Samsung has unveiled the Indian price of its latest Galaxy Buds 2 Pro.
The special thing is that customers will also get Rs 3,000 cashback on this.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro is already available for pre-booking.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro was introduced this week at the Galaxy Unpacked event on August 10. Ah the company has unveiled its Indian price. According to the report, the price of the new TWS has been kept at Rs 17,999 in India. These buds will go on sale in India from August 16 and customers will be able to purchase them from Samsung.com and all retail stores.
The special thing is that customers will also get cashback of Rs 3,000 on it, after which its price will become Rs 14,999.
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The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro is already available for pre-booking. Those who pre-order the TWS headphones can purchase the Samsung wireless charger worth Rs 2,999 for Rs 499. Apart from this, financing options can also be availed and customers can get up to 3,000 rupees by exchanging their old device.
Two-way coaxial speakers are available in the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. These headphones will deliver 24-bit Hi-Fi sound on Samsung devices running One UI 4.0 or above based on Android 12. 360 degree audio support is available in these TWS headphones .
(Also read: Gmail’s brilliant trick: just by enabling this setting, no unnecessary emails will arrive, that’s how it is)
Features of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro Active noise cancellation (ANC) is also available on the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. These headphones are also capable of detecting noise and voice. When there is sound, the sound happening in itself is reduced.
For power, it has a 515 mAh battery while both headphones have a 61 mAh battery. The company claims you’ll get 29 hours of listening time. The new Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro will be available in Bora Purple, Graphite, and White color options.
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AFL legend Wayne Carey has ripped St Kilda for barring goal-kicking icon Matthew Lloyd from coaching star forward Max King after his wayward showing against Brisbane.
In what was a must-win game for St Kilda, King seemed to be overcome by a horrible case of the yips, kicking 0.5 as the Saints went down by 15 points.
The 22-year-old’s confidence in his set shot kicking appeared to visibly fade throughout the contest, prompting questions over his technique.
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While King has enjoyed a breakout season with 47 goals, he has also kicked 41 behinds. His career stats for him so far read 107 goals and 91 behinds through three seasons in the AFL.
King struggled mightily in front of goal against the Lions, finishing with five behinds for the match (Getty)
King and his twin brother, Ben, share a close relationship with Lloyd, who was their high school coach at Haileybury, but St Kilda has refused to let Lloyd work with their young star. The call from the club is one that continues to leave Carey baffled.
“It’s between his ears,” Carey told Triple M of King’s struggles.
“Sport at the top level is 90 per cent above the shoulders, he has to master his own mind.
“All these guys are willing to help. If Nick Riewoldt, Matty Lloyd’s coming to Max King and the club’s saying, ‘No we don’t want your help’, that’s bordering on stupidity.”
King’s game against the Lions was reminiscent of a game last season against Geelong where he had similar goalkicking issues.
St Kilda continues to refuse to let Matthew Lloyd work with young gun Max King (Getty)
Speaking for 3AW at the time, Lloyd revealed how the Saints star had reached out to him for assistance before the club stepped in.
“Max got in touch with me after the 1.5 game (against Geelong) and I said, ‘I’m willing to do anything we can to get you going’,” Lloyd said last year.
“I actually said to Max, ‘The last thing I’d want is for you to do a hamstring or anything like that having a kick with me, so go and get this ticked off by your footy club’.
“When he went and spoke to them, they said, ‘We prefer to keep it internal’. I’ve got no issues at all, that’s just the decision St Kilda have made.”
Following King’s tough night out against the Lions, Saints coach Brett Ratten suggested he didn’t need help from outside the club, backing the young gun to overcome his kicking issues.
King and the Saints were left shattered after the match, having blown a golden opportunity (Getty)
“He’s doing a power of work and what I do know is I want Max King in my corner,” Ratten said.
“He’ll be at our footy club for 10 years and when we look back, we’ll be saying what a great player he is and what he’s done.
“Tonight he had a night where it didn’t work for him. He did everything right bar the finish.
“He’s 22 years of age, we love what he brings to the footy club, and he’s developing, but we know he’s doing the work.
