Beloved Bluey gets her own Tonies range for screenless play

Tonies, the company behind the extremely popular Toniebox, has launched the inevitable collection that every toddler parent has been waiting for: Bluey.

The range in Australia includes a $35 Tonieplay game (for the Toniebox 2), a $21.95 Bluey sleeve featuring the whole Heeler family for the Toniebox 2, and a matching $45.95 Listen and Go Bag (compatible with both Toniebox models).

Overseas, there’s also a pack of three Tonies featuring Bluey, Bingo and Muffin, but that’s not coming to Australia until 2027 due to licensing difficulties.

Playing with the Bluey Tonies

My toddler and I have been playing with the Bluey: Play All Day Tonieplay game for the last month, and I’m a big fan. It’s certainly going to be better for kids aged 3+, but I really enjoy how interactive it is, without the pitfalls of introducing screen time before we’re ready.

The game takes kids through eight different episodes, and from what I can gather (without having seen the show, but having read the Baby Race and Magic Xylophone books around 1,000 times), it’s just a faithful retelling of the episode, including original dialogue. But occasionally kids have to press the button or turn the dial to make something happen.

My two-year-old really enjoyed hearing the stories, but hasn’t quite grasped what “press this button repeatedly” entails, which made it a fun family activity with my wife and me trying to explain the concept to her as we listened.

Image: Tonies.

Existing Bluey fans, particularly ones in the correct age group, will absolutely love it. It’s not overly complicated, but it gives them a sense of being included in the activity, and it means they can take their favourite TV show beyond screen time and into an interactive activity, which I love.

For younger children, it really depends on the kid. As I said, my daughter hasn’t seen the show and has only had the books read to her, so this was the first time she’s gotten to hear what Bluey sounds like, which blew her mind. She’s asked to hear it a few more times since, though I think the regular Tonies will be a better fit for this age group when they do eventually hit Australian shores.

What else is included?

As for the other accessories in the range, the sleeve fits the Toniebox 2 really nicely. I like the idea of the Tonieboxes being neutral, plain colours, with the option of character sleeves so the expensive part can stick with the child through multiple interest cycles. It was a little fiddly to put on neatly, but once it was on, it was a perfect fit.

Image: Tonies.

The bag is the most useful item for my family. It holds the Toniebox, a good number of Tonies, and the included headphones, making it a must-have for any long journey or weekend away. We’ve used it a bunch of times now, and I really like how organised everything is without feeling like an effort. The pattern, like that of the sleeve, is fun and understated, clearly showing the Bluey family without ruining the curated aesthetics of a lounge room.

The Bluey Tonie collection is available now in all good retailers across Australia and New Zealand, with the Bluey Tonies coming to Australia early next year. They join the recently launched Pokémon Tonies range, appealing to millennial parents who want to spread the good word of Pikachu to younger generations.

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Samsung’s answer to changing TV habits? A screen on wheels

Nearly everything has a screen today, so a TV isn’t necessarily the living room centrepiece it once was. Phones, tablets, laptops, and even smart glasses provide more viewing options than ever, providing more ways to watch videos than a fixed screen. In response to this growing trend, Samsung wants to meet people halfway with its recently launched ‘Movingstyle’, a smart TV on wheels.

At 27 inches with a 2560 x 1440 resolution, the $1,999 Movingstyle is like a computer monitor. Standing at around 1.2m tall when mounted to its stand, the display can also be used as a standalone touchscreen, propped up by a built-in kickstand. There’s also the option of battery-powered operation (via its included 69.3Wh battery) or mains power.

Samsung previously showed the Movingstyle at IFA last year before launching it in recent months. If it looks a bit familiar, it’s because LG has its own variant, called the ‘StanByME’.

‘Movingstyle kid’ might not take off quite like ‘iPad kid’, but the functionality is similar. Image: Samsung.

This experimentation with portable screens stems from TVs becoming a less prominent medium for watching videos. According to Samsung’s research, 26 per cent of Aussies watch “major broadcast events” on either a laptop, tablet or phone. Samsung’s interpretation is that more people want screens that follow them, rather than going to a dedicated viewing room.

In the same breath, Samsung asserted that traditional TVs still have a place in Australian homes. The company claimed that 24 per cent of Australians listen to podcasts and music on TVs, while 16 per cent turn on TVs for workout sessions.

Whether more people gravitate towards portable screens, like the Movingstyle, remains to be seen. It’s an interesting approach to an ever-changing media consumption environment, one where some people watch movies in piecemeal clips uploaded to TikTok.

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Pikachu visits Apple Park before John Ternus takes over as CEO

Ahead of Apple’s upcoming September iPhone event, many might be fixated on how the new CEO, John Ternus, marks his fresh tenure. Tim Cook led the company for 15 years, a long time for any tech company, so seeing a fresh face at the helm will be a big change. So big, in fact, that Pikachu himself visited Apple HQ to meet Ternus.

