Technologies

Nintendo Switch 2 Blows Past Records to Sell 3.5 Million Consoles in Just 4 Days

Nintendo’s new handheld console has reached the highest global sales of any Nintendo device in the same timeframe.

We knew it was highly anticipated, but Nintendo on Wednesday confirmed that its new Switch 2 handheld game console has sold more than 3.5 million units worldwide within the first four days of release. This makes it the fastest-selling Nintendo device ever, flying past other releases like the original Switch, which by comparison sold 2.74 million units in its first month.

The Nintendo Switch 2 launched at a price of $450 for the standard America version of the console, which has yet to be affected by the latest tariffs.

It features a larger screen, revamped Joy-Con controllers, more advanced processors and backwards compatibility with original Switch games. It currently features updated versions of classics like Breath of the Wild, as well as the exclusive new game Mario Kart World.

Despite massive early-day sales, the Switch 2 still has a long ways to go to catch up to the original Switch, which has sold over 150 million units since its 2017 release date.

If you’ve been looking but haven’t been able to buy one yet, check out CNET’s Switch 2 tracker for where it’s still in stock.

Nintendo America did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Tuesday, Aug. 19

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Aug. 19.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword is one of those puzzle grids with absolutely no empty spaces in the grid. So if you get all the Across answers, the Down ones will fill right in. Other than 1-Across, it went pretty quickly for me today. Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Animal that falls in love with a tape dispenser, in a classic New Yorker cartoon
Answer: SNAIL

6A clue: Language written in Devanagari script
Answer: HINDI

7A clue: Singer Presley or Costello
Answer: ELVIS

8A clue: George ___, «Middlemarch» author
Answer: ELIOT

9A clue: Things «read» by fortune tellers
Answer: PALMS

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Blind followers
Answer: SHEEP

2D clue: ___ wafers (Nabisco treat)
Answer: NILLA

3D clue: Heavy item falling from the sky in some classic cartoons
Answer: ANVIL

4D clue: «In a pickle» or «in a jam»
Answer: IDIOM

5D clue: They might end with «etc.»
Answer: LISTS

Technologies

Google Translate Reportedly Adding AI Integration, Duolingo-Like Game Elements

This update could spell trouble for its translation competitor, the internet’s favorite green owl.

Google Translate could soon get some major AI enhancements, like the ability to select different AI models and a game-like practice mode, according to a report from Android Police on Monday.

Android analyst AssembleDebug looked into the Google Translate app’s latest build, version 9.15.114, and found what appears to be new changes to the user interface. At the top, there’s a new model selector, Fast and Advanced. Fast would presumably be for quick translation tasks, like deciphering menu items. Advanced will likely use Gemini to understand the context of a text or a conversation with more accuracy

Read more: Best Language Learning Apps for 2025

According to the report, the update will also include a practice mode to help gamify language learning, similar to that used in the popular language app Duolingo.

A representative for Google didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

For the last two years, Google’s been showcasing various demos and releasing features to make language interpretation easier. At Google I/O earlier this year, the tech giant showed off a demo of what live translation might look like for someone wearing a pair of its Android XR smartglasses.

With the launch of the Pixel Fold in 2023, the company also released a live interpreter mode that used the device’s inner and outer screens.

Understanding different languages is a key innovation of AI. The ability to use large language model technology to interpret between two distinct languages expands the content and conversations humans can have with one another.

Already, Google has released auto-dubbing tech on YouTube, allowing English-speaking audiences to watch Japanese YouTubers, for example.