“Sometimes you don’t get the reward all the time, but he’ll keep doing that and, you watch, he’ll turn it around.”
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The backstories and controversies that have ignited feuds involving athletes
Northern Territory Police have charged a 50-year-old woman with child abduction over the disappearance of five-year-old Grace Hughes from the Darwin suburb of Berrimah last weekend.
Key points:
NT Police are still searching for 34-year-old Laura Hinks and five-year-old Grace Hughes
Police arrested a 50-year-old woman who refused to give information about the pair’s whereabouts
It is possible the mother and daughter traveled interstate
Her 34-year-old mother Laura Hinks, who is also known as Laura Bolt, is also missing.
Police say Grace was taken without permission by her mother during a supervised parental visit at 1pm last Sunday.
Detective Superintendent Kirsten Engels said police were “throwing every resource we have into this investigation, we will continue to do so until we locate Grace.”
“Our primary concern is the safety and wellbeing of Grace, knowing that this would’ve been a very traumatic event, being removed from this meeting, and separated from her siblings,” Detective Superintendent Engels said.
50-year-old woman to face court on Monday
During their investigation, police interviewed a 50-year-old woman at a property in Anula and later arrested her for allegedly refusing to give information about Grace and her mother’s whereabouts.
She was charged with one count of abducting a child under 16 and one count of attempting to abduct a child under 16.
“We know that some effort is being put into hiding Grace, and that it would be very frightening for a five-year-old child,” Detective Superintendent Engels said.
The woman was ordered in custody and will face court on Monday.
“Whatever issues that are preventing her return, should and could be dealt with in appropriate ways,” Detective Superintendent Engels said.
“Taking Grace in this manner is not appropriate and we know that there will be people in the community that will be able to assist us.”
“They will know where Grace is, and they’ll be able to help us.”
Police say it is possible Laura and Grace could now be interstate and are appealing for anyone with information to contact 131 444.
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Apple brings battery percentage back to the status bar in iOS 16 beta 5, Google puts Apple on blast over RCS adoption, we review the VESA mount Studio Display, and more on the AppleInsider podcast.
We discuss how the new battery percentage indicator may be Apple’s most disruptive feature of iOS 16. Many Apple fans are excited by the new feature, though neither of your hosts Wesley and Stephen will be turning it on.
Next, Google’s latest campaign for Apple to adopt RCS continues to push a narrative that’s missing a lot of details. The hosts dive into what’s wrong with RCS today and what it would take for Apple to consider the new messaging platform.
Meanwhile, Stephen’s Studio Display has arrived and he shares some controversial opinions about its speakers and webcam — they’re fine. Also, your hosts consider what it would take for them to upgrade from the existing Studio Display and whether Apple would introduce such a product anytime soon.
The latest product rumors point to new HomePods arriving sometime soon, and the new entry model iPad may see big changes in 2022. There’s also a quick discussion of Apple TV+ and the new animated film “Luck.”
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Brisbane faces Newcastle at Lang Park, while Cronulla and the Sydney Roosters enjoy their respective victories.
Check out all the live scores and stats below.
Broncos vs. Knights
Team stats
play-by-play
Sharks outclass Tigers
Cronulla’s Cameron McInnes offloads against the Wests Tigers.(Getty Images: Matt King)
Kade Dykes scored his maiden NRL try in just his second match as Cronulla retained its spot in the top-four with an uncompromising 36-12 win over Wests Tigers at Scully Park in Tamworth.
Dykes is the Sharks’ first third-generation player after his father Adam and grandfather John played for the club.
He played his part in Cronulla’s eighth win in their past nine matches with his 21st-minute try after chasing a kick back on the inside from winger Lachie Miller.
The win also ensured the Sharks leapt over the top of the Melbourne Storm into third place on the ladder as they search for a home final with just three rounds left.
The Sharks continued to show no mercy to the joint-venture club this year after belting them 30-4 in round five.
The Sharks scored four tries in the first half — three off kicks — as they got their attack humming off the back of a 61 per cent possession rate for a 26-6 lead at the break.