In a video posted to the Hello Apple Instagram account, Cook and Ternus were joined by a Pikachu mascot and Tsunekazu Ishihara, CEO of The Pokémon Company, at Apple Park. According to Cook’s socials, the agenda included introducing Ternus to the Pokémon team, discussing gaming, and politely asking Pikachu to stay out of the pond. “Two out of three were accomplished,” Cook quipped.

With the visit timed so close to the new iPhone reveal event on 10 September, could it mean a Pokémon-related announcement to coincide with the franchise’s 30th anniversary? Or was it just a chance for Pikachu to remind Ternus who’s really in charge?

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GoPro’s first interchangeable lens camera arrives in Australia

GoPro wants to be more than just an action camera brand. That was the message that came across when it announced its Mission 1 range of cinema-style cameras earlier this year. Now the third piece of GoPro’s puzzle is here, with the Mission 1 Pro ILS launching in Australia in September.

Its biggest point of difference is a Micro Four Thirds (MFT) mount, supporting a wide range of interchangeable lenses. With most cameras this size, you’d normally have to stick with a built-in lens. Conversely, GoPro’s latest camera can swap between zoom, prime, and all sorts of other lenses, provided they fit the MFT format.

On the inside, the GoPro Mission 1 Pro ILS uses a one-inch 50MP sensor that supports up to 8K video recordings. In 8K, it can capture up to 60fps, and up to 240fps in 4K. If you want to shoot something in extreme slo-mo, the camera supports 960fps at 1080p in 10-second bursts.

Like the rest of the Mission 1 series, the Pro ILS can shoot in open gate, doing away with sensor cropping and fitting more into the frame. Consistent with other open gate cameras, the idea is that you can shoot more of your surroundings and then edit them into the aspect ratio you need later.

Other features include 10-bit Log recording, built-in video stabilisation, and upwards of three hours’ battery life when recording in 4K at 30fps. Currently up for pre-order in Australia on GoPro’s website, the Mission 1 Pro ILS costs $1,099.95.

It looks like a fascinating camera that changes up GoPro’s approach to filming. Setting up and changing lenses requires a bit more planning and effort than pointing and shooting, but it will be interesting to see how budding cinematographers take to the novel form factor.

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Amazfit Balance 3 aims for all-in-one wellness and affordability

The days of single-purpose fitness watches appear to be long gone. These days, a wearable seemingly has to factor in your daily activity, track your sleep, and function as an extension of your phone. Amazfit, which recently launched in Australia, is leaning heavily into the all-in-one ethos with its flagship Balance 3 model.

A stainless steel smart fitness watch with a 1.5-inch AMOLED screen, the Balance 3 does everything that’s expected of wrist-based wearables. It has built-in biometric sensors, GPS positioning for outdoor exercise, and up to a 21-day battery.

Notably, the Balance 3 costs less than other brands’ flagship wearables. At $519 in Australia, it’s cheaper than many of the Apple Watches, Samsung Galaxy Watches, and Garmin wearables of the world.

Image: Jay Marshall.

But where Amazfit claims it stands apart from competitors is through its “HybridCharge” feature. Like the ‘wellness’ scores that are becoming increasingly common in smart wearables, it provides a score out of 100 to indicate when you can push harder or when it’s time to rest.

According to Amazfit, HybridCharge brings together readings from three separate categories. One is your body’s energy levels, another looks at your stress and fatigue levels, and the other factors in your exercise training load. The resultant score provides a quantifiable method of planning your daily and weekly activities.

“Australians aren’t just training one way anymore,” said Robbie Wu, Amazfit’s APAC General Manager. “It’s strength one day, a long run the next and recovery wedged in around work and life.”

“That’s exactly what the Balance 3 is purpose-made for: one watch that monitors strength, endurance and recovery, rather than forcing people into a single mode of training.”

Compatible with Android and iOS devices, the Amazfit Balance 3 is now available in Australia via Amazfit’s online store and Amazon.

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Huge batteries in new Redmi phones last up to three days

At the top of most people’s priorities when buying a new phone is a long-lasting battery. Xiaomi might have that well and truly covered with the new Redmi Note 17 Pro range.

9,210mAh is the battery capacity that comes with the $799 Redmi Note 17 Pro Max 5G, an astounding number to type. Xiaomi’s slightly cheaper $599 Redmi Note 17 Pro is no slouch, packing an 8,340mAh battery into its chassis.

Naturally, how long those batteries last depends on individual use. According to Xiaomi, its phones can last up to three days on a single charge, which is bonkers to think about. It wasn’t that long ago that 5,000mAh was considered the base standard for phones. Now, with silicon-carbon technology more common, bigger battery capacities of 6,000mAh and upwards are more common. Seeing a phone with a battery approaching 10,000mAh is nuts.

Getting wet shouldn’t be a problem, with both phones getting IP66 + IP68 ratings. Image: Xiaomi.

