in Australia that are still available to shop. Sure, in most cases the sale price is higher than the week-long sale, but in some other cases, the prices have actually dropped below.

It's also pleasing to see Amazon offering extra coupon savings on select products, such as the JBL Flip 7 and JBL Charge 6, which plummet to near-all-time-low figures.

It's also great to see such a spread of product categories, as you'll see below. The usual suspects of headphones and Bluetooth speakers are present, along with a smattering of kitchen appliances and vacuum cleaners — there are some particularly noteworthy deals on robot vacuums. Furthermore, it's also possible to find some tantalising tech for a lot less, as my colleague Nico has found 21 deals under AU$50 that are live on Amazon right now.

A word of warning though, given the fact these deals are still live so close to Prime Day, I don't expect them to last much longer, so this really could be your final choice to grab a bargain before we go an sort of deal hiatus until Black Friday in November.

Audio

These Sony cans might now be two generations old, but damn are they still glorious. And while they may have increased by AU$36 since Prime Day, I can still comfortably recommend them. Although, for an extra AU$60, you can get yourself the newer and better-sounding XM5.View Deal

The Pro 3 did drop to an all-time low during Prime Day, much to my surprise. Understandably, that's now ended, but they've retained an attractive 14% discount in the days since. If you're a Pro 2 user, though, it's not worth the upgrade. Check out our review for the full story, but the new features include heart-rate monitoring and even better ANC than before.View Deal

We may not have tested these buds ourselves here at TechRadar, but it’s hard to ignore the 100K customer reviews on Amazon. While often discounted to this price, if you’re after dependable Bluetooth buds on a budget, these are a great option and just AU$3 more than their Prime Day price.View Deal

These affordable earbuds with ANC are brimming with features, including a range of ANC modes, EQ presets and other audio adjustments. They sound good (but you'll want to tweak it from the default) and they'll last up to 7.5 hours with ANC on before they need a recharge. Check out our Earfun Air Pro 4 review for more info and take advantage of this offer. View Deal

Our 1More Sonoflow review praised the comfort of the headphones, as well as the excellent active noise cancelling and up to 70 hours of battery life. Honestly, at this price, it's excellent value for everyday listening and they've now dropped to just below their Prime Day price thanks to a 22% coupon saving at checkout. View Deal

We gave these stunning earbuds 4.5 stars in our review as they have class-leading audio handling and impeccable sound quality that rivals the best wireless earbuds. With balanced sound, effective ANC and a great battery life, these Sennheiser buds will make any audiophile smile. View Deal

Offering poised and revealing sound, along with excellent comfort and microphone quality, this saving is one to consider if you've been on the hunt for a quality pair of earbuds. Though noise cancellation and battery life could use some work, we awarded these earbuds a TechRadar Recommends seal of approval in our Technics EAH-AZ80 review. What's more, the blue model has dropped to below their Prime Day price, now just AU$290.View Deal

The 5th-gen version is out now, but it's our Sennheiser Momentum 4 review that scored a full five stars, where we called these headphones "unbeatable". With active noise-cancellation, 60-hours of battery life and excellent sound quality, there are few pairs that can compete with the Momentum 4.View Deal

This Sony Bluetooth turntable is as fuss-free as they come with regard to setup and getting your favourite vinyl records spinning. Whether you're playing via wired or wireless speakers, it delivers a delightfully musical sound that will satisfy vinyl beginners or those looking for a more hands-off approach. View Deal

In our Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar review, we said this soundbar rivals the Sonos Arc, which is the best Sonos soundbar we've tried. The Smart Ultra is compact, beautifully built, and offers plenty of control options to go with its wide, detailed sound. View Deal

This floatable Bluetooth speaker is perfect for the poolside party, with up to 15 hours of playtime and very decent 45m connectivity range. It promises bassy, punchy and yet a clear 360º soundstage.View Deal

The JBL Flip 7 outperforms its predecessor, getting a full five stars in our review. The sound is a lot punchier than before and that's without compromising details across the range. It even gets a bigger battery to last you up to 16 hours and makes a case for itself at a very good price indeed, which is made even more attractive thanks to a AU$28.80 coupon saving — the coupon only applies to colours that are listed for AU$144.View Deal

Not only can the Charge 6 last up to 28 hours on a single charge, but it can also be used as a power bank to top up your devices via its USB-C port. Sound quality is energetic and detailed in equal measure, and it’s built to withstand virtually anything you wish to throw at it. View Deal

The Dreamegg Sunrise 1 is a handy bedside upgrade if you want a gentler way to wake up without spending a lot. It combines a gradually brightening sunrise alarm with 29 soothing sounds, a dimmable night light and custom sleep routines. View Deal

Vacuum cleaners

This is a very different Dreame R10 to the one we've previously reviewed on TechRadar, but if it performs anything like the light-coloured version that has since been discontinued, then I think this is excellent value. For not a lot of money, this appliance promises up to 45 minutes of runtime and a bendy wand to get under furniture. It even comes with a wall-mount attachment and is only AU$20 more than the Prime Day discount.View Deal