Their second half brought another two tries as they made it an uncomfortable night for the out-of-luck Tigers.
Both Matt Ikuvalu and Miller were playing just their third match for Cronulla this year, coming in for the injured Siosifa Talakai and Will Kennedy respectively.
And both wings scored in the opening 10 minutes.
The Wests Tigers disrupted the flow with hooker Fa’amanu Brown, who spent three seasons at the Sharks, barged over from dummy-half to give his team a sniff at 12-6.
But then prop Royce Hunt ran right over the top of fullback Dane Laurie and Dykes had his piece of personal history and the game was indeed getting away from Brett Kimmorley’s side.
It only took Cronulla just 13 minutes to score the first points of the second half — another prop barging over, this time Braden Hamin-Uele dragging three defenders with him for a 32-6 lead.
But it lit a small fuse in the Tigers with back rower Luke Gardner getting on the outside of Dykes for a 20-meter dash to the line.
However, Jesse Ramien crossed for his ninth try of the year just before things started to turn sour for the Sharks.
They lost two players to injuries — Toby Rudolf (knee) and Miller (head injury assessment) — and then back rower Teig Wilton was sin-binned for a late tackle on Laurie.
Wests Tigers winger Brent Naden waltzed through flimsy defense to cross the line but the try was over-ruled because of obstruction.
It just was not the Tigers’ night and it does not get any easier for them as they face the Sydney Roosters next Saturday.
Roosters Down Cowboys
Roosters five-eighth Luke Keary (right) attempts to beat Chad Townsend’s tackle.(AAP: Dan Himbrechts)
The race for the top eight is all but over after the Sydney Roosters ran through North Queensland 32-18 at the SCG.
Teenage sensation Joseph Suaalii starred with a big first half, while Sam Verrills scored a double just days after confirming he was leaving the Roosters.
Flags were flown at half-mast for the late Paul Green and the Cowboys were gutsy in the circumstances with 10 players still left from the former coach’s his time in charge of the club.
But ultimately the Roosters were too classy, virtually ending North Queensland’s hopes of top spot on the ladder and handing the minor premiership to Penrith.
At the other end of the top eight, the finals race has also become clearer.
The Roosters looked in serious danger of missing the finals a month ago but have now won five straight since their round-17 bye.
Realistically, the only way they could now miss the top eight is if they lost their last three matches and Canberra win their last four.
And with the way the Roosters are playing ahead of their next game against Wests Tigers, that looks unlikely.
The Roosters controlled the match perfectly, quickly extinguishing any sniff the Cowboys had when they drew back to 10-4 and 20-10 deficits.
Matt Lodge and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves were influential in the middle as both scored tries.
And while they each topped 150 running meters, only Luciano Leilua reached three figures in the Cowboys’ pack.
Suaalii was also in everything early.
He claimed the Roosters’ first try courtesy of an under-arm harbour-bridge pass from Victor Radley.
The winger also jammed in on Scott Drinkwater and Griffin Neame with powerful hits, the second of which forced an error and line dropout before the Roosters scored soon after.
And if that was not enough, the 19-year-old also put the Roosters on the attack later in the half with another linebreak out of his own end.
Radley also had a high involvement. After the lofted ball for Suaalii’s try, I laid on a nice short pass for Lodge to stroll over along the posts.
The Roosters’ other first-half points came via Daniel Tupou on the left wing, after Murray Taulagi had briefly given the Cowboys some hope with his own try.
There was controversy, with the Roosters stretching the lead to 20-6 after the break when the Cowboys claimed Lodge had held Griffin Neame back in a scrum as Verrills went over untouched.
Cowboys captain Chad Townsend approached referee Ashley Klein after the try was given to protest but the bunker opted not to intervene and the try was confirmed.
Ultimately, the Roosters’ strength with Verrills and Waerea-Hargreaves crossing late before a consolation try for the Cowboys came via Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.
Many of us have been there: You fire up the Zoom app as you rush to join a meeting you’re already late for, and you’re hit with a prompt to download updates. If something like this has happened to you, you’re enrolled in Zoom’s automatic update feature.
