One of the world’s most powerful video editors is nearly $100 off

In a rare move, Blackmagic Design has discounted a collection of its pro-level film editing tools, including an elusive sale on DaVinci Resolve Studio.

Widely considered one of the most powerful video editing apps on the market (with a feature-rich free version), DaVinci Resolve Studio is nearly $100 off until 20 November. It’s great timing for anyone keen to invest in professional-grade video editing software, but it’s terrible timing for me.

Why is it terrible timing for me, you ask? Because I only just bought a copy of the software at full price earlier this week. It always feels like big sales start immediately after you make a purchase. So, for everyone else, you’re welcome.

Blackmagic Design, an Australian company, timed the sale to take advantage of the new PCs beginning to use Nvidia RTX Spark and Apple M6 chipsets. Apple is expected to announce a new range of MacBook Pros next week, with the laptops running on the company’s latest silicon.

AI is a big focus for DaVinci Resolve Studio, with features like upscaling footage and automatic masking and subject tracking running locally on machines. Blackmagic Design’s free version, DaVinci Resolve, doesn’t get most of the AI features, but it’s still a powerful editor all the same.

Alongside the software discount, there’s also 20 per cent off some of the company’s hardware, including some very high-level gear:

• DaVinci Resolve Studio: $375 (was $469)
• DaVinci Resolve Micro Color Panel: $615 (was $765)
• DaVinci Resolve Advanced Panel: $36,495 (was $45,619)
• DaVinci Resolve Mini Panel: $2,575 (was $3,219)
• DaVinci Resolve Speed Editor: $499 (was $625)
• DaVinci Resolve Replay Editor: $635 (was $789)
• DaVinci Resolve Editor Keyboard: $755 (was $945)

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Australians now pay more for Amazon Prime subscriptions

Amazon increased the price of its Prime subscription service in Australia overnight, raising the monthly cost to $12.99, while annual plans now cost $99.

Previously $79 for a 12-month Prime subscription, Amazon’s new price is a 25 per cent increase. Meanwhile, increasing the monthly price from $9.99 to $12.99 is a 30 per cent bump. The new pricing takes immediate effect for new subscribers, while existing Prime subscribers won’t see an increase until 25 November.

Amazon explained the price change in an email to customers, saying “the range of products and benefits available through Prime has continued to grow”. At this stage, no other changes apply to Prime. Access to free delivery, exclusive sales, music streaming, and ad-supported Prime Video remains in place.

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First touchscreen MacBook expected at Apple’s ‘Pro and tell’ event

Apple has locked in a late-October event, where it is expected to debut the company’s first MacBook Pro with a touchscreen.

Scheduled for 29 October at 4:00 AM AEDT, Apple’s event carries the tagline “Pro and tell”, hinting at what has become a traditional time of year for new MacBook Pro and iPad Pro devices. Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman reported that Apple intends to show off MacBook Pro models running on Apple’s latest M6 silicon, including a laptop with a touchscreen.

Despite the ubiquity of touchscreens across many Windows-based laptops, Apple hasn’t followed suit. Reporting over the years has long suggested that Apple valued a clear distinction between its Macs and the company’s touch-based iPads. With next week’s announcement, it’s highly likely those two streams will cross over.

Whispers around a touch-enabled MacBook have circulated for years, including a 2023 report from Gurman. Earlier this year, more concrete reports surfaced, predicting a late-2026 launch for what now seems like an inevitable touchscreen MacBook Pro announcement.

In addition to the new MacBook model, Apple is also expected to announce a new M6-powered iMac. If true, it will replace the M4 iMac model launched in late 2024.

Rounding out the speculated announcements is an iPad Mini with an OLED screen. Apple’s current iPad Mini, which launched in 2024, runs on an A17 chip and uses an IPS LED-backlit display. Whether the new Mini sports the same tandem OLED technology as the iPad Pro remains to be seen.

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Tapo makes the front door smarter with two new devices

Video doorbells are almost commonplace in Australia, but there’s still plenty of room for the technology to grow. TP-Link’s smart home sub-brand, Tapo, is the latest to bring its front door technology to Australia, launching the D260 Doorbell Pro and DL130 Smart Lock.

Tapo advertises the $399 D260 as being a smarter doorbell, one that records clearer footage and produces fewer false alerts. It supports 4K footage, capturing a 180-degree diagonal field of view that can see visitors and packages left at the front porch.

Tapo’s doorbell uses a combination of radar and dual motion sensors to detect passersby. But unlike many video doorbells, the technology is meant to differentiate between actual people and unimportant things, like a tree branch swaying in the breeze.

There’s a split between smart home brands that gate premium features behind paid subscriptions, and those that include them with the cost of the device. Tapo sits within the latter category. AI-powered detection — running locally on-device — of people and packages, for example, sends alerts to your phone without requiring a subscription.

The Tapo D260 works as both a wired and a wireless device. As for the latter, Tapo claims up to 180 days of battery life between charges. When hardwired, the doorbell supports 24/7 recording and pre-roll footage, giving you a glimpse of what happened immediately before a motion trigger.