We haven't tested this cordless vacuum ourselves but user reviews are glowing and I think that says something. For quick and daily vacuuming, this is great and excellent value, and has previously proven to be very popular with our readers. Do note, however, that the price of this vacuum has been alternating between AU$199 (which the lowest) and AU$249, so you better hurry and grab it for the lower amount.View Deal

Dyson quietly released this model last year, offering a cheaper way to get yourself a wet-and-dry vacuum. It has lesser suction power than the V15s Detect, but we haven't been able to try it for ourselves yet. It also lasts no more than 40 minutes on a single charge. I'd say this would be better suited to smaller homes with hard floors. Importantly, still available at its Prime Day price.View Deal

This Roborock wet-dry vacuum will leave your hard floors sparkling clean thanks to powerful suction and effective cleaning. It can get up close to edges and the whole body can lay completely flat to help getting underneath tricky to reach places. This price is AU$100 more than its previous discount, but it's still a great saving on an excellent floor washer — read our review for more info.View Deal

In our Dreame L10s Ultra review, we called this handy little gadget "a robot vacuum powerhouse" that will "do as it's told" – what more do you want from a robot vacuum? While its price isn't quite as good as what we saw during Prime Day, it still gets a mammoth 68% saving, which is incredible for a machine that automatically detects floor types, empties itself, has a useful onboard camera and an intuitive mobile app.View Deal

With 10,000Pa of suction, this might not be the best for carpets but, at this price point, it's a very good option for hard floors even in a pet-friendly home. I love the Roborock app as well, it's one of the better ones I've used, and the all-in-one dock here promises minimal human intervention.View Deal

Now just AU$50 more than Prime Day, this remains a pretty good discount on what is a relatively new flagship model from Ecovacs. We haven't tested this version just yet, but if it works as well as the previous X8 Pro Omni did, then I think this is a good premium robovac to consider without the hefty price tag. View Deal

Kitchen appliances

We haven't tested Philips' dual basket air fryer, but considering how much we've loved the brand's other kitchen appliances, it's hard to not make a mention of this offer. This 9L air fryer has drawers of different sizes, which makes it easy to cook a main and a side together, and promises to sync cooking times if needed. View Deal

The Ninja Crispi is earning legions of fans for good reason. It uses glass baskets to cook in — 2.3L and 5.7L are provided — and both come with lids, so you can serve in the same basket or cover and store in the fridge. It was down to AU$341 for Prime Day, but a 20% discount is still a good one for a newly released air fryer.View Deal

This food processor's biggest drawcard is its small footprint (30cm tall and 16cm wide), making it great for those with smaller kitchens, but it also has a powerful 650W motor to help blitz foods to slice, grate, chop and knead in seconds. You can read the full review here.View Deal

The Ninja Creami is great and all, but paying almost AU$300 for an ice cream maker is a lot — but this one is a lot cheaper even at full price and also takes a lot less space too! It's a versatile machine that makes ice cream, slushies, milkshakes, sorbets, and mix-ins to truly earn its space in the kitchen. You can even combine up to three flavours with three included dessert cups. It was under AU$90 last week, but it's still pretty darn affordable.View Deal

There's no doubt that a Vitamix is a very handy kitchen appliance to have, but the price tags can be a little prohibitive. However, this machine gets a pretty generous discount and can take care of your soups, smoothies, butters and fair few other things as well, with 10 speed settings and a heck of a lot of power.View Deal

While we haven't tested the Vitamix Ascent 2300i for ourselves here at TechRadar, our colleagues at T3 love it, calling it a "real quality blender that will last longer than most things in your home" in their review. The only downside was the asking price. Now, though, the price has dropped considerably.View Deal

The Lavazza Jolie machines are excellent and affordable alternatives to Nespresso. This Evo model just has a single button for extracting coffee (compared to the Jolie Plus that has programmable buttons), making it oh so simple to use, and only for around AU$20 more than Prime Day. If you'd like the option to froth milk, you can get a bundle with a frother too. View Deal

This portable espresso machine is a fantastic option for those constantly on the move. It uses Nespresso pods and made such good coffee that it earned a 4-star review from us. It can be considered affordable at full price, and while this saving is slightly less than Prime Day, it's still well worth checking out.View Deal

This compact manual coffee machine can pour up to two espresso shots at once and features a steam wand for cafe-quality milk foaming. There's no built-in grinder, but you either use ground coffee beans or invest in a separate grinder using the cash you save with this deal. View Deal

The Ninja Slushi dropped to just below AU$240 during Prime Day, so this 58% saving is fantastic. It lets you skip the ice and still enjoy perfectly smooth icy drinks with very little effort. Whether you're craving a frappe, smoothie, or even a cheeky spiked slushi, its multiple drink modes have you covered. Check out our Ninja Slushi review for the full rundown. View Deal

While not as cheap as the AU$170 Prime Day price, but this purifier justifies this discount by letting you use its filter for up to five years (potentially longer if you don't use it every day). For context, most other purifier filters can need a replacement every year or two, depending on how much the machine needs to clean out each time it's switched on. As a compact option, this Shark purifier is best used for a single room or smaller spaces.View Deal

Beauty

The Dreame Gleame hair dryer is an affordable alternative to the bigger brands. Its motor spins at a mighty fast 110,000 RPM for fast airflow and quick drying, plus built-in ion technology results in smooth, shiny hair. Not to mention, the slim, lightweight build make it comfortable to hold. It was around the AU$65 mark for Prime Day.View Deal