Launched in its current form in November 2021 for Zoom’s Windows and Mac desktop apps, the feature aims to help users keep up with software patches. You enter your system password when you initially set up the feature, granting Zoom permission to install patches, then you never have to enter it again. Easy. But after noticing the feature, longtime Mac security researcher Patrick Wardle wondered whether it was a little too easy.
At the DefCon security conference in Las Vegas today, Wardle presented two vulnerabilities he found in the automatic update feature’s validation checks for the updates. For an attacker who already had access to a target Mac, the vulnerabilities could have been chained and exploited to grant the attacker total control of a victim’s machine. Zoom has already released fixes for both vulnerabilities, but onstage on Friday, Wardle announced the discovery of an additional vulnerability, one he hasn’t yet disclosed to Zoom, that reopens the attack vector.
“I was curious about exactly how they were setting this up. And when I took a look, it seemed on first pass that they were doing things securely—they had the right ideas, ”Wardle told WIRED ahead of his talk about him. “But when I looked closer, the quality of the code was more suspect, and it appeared that no one was auditing it deeply enough.”
To automatically install updates after the user enters their password once, Zoom installs a standard macOS helper tool that Wardle says is widely used in development. The company set up the mechanism so only the Zoom application could talk to the helper. This way, no one else could connect and mess with things. The feature was also set up to run a signature check to confirm the integrity of the updates being delivered, and it specifically checked that the software was a new version of Zoom, so hackers couldn’t launch a “downgrade attack” by tricking the app into installing an old and vulnerable version of Zoom.
The first vulnerability Wardle found, though, was in the cryptographic signature check. (It’s a sort of wax-seal check to confirm the integrity and provenance of software.) Wardle knew from past research and his own software development that it can be difficult to truly validate signatures in the types of conditions Zoom had set up. Ultimately, I have realized that Zoom’s check could be defeated. Imagine that you carefully sign a legal document and then put the piece of paper facedown on a table next to a birthday card that you signed more casually for your sister. Zoom’s signature check was essentially looking at everything on the table and accepting the random birthday card signature instead of actually checking whether the signature was in the right place on the right document. In other words, Wardle found that he could change the name of the software he was trying to sneak through to contain the markers Zoom was broadly looking for and get the malicious package past Zoom’s signature check.
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Knights playmaker Jake Clifford is reportedly considering an early exit from his contract, while the Panthers links to Jock Madden are heating up.
Meanwhile, Manly forward Ethan Bullemor is considering a shock career move.
Read on for all the latest NRL Transfer Whispers.
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MANLY STAR EYEING SHOCK CAREER MOVE
Manly forward Ethan Bullemor is reportedly considering early retirement from rugby league to take up a career in finance.
The Daily Telegraph reported Bullemor is weighing up cutting his rugby league career short to take up a job at a fund manager in Sydney.
The 22-year-old has scored four tries in 34 NRL games since his debut for the Broncos in 2020, including nine games since his move to Manly this season.
The versatile back-rower is a bright kid away from footy and could opt to use his skills and knowledge of the financial sector over his obvious prowess on the sporting field.
Bullemor is contracted to Manly until the end of the 2023 season, but is weighing up retiring at the end of 2022 to make the shock career switch.
The promising forward has struggled for consistent opportunities at Manly, but with Andrew Davey reportedly moving on at the end of the season and Josh Schuster switching to five-eighth, Bullemor could be a key player next year for Des Hasler.
Haumole Olakau’atu and Ben Trbojevic loomed as his main competition next season, but Bullemor could opt to trade it all in for an opportunity in finance.
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Ethan Bullemor could be set for early retirement from rugby league.Source: Getty Images
KNIGHTS PLAYMAKER EYEING EARLY EXIT
Out of favor Knights playmaker Jake Clifford is reportedly considering cutting his stay at Newcastle short.
The Daily Telegraph reported Clifford’s lack of game time in 2022 could see him exit the club despite being contracted until the end of 2023.
The 24-year-old has scored 11 tries and 187 points in 67 games since his NRL debut for the Cowboys in 2018, but has only managed 12 games in 2022.