Reading your palm for entry

Also coming to Australia is the $499 Tapo DL130 Smart Lock, which can read fingerprints and palms to unlock the front door. According to Tapo, the lock recognises palms via vein patterns in “under 0.33 seconds”, regardless of whether your palms are clean, dirty or sweaty.

Like the video doorbell, Tapo’s smart lock relies on local AI smarts, not cloud technology. Any biometrics, like fingerprints and palm data, remain on-device.

“A lot of what happens at the front door is everyday stuff, like your kids getting home before you and realising their keys are still on the kitchen bench,” said Neville Wang, Managing Director, TP-Link Australia and New Zealand. “You want to see who’s there and let them in, without your face or fingerprints ending up in the cloud.”

“That’s why we built both the doorbell and the lock to keep that data on the device itself.”

As a backup, the DL130 also supports customisable passcodes, which can be one-time or scheduled for specific times. Inside is a rechargeable battery, plus a backup battery. Failing that, you can plug in a phone or a power bank via USB-C to supply power in an emergency.

Tapo’s palm-reading smart lock arrives next month in Australia, while the D260 Doorbell Pro is now for sale online.

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Laser debuts high-capacity power banks using semi-solid-state tech

Power bank technology is in a transition phase, with newer developments promising better safety and more capacity in smaller form factors. Australian brand Laser drew attention to Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO₄) as an alternative last year. Now it’s getting in on the semi-solid-state battery trend with a new range of ChargeCore power banks.

Starting at $49.95 for a 10,000mAh model, the latest ChargeCore Everyday power banks are Laser’s first to use semi-solid-state battery technology. It’s a technology designed to improve energy density, squeezing more capacity into devices that use it. From a safety perspective, semi-solid-state batteries also use a more gel-like chemistry, which reportedly also improves battery safety.

“We’ve been closely following semi-solid-state battery development for some time, since first visiting an EV factory several years ago, and advancements since that time mean that it can now move into smaller, more compact options,” said Chris Lau, Laser CEO. “Simply put, I believe that semi-solid-state chemistry makes this the safest power bank technology available in Australia today.”

In addition to the 10,000mAh power bank, Laser also launched 20,000mAh ($69.95) and 27,000mAh ($99.95) models, the latter of which supports up to 35W USB-C PD charging, while the two cheapest variants support up to 20W charging speeds.

Each power bank includes a digital display showing the power bank’s current charge level. All models in the range come with two USB-A ports and one USB-C port.

Laser’s semi-solid-state ChargeCore range is now available in Australia via Harvey Norman and Laser’s online store. At this stage, black is the only colour available for purchase, but other colours are coming soon. Laser also plans to launch more power banks in the range, including models with magnetic charging and waterproof designs.

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Belkin launches 3 affordable device-agnostic Bluetooth trackers

Bluetooth location trackers are in abundance right now: Apple, Samsung, Motorola, and plenty of others make their own variants. Joining them is Belkin, launching three separate devices as part of the brand’s new SureFind range. Each tracker works with both Apple’s Find My and Google’s Find Hub platforms, letting you know where your items are, regardless of the phone you use.

One is the $44.95 SureFind Card, a slim credit card-like tracker that fits into wallets and purses. Belkin claims the card lasts up to three years via its built-in battery. As explained on Belkin’s support page, the battery can’t be replaced or recharged.

Alongside the card are more conventional trackers, including the $29.95 SureFind Spot and $44.95 SureFind Loop Cable Tag. Also available in a two-pack ($54.95) and a four-pack ($99.95), the Belkin SureFind Spot comes with a loop and lanyard for attaching to bag straps and other objects. It’s designed to last up to 12 months, using a replaceable coin battery.

SureFind Spot. Image: Belkin.

Belkin’s SureFind Loop Cable Tag works a bit differently. As its name suggests, the loop hooks onto objects and baggage so it doesn’t dislodge.

But the main difference is its power. Rather than using a replaceable battery, it relies on a rechargeable battery that lasts up to four months at a time. Built into the tracker is a USB-C charging cable, letting you top up the battery as needed. I’ve forgotten to stock up on coin batteries right before a big trip, so this seems like a handy addition.

Belkin’s Bluetooth trackers are out now in Australia through the brand’s online store, JB Hi-Fi, and Amazon.

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DJI Romo P2 is one of the best at avoiding home obstacles

DJI is putting its drone technology to good use throughout its other gadgets. Of all the robot vacuums we’ve tested, the DJI Romo P was one of the smartest. It avoided cables and furniture better than most robot vacuums, something the DJI Romo P2 does even better.

Keeping the smarts of the previous model, the Romo P2 also gets a welcome power boost. Where the original Romo hit a peak suction power of 25,000Pa, the $2,899 sequel steps up to 36,000Pa for more thorough vacuuming.

As good as the cleaning was in my apartment, it was the smart navigation that impressed me the most. While a lot of robot vacuums struggle to identify and avoid smaller objects (charging cables are a repeat offender), the Romo P2 outperforms many competing robots in leaving common household obstacles untouched.

You can see how well DJI’s latest robot vacuum navigates my home via GadgetGuy‘s latest YouTube video. It’s an impressive device.

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