Both Redmi phones charge quickly, too. With a compatible charger, the 17 Pro supports 67W wired charging, while the 17 Pro Max model supports 100W.

Under the hood, the 17 Pro Max uses a Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 chipset and 8GB of LPDDR5X memory. Meanwhile, the 17 Pro relies on the slightly less powerful Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 chip and 6GB of LPDDR4X memory.

Both phones sport 6.83-inch AMOLED 2772 x 1280 screens with 120Hz refresh rates. Each model also includes a two-camera rear array, albeit with some slight differences. Xiaomi gave the 17 Pro Max a 50MP main camera with a bigger sensor and wider aperture, plus a 32MP front camera. An 8MP ultra-wide lens is on both phones, but the non-Max model has a 16MP front camera.

Redmi Note 17 Pro price and release date

On sale now via the Redmi website, the new phones from Xiaomi’s affordable sub-brand launch with a $200 discount until 17 September, priced as follows:

Redmi Note 17 Pro Max 5G launch price

• 256GB: $599 (down from $799)
• 512GB: $799 (down from $999)

Redmi Note 17 Pro 5G launch price

• 128GB: $399 (down from $599)
• 256GB: $499 (down from $699)

Colours include Sky Blue, Purple and Black for the 17 Pro, and Cloud Blush, Green and Black for the Max model.

On the software front, the Redmi Note 17 Pro range is supported for “up to” four years of operating system updates and six years of security updates. While it’s not quite the seven years of updates that come with similarly priced Samsung phones, it’s much better than the two years of OS upgrades the $1,499 Honor 600 Pro gets.

Joining the phones is a range of smart devices, including the Xiaomi Smart Band 11 Active, Redmi Watch 6 (Lite and Active models), and the Xiaomi Sound Play Bluetooth speaker.

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GTA 6 gameplay looks exactly like you’d expect, but fancier

It’s been a long time coming: Rockstar Games finally showed gameplay footage of GTA 6 this morning, giving gamers a look at what’s expected to be one of the best-selling video games of all time. Recent leaks threatened to derail Rockstar’s well-laid plans, but its unusual presentation went off without a hitch.

It was unusual in the sense that the 27-minute gameplay showcase debuted on Netflix, of all places, before uploading the footage to YouTube hours later. Using footage captured on a PS5, GTA 6 looked a lot like the Grand Theft Auto entries before it, albeit with much sharper and more realistic graphics.

Starting with a drug deal gone wrong (when do they ever go right?), the presentation jumped between different encounters starring GTA 6‘s dual protagonists, Lucia and Jason. Shooting, driving, and copious side activities occupied plenty of airtime, as did conversations between characters.

In these latter moments, highly detailed character models stood out. Minor facial expressions looked a big jump from 2013’s GTA 5, and even an improvement over Rockstar’s last standalone game, Red Dead Redemption 2, released in 2018.

GTA 6 gameplay reveal: More of the same but prettier

For the most part, however, GTA 6‘s gameplay looked eerily similar to its predecessor, just with several coats of high-fidelity paint. Similar to GTA 5‘s triple-protagonist system, GTA 6 lets you freely swap between Lucia and Jason during missions and while exploring the aptly-named Vice City.

Outside of drug deals, heist getaways, and miscellaneous criminal pursuits, GTA 6 appears set to continue the series’ tradition of countless side activities. Base jumping, hovercraft racing, and — importantly — petting dogs all featured throughout the gameplay footage.

Images: Rockstar Games.

Most people tend to spend more time playing GTA‘s optional activities than the scripted story missions, and it looks like GTA 6 will be no different, with a smorgasbord of things to do. Undoubtedly, the gym workout mini-games will see plenty of folks sculpting Lucia into the muscle-mommy of their dreams.

There’s no denying that GTA 6 looks stunning. Rockstar is known for including meticulous details in its games — including dynamically animated horse testicles — which the gameplay footage showed in spades. Light reflects off skin and clothes hug characters’ figures more realistically than most games could ever hope to achieve.

Images: Rockstar Games.

But the GTA 6 gameplay reveal confirmed one thing: despite all the hype, development time, and resources pumped into this game, it isn’t fundamentally different from its predecessors.

Perhaps apt for debuting on Netflix, GTA 6‘s filmic quality could set it apart. Lucia and Jason’s Bonnie-and-Clyde-esque relationship feels grounded in reality. They come across as more fleshed-out characters than the disaster-man caricatures of GTA 5‘s (still enjoyable) protagonists.

For many, who just want a new current-gen GTA sandbox and a single-player narrative to enjoy, GTA 6 will be more than enough.

GTA 6 still on track for November

Any concerns about further delays were put to rest at the presentation’s conclusion, with a title card reconfirming GTA 6‘s 19 November release date.

As previously confirmed, GTA 6 costs $129.95 for the Standard Edition and $159.95 for the Ultimate Edition on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

Updated to include screenshots of gameplay footage and a link to the YouTube video.

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