No potential destination for Clifford has emerged with a return to the Cowboys unlikely given their success and depth in the halves.
Making a release request difficult for Clifford is the fact the Knights are losing Anthony Milford to the Dolphins next year, while Phoenix Crossland remains unsigned.
Warriors whack Bulldogs in Auckland | 02:17
If the Knights don’t get Luke Brooks they would be mad to let Clifford go without getting something in return.
Clifford would walk into the Knights’ starting side next year, but has struggled for form in 2022 and fallen behind Milford and Adam Clune in the pecking order.
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Jake Clifford is reportedly eyeing a release.Source: Getty Images
PANTHERS EYE TIGERS HALF AMID PLAYMAKER LOGJAM
Reports Tigers halfback Jock Madden is set to join the Panthers are growing louder amid the playmaker logjam at Concord.
The Daily Telegraph reported the Panthers have emerged as a potential landing spot for Madden and as there is little interest elsewhere, a move to Penrith is growing more likely.
Madden is currently the Tigers’ starting halfback after injuries to Jackson Hastings and Luke Brooks, but remains unsigned beyond 2022.
The 24-year-old has scored two tries in 13 games for the Tigers since his debut in 2021, but has only managed 10 games in his contract year in 2022.
Madden had been linked with the Dolphins, but the signing of Sean O’Sullivan and Isaiya Katoa from the Panthers and Milford has them well stocked in the halves.
That leaves an opening at the Panthers, but the only issue is Madden is looking for more NRL game time and unless injuries strike he won’t beat Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai to a starting spot.
Jock Madden has been linked to the Panthers.Source: Getty Images
Last August, Google rolled a bunch Who are you? Thrives to Gboard for Android, and a few more are now coming to the keyboard, including the shortcut bar.
About APKInsight: In this “APK Insight” post, we have unpacked the latest version of an app that Google has uploaded to the Play Store. When we decompile these files (called APK files, in the case of Android apps), we can see different lines of code within this hint in possible future features. Keep in mind that Google may or may not ship these features at all, and our interpretation of what they are may be incomplete. We’ll try to enable those who are about to finish, however, to show you what they would look like if they did charge. With that in mind, keep reading.
Currently, clicking the badge icon in the upper-right corner brings out several tools, layout, and shortcuts. Today’s menu includes: Settings, Theme, Edit Text, Clipboard, GIF, Floating, One-handed, Translate, Share and Sticker. There is also a file Split keyboard on folding (but not tablets).
Gboard 12.1 goes live on the beta channel today and reveals work on a material that redesigns this tape RKBDI Friend It has been successfully enabled. The corner button is still a circle but now uses a 3×3 grid icon.
Meanwhile, the shortcuts (or “access point” items as they are referred to) are now in rounded rectangles that look very similar to Material Chips You (MD3). It’s not much different from the Google Assistant’s voice typing user interface on Pixel phones (shown in the cover photo above). The background of each element is lighter than the keyboard, which is more visible in the colorful themes.
You can now have another shortcut to a total of five in the bar, although Gboard is working on the ability to let users customize the number of impressions if they really only need one or two. However, the new cap is due to Gboard removing the three dots/excess on the right and using the existing corner button for input.
Google has redesigned this view with a tighter grid that is no longer centered. It allows for more functionality to be easily added in the future, while the text editing layout gets a texture that updates on its own with rounded corners for each button.
Another article you are updating is the settings. The main menu is getting bigger, while MD3 switches are now being used all the time.
It’s not clear when Gboard will widely roll out the Material Bar and other design changes.
There were emotional scenes at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday afternoon as North Melbourne’s Ben Cunnington returned to AFL action for the first time in more than a year.
The Kangaroos midfielder has survived two bouts of testicular cancer that have kept him out of the AFL since he last played in round 19 last year — 385 days ago.
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Cunnington, a two-time North best and fairest, addressed his teammates during the week and spoke about his battle and the support from his family and the club that helped him fight his way back.
