Technologies

Last-Minute Father’s Day Gift: Get $5 in Amazon Credit With a Google Play Gift Card Over $50

Gift cards are a great last-minute gift this Father’s Day. Right now, Amazon is also offering a $5 credit with this purchase.

With time running out to get a great Father’s Day gift, this Amazon deal could be just the ticket. The retailer is currently offering a $5 promo credit on Google Play gift cards worth $50 or more, and you don’t even have to enter any discount codes or clip any coupons to do it. The savings are applied at checkout, and there are digital and physical gift cards available for you to choose from.

Amazon is currently offering Google Play gift cards in various denominations, but note that the $5 promo credit is applicable only to cards worth $50 or more.

Gift cards can be redeemed for any item available at the US Google Play store, including apps, games and other Google products. All the receiver needs to do is scratch off the barcode included on the card and use the available funds. With no expiration dates to worry about, this is a great gift for gamers, Android fans or anyone who regularly uses Google products.

Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.

If you prefer a faster option, then you can also choose a digital Google Play gift code. Essentially, it’s a digital gift card that can be delivered to your chosen recipient via email or text. Purchasing these gift codes in values of $50 or more also gets you an Amazon $5 promo credit. Both the gift card and gift code are for use at US Google Play stores as well.

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Why this deal matters

Treating Dad to the right gift can be difficult, especially for those fathers who seem to have it all already. So why not give him the gift of credit for use on his Android phone and the Google Play Store and let him pick something for himself instead? And because digital codes are available, you don’t have to worry about your gift card arriving on time.

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.