Now this is the Rolls-Royce of shavers. Gents, if you want the best, our Philips i9000 review found it to be impressive. It's RRP is sure on the high side, and the discount isn't quite as good as the 63% saving during Prime Day, but at nearly half price, I had to include it here still.View Deal

This Colgate water flosser proved especially popular with TechRadar Australia readers during Prime Day, so it's great to see it's maintained a discounted price. If you don't enjoy flossing the traditional way, this handy flosser will clean out those hard-to-reach gaps. Plus, it's cordless, meaning you can take it on your travels too. View Deal

If you're after a really good electric toothbrush that won't cost an arm and a leg (or some teeth), then this is it. It's an entry-level oscillating brush, which means it rotates at fast speeds and may not be ideal for people with sensitive or bleeding gums as that movement can be harsh, but it sure does remove a heck of a lot of plaque and keeps your teeth healthy for just a few dollars more than its Prime Day price. View Deal

While I think the iO 6 is the smarter brush, you can save some cash by opting for the iO 5 instead. You don't really miss out on much — the more expensive iO 6 has an interactive display, an extra gum-care mode and slightly faster charger. Other than that, the iO 5 is just as good an oscillating toothbrush as any of its more expensive siblings.View Deal

The Oral-B iO 6 is a smart brush that can recognise your personal brushing style and provide feedback via the companion app to improve it. It also features a pressure sensor and an interactive display, as well a ring timer letting you know when to move on to a different section of your pearly whites, while being about AU$4 more than its Prime Day discount. View Deal

Wearables & accessories

Samsung's answer to the AirTag, the SmartTag 2 works with select Samsung phones to help you find mislaid items. It has a built-in hole for easier attachments, up to 700 days of battery life and it's water-resistant. If you're always losing stuff, this is a worthy investment. Make sure to tick the box for the 5% off coupon to get this price.View Deal

Outputting a maximum of 65W via either one of its USB-C ports (and a maximum of 22.5W via its USB-A port), this charger isn’t just capable of fast charging top iPhones and Samsung Galaxy devices at the highest speed, it’s also worth considering as a laptop charger replacement with its compact size, provided you have a sufficiently capable USB-C cable and your laptop can charge via said cable.View Deal

A 100W charger might seem overkill, but if you’re thinking of simultaneously charging a laptop, phone, set of earbuds and a smartwatch, this is certainly a device to consider. The two top-most USB-C ports can output at a maximum of 100W, while the bottom USB-C port delivers up to 30W and the USB-A port up to 22.5W.View Deal

The EcoFlow Delta 3 is a practical option for camping or backup power, with a 1,024Wh battery, 1,800W output and a full mains recharge in as little as 56 minutes. It typically sells for around AU$1,200 and previously dropped to AU$1,100, but the current deal is the lowest Amazon price I’ve seen, and it matches the Prime Day saving.View Deal

The Samsung Galaxy Ring is a worthwhile fitness device for folks that don’t like the feeling of a watch. Water resistant at up to 100 metres and available in three colours, the Galaxy Ring can track steps, sleep, heart rate and more. It comes with a charging cradle, with the Ring capable of lasting up to seven days on a full charge. Remember to try the sizing kit first. This is the exact same discount we saw last week.View Deal

The 'S' in the name stands for 'small', meaning this specific Garmin was made for petite wrists and features a 42mm vibrant OLED display. You also get Multiband GPS, an intuitive menu navigation, excellent battery life, plenty of Garmin fitness features... and, oh, did I mention the OLED display?View Deal

Cameras

This point-and-shoot camera fits perfectly in the palm of your hand, and makes content creation as easy as possible. You quite literally just need to point and shoot. There are just a few control buttons on the rear, but the tiny 2-inch flip-up touchscreen adds functionality too. It's capable of 4K/30p videos and 20MP stills. View Deal

With some serious grunt under the hood of this palm-friendly camera, you get AI-powered subject tracking, up to 13.5 stops of dynamic range and even 4K/120p slo-mo recording. This camera has since been succeeded by the 6th-gen model but it's still a fabulous shot (pardon the pun).View Deal

This is Canon's first compact camera in years, picking up where the fabulous and popular PowerShot G7 X series left off. It features a brand-new 22.3MP 1.4-inch sensor that boasts Canon's trusty Dual Pixel CMOS II autofocus and it has an integrated fan to keep things cool for the content creator. All this for around AU$20 more than Prime Day.View Deal

While it's not a huge upgrade over the previous model, the TG-6 is no longer available to buy, making this the best choice if you'd like a near-indestructible camera that you can take underwater. The best price is on the black model, although this camera does tend to be a lot cheaper at other times..View Deal

This might be an entry-level camera but it has some advanced features. Anyone who wants to shoot wildlife or sports will be thrilled with the 40fps burst speed, and it inherits some of the tracking precision from Canon's higher-end cameras too. With a 24.2MP full-frame sensor, it's one of the lightest cameras available today and represents excellent value for a beginner even though this isn't the best price it's been.View Deal