It has been a long and emotional journey back to senior football for the 31-year-old, who was seen soaking up the moment by himself in the middle of Adelaide Oval before North’s clash with the Crows.
And many footy fans would have shed a tear watching Cunnington embrace his partner and walked out onto the field with his three children.
Cunnington took a few deep breaths as she ran through the banner.
The Herald Sun’s Lauren Wood said it would be “tough to top for footy’s moment of the year”.
Broadcaster Chad Ryan tweeted: “Bloody powerful stuff. F*** cancer. So glad to have Cunnington back.”
Peter Hooley said: “Man, who’s cutting onions. Love every little thing about this. Go well Cunners.”
Cunnington finished with 17 disposals and three clearances in a solid performance.
The Crows spoiled his return, pushing ahead in the last quarter to claim a 103 (15.14) to 74 (10.14).
Dual premiership-winning Kangaroo David King said it was “so good” to see Cunnington back playing for North.
“Just really rapt to see him back out there and wearing the jumper,” he said on Fox Footy.
“Things look right for the Kangaroos when he’s out there.
“I think he’s been the Kangaroos’ best player since the turn of the century. This guy’s impact on football has been phenomenal for us.”
“You think you might be done with the game but until it gets taken away from you, you quickly realize how much you do love it,” Cunnington told Fox Footy post game.
“To get another opportunity to play, I couldn’t be more appreciative and grateful.”
“Even though we lost I can’t stop smiling, I’m just trying to appreciate it right now.”
Small is proving to be big business in the restaurant industry, with a boom in private dining prompting restaurants of all shapes and sizes to add spaces with quirky touches like a BYO record policy or free karaoke.
Intimate groups of 25 to 30 people are contacting Simon Blacher’s casual southside restaurants Tokyo Tina and Moonhouse for everything from end-of-financial year bashes to 21st birthdays.
“I know moving forward, any restaurant that we open will definitely have a private dining option associated with it,” says Blacher.
Armadale wine bar Auterra says the biggest demand for its new 12-seat private dining space is from groups of friends simply catching up.
Melburnians are cottoning on to the benefits of private dining rooms, flocking to them for dinner party vibes that feel more COVID-safe and don’t come with any of the hard parts of hosting.
They’re an attractive prospect right now for restaurants, too. The exclusive rooms, which typically offer set menus and beverage packages, are easier for venues to staff and usually attract consumers who are in the mood to spend.
Tokyo Tina co-owner Simon Blacher says private dining rooms will be part of any new restaurant his Commune Group opens in future. Photo: Eddie Jim
In the last 12 months, Blacher’s Commune Group has added two private dining areas to its portfolio of venues.
One of these is an offshoot of popular Windsor restaurant Tokyo Tina. Called Tokyo Private, it has its own entrance on Chapel Street and is built for fun, with a karaoke machine included in the price.
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Blacher says when it opened last October it had five to eight bookings per week, and sometimes up to 10. While that’s plateaued slightly over winter, it’s still doing an average of three functions a week, “which is still fantastic”.
Private rooms may once have been associated with exclusive or pricey restaurants but some operators, including Commune Group, are showing they can come in all shapes and sizes, with quirky touches to boot.
In Thornbury, a neighborhood trattoria Umberto added a private room last year that comes with a TV for movie nights, a card table, a record player and a buzzer for service. The venue asks you to be a member to book the room, but at $330 a year, that’s not as exclusive as it sounds.
“The membership growth has exceeded our expectations,” says co-owner Carla Barbieri. “We’re approaching capacity and anticipate taking applications for a waiting list.”
Fitzroy restaurant Rocco’s Bologna Discoteca has three different dining spaces upstairs for private events, or you can book out the whole venue. Photo: Bonnie Savage
Blacher has also been pleasantly surprised by the enthusiasm for both Tokyo Private and an exclusive space upstairs at his latest venue Moonhouse in Balaclava.
He acknowledges that COVID caution may be a contributing factor in people booking events away from the main dining room. Some diners have more peace of mind if everyone in their group has done a RAT before dinner, for example.
But overall Blacher thinks it’s a festive spirit and desire for smaller celebrations that’s driving demand.