It's been cheaper than this before, but this is still a fantastic saving on an excellent Nikon full-framer. The 24.6MP sensor can shoot at up to 120fps, records 6K video, has built-in image stabilisation and has dual card slots, including one for a CFexpress device to make full use of its speed.View Deal

We call this an "all-round surveillance solution" in our 70mai Dash Cam A510 review, due to it including both front-facing and rear-facing cameras in the box. They're quality cameras, too, recording 2.7K footage from the front and 1080p at the back, complete with wide fields of view. Built-in GPS, 360º rotation for in-car recording and easy install only add to its appeal. Be sure to use the additional AU$70 coupon on the listing.View Deal

PC & gaming

A 100Hz-refresh-rate monitor for just under AU$100? Sign me up! This display from Lenovo may be a bit small at under 24 inches with a 1080p resolution, but it uses IPS technology for sharp image quality. This is price is just AU$4 more than the Prime Day discount.View Deal

This is one of Amazon's bestselling webcams and while we haven't tested this specific model, we have tried a couple of other Brio cams. And they're good. If you're looking for a capable 1080p webcam for your work calls (or personal video calls) with light correction, auto framing, noise-cancelling mics and many more useful features, this promises to deliver at an affordable price.View Deal

Boasting a 12,000dpi 'Hero' sensor, as well as 6 programmable buttons, a 250-hour battery and onboard memory for your settings, the Logitech G305 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Mouse is ideal for competitive play. The deal price here applies to a range of colours. Want to know more? Check out our review. View Deal

Sure, it's a wired controller, but this gamepad is simple to use and durable, with drift-free hall effect analog sticks. In fact, the base of the sticks also have RGB, which is fantastic at this price. Being wired, however, means this isn't ideal for couch play, but if you're a PC gamer at your desk, it'll do wonderfully well. Note that this offer ships from Amazon UK.View Deal

The most striking feature of this mechanical keyboard is its thinness, but it also comes with the promise of sub-1ms latency and 8,000Hz hyper-polling. In our review we praised the K100 Air's durability, great actuation and high polling, while bemoaning the high price of this slab. And yeah: it's expensive, so good thing there's a discount, albeit one shipping from the US.View Deal

Please don't confuse this with the ROG Xbox Ally X, which has more powerful specs. This is the cheaper sibling, now cheaper still on Amazon. And given the recent price hike of the Steam Deck, this handheld definitely seems a lot more tempting now. This was AU$799 during Amazon's Mid-Year Sale in early June, but it would be remiss of me to not list this discount here.View Deal

• Google Pics is rolling out to Google Workspace users starting August 18
• Pics lets you generate and edit images within Google Workspace apps like Slides, Docs, Sheets and more
• Generative AI usage limits will apply starting February 2027

Google Pics, the AI-powered image-generation and editing application the search giant unveiled at Google I/O earlier this year, is set to go live widely across Google Workspace business and education accounts in August, after just three months of testing as an ‘experiment’ in Gemini Alpha.

Google said the rollout will start from August 18 to users within organisations who hold Workspace subscriptions:

• Google Workspace Business Standard
• Google Workspace Business Plus
• Google Workspace Enterprise Standard
• Google Workspace Enterprise Plus
• Google Workspace AI Expanded Access
• Google AI Pro for Education

Built on Google’s own Nano Banana imaging model, Pics will exist as both a standalone web app and be integrated directly within Workspace apps such as Slides, Docs and Sheets, and its key features include letting users generate images using text prompts, manipulate individual elements within images, edit or translate text, swap elements out for new ones and more.

These tools are aimed at addressing some of the more common shortcomings of AI-generated images — like objects not being at scale, text being misspelled (or complete gibberish), and elements potentially clashing with the background image.

Initially, Pics will only be available to Google’s business and education customers, and as a product, it certainly seems to be taking aim at a variety of digital-imaging heavyweights such as Adobe — particularly its Adobe Express online image editor – and Canva, as well as stock-image sites like Shutterstock and iStock.

Pics will directly compete with Canva’s Magic Grab feature (which repositions, resizes and moves objects within images) and Adobe’s built-in background removal tool. By letting users edit images directly within its office apps suite, they won’t need to export assets into external tools.

What changes to expect

Google said Pics will be enabled by default for all Workspace customers as it rolls out, but there will be an option to disable access if desired.

The company added that generative AI usage limits will be implemented as Pics becomes more widely available, though users can expect to enjoy higher-priority access until February 28, 2027.

Google hasn’t yet given any timeline for when Pics could be coming to consumer account holders.

Amazon Prime Day 2026 in Australia had a flurry of discounts across its product portfolio last week (and early this week too), and robot vacuums saw some of the biggest price reductions at the time, with deals of up to a whopping 78% off. That meant that some of the top sellers were, in fact, robovacs, with the Dreame X40 Ultra being the most popular appliance — so much so, it was out of stock by the last day of the sale.

So while that specific deal is no longer available (it was 73% off, by the way), there are still a lot of robovac deals still live on Amazon, including some of our top-rated models tested and reviewed by our international team of experts, with discounts of up to 70%.

Robot vacuum discounts aren’t new — the market is crowded with several major players looking to stand out and each one releases a new model every few months promising the best features possible at various price points. And that’s good news for the consumer as you’re guaranteed new technology at good prices. With everything else getting more expensive these days, a race-to-the-bottom price war like this is always welcome.

The best part is, even if you missed out on Prime Day, you don’t have to wait until Black Friday if you’re in the market for a new robot vacuum — these 6 deals below are still live and would make a fantastic addition to your home, no matter your budget.

While we haven’t tested this exact model ourselves, we have tried a UK variant (the Roborock Q7 M5) and were very impressed with it. Considering it’s a similar option, we think you’ll get a decent vacuum and mop. The caveat here is that you’ll need to manually clean the onboard bin and tank. Which is perfectly acceptable at this price point. We’ve seen this cheaper before, but you do get a lot for your money.View Deal

Having just officially launched in the Australian market last year, Mova won’t be shy about handing large discounts to some of its robot vacuums. The E20s Pro Plus is no exception, receiving a nice 69% price reduction for a robovac that promises smart pathfinding, obstacle avoidance and 13,000Pa suction. It also has an auto-emptying base station, making the E20s Pro Plus an almost set-and-forget vacuum for a low price.View Deal

We saw the Dreame L10s Ultra Gen 2 hit its lowest price of AU$409.99 during Prime Day, but a 68% discount is still nothing to scoff at. The L10s Ultra has dual vacuum and mop capabilities, smart mapping, 10,000Pa suction power and up to 280 minutes of runtime. This robot is, quite literally, a dream even at this mid-range discounted price.View Deal

With an impressive AU$1,400 off the RRP, this Ecovacs Deebot T30s Pro deal shouldn't be swept away (pardon the pun). With powerful suction, smart mopping features, anti-tangle technology, and a self-cleaning auto-empty station, the T30s Pro can handle messes on both carpets and hard floors, making it an ideal spring-cleaning companion.View Deal

We reviewed the more expensive Roborock Qrevo Edge, which performed well vacuuming carpets and hard floors, reliably navigates spaces and also has a nice low-maintenance dock. The main difference with the Edge C here is its use of light sensors instead of a camera for obstacle detection, no self-lifting and tilting and there’s no optical camera for remote viewing (which is a positive for those valuing their privacy), all for a lower price. This discount matches the all-time low price for the Qrevo Edge C.View Deal

With industry-leading 30,000Pa of suction and a roller mop that promises streak-free mopping, this is a full-featured robovac that offers very few compromises. It's even able to clear relatively high thresholds of up to 6cm, so it can get to places lesser models can't. We’ve tested the more expensive Dreame Aqua10 Ultra that’s one of our picks for the best robot vacuums in Australia, and we think this is just good at a fraction of the price.View Deal

• FCC approves testing of satellites designed to reflect sunlight toward Earth
• Startup plans thousands of orbital mirrors capable of extending daylight periods
• Scientists warn artificial sunlight could interfere with astronomical observations worldwide

A California startup has received approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to test satellites designed to reflect sunlight toward Earth.

Reflect Orbital plans to launch its Eärendil-1 spacecraft with large orbital mirrors capable of extending daylight in selected areas.

The concept promises new applications for energy and emergency services, although scientists have raised concerns about its broader consequences.

Reflect Orbital to begin testing of ambitious sunlight reflection technology

The Eärendil-1 satellite will operate in low Earth orbit with four thin film reflectors measuring about 18 meters, or roughly 60 feet, across.

The reflected sunlight will be directed toward specific locations for short periods, supporting activities such as construction work, search and rescue operations, and solar power generation.

Reflect Orbital says its mirrors could eventually deliver up to 36,000 lux, roughly comparable to genuine daylight conditions found outdoors.

The system could also provide around 100 lux continuously, similar to lighting typically found inside standard indoor workspaces around the clock.

“We’re grateful to the FCC for recognizing the importance of testing novel technologies in space,” Ben Nowack, chief executive of Reflect Orbital, said in a statement.

“This license is the first step toward rigorously testing our technology’s efficacy and the safeguards we have developed.”

The idea has drawn comparisons with the fictional Icarus satellite from the James Bond film Die Another Day, where an orbital reflector was designed to bring sunlight to dark regions.

While the real technology differs significantly from the movie concept, critics argue similar questions about unintended effects remain relevant as deployment plans expand.

Astronomers and environmental groups warn about possible impacts

Astronomers have expressed concerns that reflected sunlight from thousands of satellites could interfere with observations of faint objects across the night sky.

Tony Tyson, chief scientist at the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, described the proposal as “even crazier” than previous satellite constellation challenges affecting astronomical research.

The European Southern Observatory warned that a full deployment could increase sky brightness at its facilities by three to four times, reducing the ability of telescopes to detect distant and faint astronomical sources.

Researchers also argue that artificial nighttime illumination could affect biological systems that depend on natural day and night cycles.

These concerns involve plants, animals and humans that rely upon predictable environmental patterns for normal behaviour.

The FCC stated that scientific and environmental issues fall outside its direct regulatory authority, which focuses mainly on communications services involving radio, television, satellite and related systems.

The agency approved testing because it believes allowing new space technologies supports innovation and economic development.

Critics may instead seek reviews from agencies such as NASA and the Environmental Protection Agency, which handle broader questions involving space activity and environmental effects.