Armadale wine bar Auterra added a 12-seat private dining space in May and has seen it used for birthdays as well as more casual catch-ups among friends. Photo: Supplied
“Sitting down with a select group of friends rather than everyone you’ve ever met is a trend we’re seeing [for celebrations],” he says.
In these days of timed bookings, getting a table together for a whole night of uninterrupted fun is also another factor in the popularity of private dining.
Auterra’s general manager Gareth Burnett says since the Armadale wine bar opened its upstairs private dining room in May, the most common bookings are for birthdays or intimate catch-ups among friends.
Society’s most exclusive private dining space, the Green Room, comes with a show kitchen, separate entrance and private chef, making it a magnet for celebrities and athletes looking to celebrate. Photo: Supplied
But, with spring in sight, he says festive season inquiries are coming thick and fast.
The latest and greatest private dining rooms in Melbourne
Umberto
Celebrating your big moments your way is the idea behind the Rosarno Room, located upstairs and hidden behind a peep hole at this modest neighborhood trattoria. Pop your own vinyl on the record player, stream your favorite film via Apple TV or get the card table out. There’s even a buzzer for service. “It’s like the idea of a clubhouse but not like the old, stuffy ones we may picture in our minds,” says co-owner Carla Barbieri. The catch is that you must be a member to partake, a privilege that costs $330 a year. But can you really put a price on street credit?
Umberto Espresso Bar’s members-only room, the Rosarno Room, can be used for private dinners, card nights, watching Netflix and more. Photo: Hi Sylvia
917 High Street, Thornbury, 03 9484 8654, umberto.com.au
Auterra
It’s not called a secret hideaway for nothing. From the fireplace and sheer drapes right down to the glass cabinets filled with crockery, this 12-person space feels like sitting down to lunch at home with your nearest and dearest. The best part is you’re not doing the cooking. Soaring ceilings, an inlaid brass tabletop and a gilt mirror add a luxe touch, as do the private bathroom and kitchen. But mismatched chairs and napkins in bright colors inject some fun. Brown donuts and soft-serve with whiskey caramel continue the high-low theme.
1160 High Street, Armadale, 03 8529 2660, auterrawinebar.com.au
Tokyo Tina offers private dining with a side of karaoke. Photo: Parker Blain
Tokyo Private
Groups of between 14 and 28 can book out this understated space next door to Tokyo Tina – and it’s all yours for as long as your heart desires. The no-timed-bookings policy is a rarity these days, while the karaoke system is a kitschy (and free!) touch. Food is a likeable mix of mod-Australian meets Japanese: think katsu prawn buns or umeboshi-glazed duck, washed down with Kirin Ichiban lager and whiskey highballs. You can also play your own music via Spotify and kids are welcome.
By far the ritziest option on this list (and perhaps in Melbourne), Society’s Green Room comes with a private entrance and its own kitchen, chef and sommelier, so you truly will be getting something no one else in the restaurant has. Tucked upstairs and decked out with meters of timber, stone and glass, the 20-seat room has hosted athletes, celebrities and anyone else who loves the VIP treatment. With a price tag starting at $4500, file this one under special occasion.
Sweeping art deco curves define this iconic Balaclava building, recently reborn as a contemporary Cantonese restaurant. That’s particularly true upstairs where private events take place across a cocktail bar and dining room. A crescent-shaped booth for eight people in the bar is perhaps the best seat in the house, tucked into a nook of the building with views of Carlisle Street in either direction. In the neighboring room, a long table for 30 can play host to feasts of wontons, beef with black bean and luxe items like mud crab. A separate entrance and bathrooms add to the exclusive feel.
Creating sumptuous spaces is the ninja skill of Rocco’s owners, who also operate Poodle further along Gertrude Street. Private dining here might look like an intimate 20-person table in one half of the upstairs ballroom with checkerboard floors. Larger events can spread over the entire room and adjoining Vince’s Bar, giving you access to an outdoor terrace and your own bar star. Two fireplaces, timber joinery, mosaic tiles and fun spins on Italian dishes spell out good times galore.