Whether orbital mirrors become a useful technology or create unexpected challenges will depend on future testing, oversight, and independent scientific assessments.

Via Tom's Hardware

• MacBook users are complaining about their devices’ sharp edges
• Several have decided to file their laptops down for more comfort
• One recently outlined the process in detail on their blog

Apple is known for its keen sense of design and the exacting standards it holds its designers to, which is why it’s all the more surprising to see users of the best MacBooks filing the edges off their prized laptops. Yet that’s exactly what’s been happening over the last few months, with many arguing that it makes for a far more comfortable experience.

The latest example comes from software engineer Max Bretschneider, who posted a blog entry explaining their decision and how they went about doing it. They described their motivation this way: “A laptop will be frequently used on a lap, meaning the wrists will touch the sharp edge at an angle which is very uncomfortable.”

To file down the edge and reduce its sharpness, Bretschneider used a metal file and a block of progressive sandpaper. They taped off areas like the keyboard and trackpad, clamped the MacBook into place, then got to work.

Despite describing the process as “very scary,” Bretschneider added that the modification was “far easier and approachable than it seems initially.” They were able to “achieve an even level” when filing and sanding, leaving them with a device that could “serve its primary purpose as a tool better.”

A multitude of MacBook modsThe end result.Max BretschneiderBretschneider's MacBook ready to be filed down.Max Bretschneider

Bretschneider is far from the only person to have recently sanded down their MacBook’s sharp edges — you’ll find an example from April 2026 featuring designer Kent Walters, for example. Going further back, users have apparently been taking a file and sandpaper to their MacBook’s edges since at least 2010.

And readers chimed in with their own thoughts, with one Hacker News user testifying that “the sharp edges have bothered me since they started with the unibody.” Another argued that sharp edges were “my number one complaint about the M-series [MacBook Pro] line.”

People have been augmenting their Apple devices in new and creative ways for many years now. We’ve seen people attempting to transform old iPhones into new ones, adding USB-C to iPhones that didn’t have it, crafting custom mechanical keyboards with built-in Touch ID, stuffing Mac minis inside old iMacs, and much more.

So, if you’ve found the edges of your MacBook to be a little too sharp for comfort, know that it’s entirely possible to sand them down for a more pleasant experience. Just make sure you’ve planned well ahead — and don’t expect Apple to look too kindly on your work.

• Ukraine's Brave1 opened the first state grant program treating combat humanoid robots as their own procurement category
• The move, which aims to capitalize on gains by Ukraine's already-innovative robotics industry, is also cognizant of the current limitations of the tech
• The goals set by Brave1 are modest but offer backing of up to ₴100M+ for breakthrough projects

Ukraine has become the first country to fund combat humanoid robots, but the move might prioritize future innovations over deployable solutions in the near future.

The devil is in the details: its own battlefield data shows wheeled and tracked bots running 66,000+ missions in 2026 so far, while the only combat-tested humanoid lasted three hours on a charge.

This points to the much humbler beginnings that Ukraine's own moves in the space indicate, even as it continues to scale up its bot deployments in the field.

What is Ukraine actually buying in 2026?

Ukraine's move comes in the form of the Brave1 Advantage event in Kyiv on 2 July 2026, where company CEO Andriy Hrytsenyuk announced a grant competition for domestically built bipedal humanoid robots designed exclusively for military tasks.

The move, spearheaded by Brave1, is part of Ukraine's military push for innovation on a fast-changing battlefield; winning designs can receive over ₴100 million (roughly $2.4 million) in grants.

Brave1 was founded in April 2023 by six ministries and is now being transferred from the Ministry of Digital Transformation to the Ministry of Defense; it has become Kyiv's main mechanism for converting frontline needs into funded engineering projects.

CEO Andriy Hrytsenyuk painted this as a must-have industry for Ukraine, stating, "We see how quickly the humanoid robotics industry is developing worldwide, in China and the United States. We see that such robots have value for strengthening our military capabilities. That is why we are moving in this direction."

The move seems to be a long-term play on robotics, with Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov also weighing in earlier using three words: war must become a format where "technology fights technology."

The reason one should expect Wall-E rather than Terminator, however, is that Ukraine already runs the largest ground-robot ecosystem in any active war, and none of it walks on two legs.

Ukraine has also made significant inroads, such as holding off Russian attackers at key positions and capturing an entire fortified Russian position with the help of drones and ground robots, marking the first full seizure of territory in the world by bots.

For now, the only humanoid that has actually been to war in Ukraine is the Phantom MK-1, built in San Fransico by a startup, Foundation Future Industries.

The MK-1 carries only about 20 kg, has no waterproofing, and provides roughly two to three hours of battery life, compared with infantry missions that run eight to twenty-four hours, rendering it somewhat ill-suited to most of the combat operations that Ukraine currently conducts along the frontline.

Ukraine's investment in humanoids might not, therefore, result in short-term fruitful gains but rather indicate it is bucking the trend, so to speak, even as Goldman Sachs is projecting nearly 50,000 to 100,000 non-combat humanoid shipments globally this year, even as military planners envision putting one in a trench in the near future.

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Thursday, July 16 (game #1131).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #1132) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• CRANE GAME
• SATIRES
• TICKETS
• CARDINAL DIRECTIONS
• SWAN SONG
• SUITS
• ROBIN HOOD
• PLOT SPOILER
• TREE TRUNK
• TOKENS
• SEASONS
• EPILOGUE
• LAST DANCE
• CLASSICAL ELEMENTS
• FAREWELL
• PINBALL

NYT Connections today (game #1132) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: Final hurrah
• GREEN: As seen at gaming center
• BLUE: Think of a number after three
• PURPLE: Vehicle bits

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #1132) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: GRAND FINALE
• GREEN: SEEN IN AN ARCADE
• BLUE: FOUR GROUPS OF FOUR
• PURPLE: ENDING IN PARTS OF A CAR

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #1132) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #1132, are…

• YELLOW: GRAND FINALE: EPILOGUE, FAREWELL, LAST DANCE, SWAN SONG
• GREEN: SEEN IN AN ARCADE: CRANE GAME, PINBALL, TICKETS, TOKENS
• BLUE: FOUR GROUPS OF FOUR: CARDINAL DIRECTIONS, CLASSICAL ELEMENTS, SEASONS, SUITS
• PURPLE: ENDING IN PARTS OF A CAR: PLOT SPOILER, ROBIN HOOD, SATIRES, TREE TRUNK

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

Even though I didn't get a purple first I was delighted that I managed to get ENDING IN PARTS OF A CAR at all, as I know nothing about automobiles whatsoever.

This particular group needed translating fromAmerican English to UK English for me, because here a trunk is a boot and a spoiler is a bumper.

GRAND FINALE was simple, although EPILOGUE feels the odd one out of the quartet as it’s possible to have an ending to a career and then have an EPILOGUE years later — a movie star returning as a director, for example, or a boxer ill-advisedly coming out of retirement to punch a YouTuber.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Thursday, July 16, 2026, game #1131)

• YELLOW: SKINCARE PRODUCTS: CLAY MASK, EYE CREAM, PEEL, TONER
• PURPLE: STARTING WITH TINY MARKS: DOT MATRIX, PERIOD PIECE, POINT BREAK, SPOT REMOVER
• BLUE: ASSOCIATED WITH PRECISION: BULLSEYE, CLOCKWORK, LASER, NEEDLE
• GREEN: SHADES OF BLACK: CHARCOAL, INK, JET, PITCH

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Thursday, July 16 (game #865).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #866) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Categorically speaking

NYT Strands today (game #866) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• PRIVATE
• MINT
• PLUGS
• GRATE
• TROPE
• RENT

NYT Strands today (game #866) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 14 letters

NYT Strands today (game #866) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

• First side: left, 4th row

• Last side: right, 4th row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #866) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #866, are…

• ENTERTAINMENT
• NATURE
• SPORTS
• GEOGRAPHY
• SPANGRAM: TRIVIALPURSUIT

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

Initially I thought we would be looking for synonyms of the word category, but instead we were on the hunt for the four of the six segments — or cheeses — that complete a game piece in TRIVIALPURSUIT.

Missing from the list are history and science.

Spotting ENTERTAINMENT — a tricky word to hide — kicked things off for me, with the letter V helping me connect the spangram. All in all a good deal shorter than an actual game of TRIVIALPURSUIT.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Thursday, July 16, game #865)

• TACK
• ZIGZAG
• TURN
• VEER
• DEVIATE
• PIVOT
• SWERVE
• SPANGRAM: CHANGECOURSE

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Thursday, July 16 (game #1634).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,500 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today — or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1635) — hint #1 — VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1635) — hint #2 — repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

Quordle today (game #1635) — hint #3 — uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1635) — hint #4 — starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1635) — hint #5 — starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• C

• P

• G

• I

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1635) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1635, are…

• CUMIN
• PALER
• GRASS
• INBOX

Crazy days as the rare letter X makes a second appearance of the week.

Having a B in the third letter position felt weird, then I remembered the old Quordle favorite INBOX.

That said, although it feels familiar, it hasn't appeared in the game since December last year. I think I must be playing this game too much.

Daily Sequence today (game #1635) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1635, are…

• SMOKY
• HANDY
• PINCH
• NAIVE

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1634, Thursday, 16 July: IGLOO, PLAIT, YEAST, AROMA
• Quordle #1633, Wednesday, 15 July: PROXY, BRICK, BROTH, SURGE
• Quordle #1632, Tuesday, 14 July: EBONY, AVOID, RODEO, CUTIE
• Quordle #1631, Monday, 13 July: VOICE, BISON, BURNT, BUILT
• Quordle #1630, Sunday, 12 July: STAIN, BINGO, LARVA, DICEY
• Quordle #1629, Saturday, 11 July: WORTH, PRONG, DINGO, DRUID
• Quordle #1628, Friday, 10 July: GREET, STEAK, DUSKY, HAUTE
• Quordle #1627, Thursday, 9 July: CRUMP, PHONE, SHINY, STONY
• Quordle #1626, Wednesday, 8 July: GHOST, TREND, EXALT, ALONG
• Quordle #1625, Tuesday, 7 July: ARRAY, SUITE, KIOSK, BOULE
• Quordle #1624, Monday, 6 July: TRAWL, SPICE, PIANO, SHARK
• Quordle #1623, Sunday, 5 July: PINEY, SWOON, TITLE, PINTO
• Quordle #1622, Saturday, 4 July: ARGUE, MOTEL, OPERA, TRUCE
• Quordle #1621, Friday, 3 July: AVERT, MOTOR, MANIC, WORDY
• Quordle #1620, Thursday, 2 July: BULKY, PARSE, BELOW, MOVIE
• Quordle #1619, Wednesday, 1 July: EASEL, OTTER, LYRIC, SHACK
• Quordle #1618, Tuesday, 30 June: HALVE, DRYER, THERE, MINTY
• Quordle #1617, Monday, 29 June: SLURP, CRACK, CRANK, PHONY
• Quordle #1616, Sunday, 28 June: RUPEE, TOPAZ, FULLY, BEING
• Quordle #1615, Saturday, 27 June: PRINT, MARRY, SADLY, BICEP

• Excel continues to grow as a popular esport
• The Microsoft Excel World Championship’s (MEWC) inaugural Landmark Battle took place on the weekend of July 11th, 2026
• Four competitors went to cell-to-cell, but there was only one winner

The Microsoft Excel World Championship’s (MEWC) inaugural Landmark Battle has declared its first winner, Ireland’s Diarmuid Early, who previously won the Excel World Championship in December 2025.

The MEWC’s Landmark Battle featured four competitors, with Early joined by Andrew Ngai, Jaq Kennedy, and Nicolas Micot. Lasting a mere 30 minutes, the game wasn’t simply a “landmark event” – it took place at four physical landmarks.

Co-sponsored by ASUS, the competitors were forced to compete outdoors in New York, London, Paris, and Australia, all typing and CTRL-Ving furiously on ExpertBook Ultras with handy wireless portable external displays. The Statue of Liberty, Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower, and Sydney Harbour provided the literal landmarks for the event.

Get up Early to win

The MEWC is not a new event, first being held in 2021, with the 2022 broadcast on ESPN.

The competition pits Excel experts against each other to solve complex challenges posed by other Excel experts, not doubt with a few Microsoft Certified Professional qualifications buried among their other achievements in the world of business data management.

These aren’t boring, C-suite outcomes, however. On this occasion, the competitors took the Around The World in 80 Days-inspired Excel challenge, the latest in an inventive selection. This was conceived to reflect remote workers, whose endeavors are “across client sites, airports, cafés, co-working spaces, and remote locations, instead of behind a desk in an office.”

Andrew Grigolyunovich is the founder of the Microsoft Excel World Championship. "The Landmark Battle was unlike anything we've done before," he said. "Watching elite competitors perform from some of the world's most iconic landmarks, powered by ASUS, showed just how far Excel Esports can go."

Previous events have seen competitors tasked with completing jigsaw puzzles using Excel, slot machine games, and the 2D Excel-based platformer, Modelario.

Early’s win – which ironically enough, was late in the game – gave him a last-minute 40-point lead over Andrew Ngai, but due to the worldwide nature of the game, no one knew who had won until the game was over.

As you can see in the YouTube video, each competitor was accompanied by just a cameraman, and you can see the reactions as the results are confirmed.

Esport, or Excel-sport?

Esports have become big business in recent years, but events tend to circle around games such as League of Legends, Dota, or CS:GO.

As esport events go, Microsoft Excel is not the obvious spectator sport. But if you have the skills to make magic with formulae and numbers arranged in rows and columns, they might be a dead cert for next year’s Microsoft Excel World Championship.

The qualifiers for the 2026 world championship have already commenced, with the event again taking place in Las Vegas – and Early appears to be a dead cert to triumph again.

The movement to preserve online privacy runs counter to the business model of many big tech companies, which have devised profitable business models that hinge on capitalizing on personal data users surrender by using their platforms. This reality cannot be divorced from the facts that prominent figures, like former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, have often made remarks like the following.

Don't be evil

Schmidt, who was Google chief at the time, was being interviewed on CNBC when he was asked whether users should feel comfortable sharing their data with Google.

Quote of the day

This article is part of TechRadar Pro's QOTD project to provide an insight into the minds of the brightest and most recognized figures in the technology industry today and in years gone by. Read the full series here.

His statement in response came as a surprise given how much Google had claimed (during this much simpler era of Silicon Valley) to care about user privacy.

These arguments, after all, are the same used by those who are adamant that we must break encryption in the name of safety, as well as those who defended the now-clear government surveillance programs disclosed by the NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.

Worry versus harm

Scrutiny intensified in the months after these comments, with Google attempting to assuage concerns by reiterating policies around data anonymization despite continued criticism.

Co-founder Larry Page then tried to help the situation in mid-2010 by saying users should distinguish between "worry versus harm".

He tried to imply that bulk collection of data, including harvesting data from private Wi-Fi networks via Street View cars, may be harmless if that data has no utility. He challenged detractors to specifically name individuals harmed by such practices.

Then, a couple of years later, Google faced several federal fines, including a then-record $22.5 million penalty after the firm was found to have bypassed default privacy settings on Apple's Safari browsers. The EU also argued that controversial privacy changes breached European law.