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Sony preps for $700-million tariff bill and possible PS5 price hike

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Video games are an expensive hobby, and we're already seeing higher prices from Nintendo and Xbox. Now, we have bad news for PlayStation gamers.

In its latest earnings call, Sony CFO Lin Tao confirmed that the company is exploring raising prices as a result of the Trump administration's new tariffs. And while Tao didn't name the PS5 directly, the gaming division is Sony's most profitable, and the company just raised prices on PS5 hardware in several regions outside the U.S. a month ago. Sony already sells a variant of the PS5 for $700 in the U.S., so the company is no stranger to high prices for gaming hardware.

Just how big of a hit will Sony take because of tariffs? The company revealed in an earnings report that it's facing a $700 million impact from tariffs, according to Bloomberg. Fellow Japanese company Toyota is facing a $1.2-billion tariff bill.

However, the news isn't all bad for Sony. The company expects to sell 15 million PS5 consoles in the next year, almost exactly the same number of Switch 2 units that Nintendo forecasts it will sell in the same time.

While a potential price hike for the PS5 could be coming in the near future, the extremely fluid tariff situation also makes the situation very unpredictable.

As part of the earnings call, Sony CEO Hiroki Totoki also said the PS5 could theoretically be manufactured in the U.S. to circumvent tariffs, per The Verge. That's probably a lot easier said than done, though. Most PS5s are manufactured in China, which, at the time of publication, is currently subject to at least a 30 percent tariff.

Trump's tariffs have only been in effect for about a month, and the console gaming space is already reeling. Xbox games and consoles just got across-the-board price hikes for U.S. gamers, a very surprising move considering that we're five years into that console generation. Nintendo recently delayed preorders for its upcoming Switch 2 console in the U.S. for a couple of weeks, as Trump's tariffs were announced on the same day that Nintendo announced the $450 price point for the Switch 2. Nintendo eventually reopened preorders without changing the console's price, though some hardware accessories got price hikes.

Needless to say, these price increases probably won't end until the tariffs do.

UPDATE: May. 14, 2025, 3:23 p.m. EDT This article has been updated with additional information from Sony's earnings call.

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Sharks new Glam multi-styler looks an awful lot like the FlexFusion: Whats different?

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Shark just released a new multi-styler that can be used to style wet and dry hair, and if you're thinking to yourself, "Didn't they do that about 10 months ago?" then you'd be 100% correct.

Shark announced the new tool, the Shark Glam, in a press release on Aug. 11, calling it "the first multi-styler that has the versatility of air styling and ceramic hot tool styling for salon-quality results that you can do yourself." Which, again, if you have memory of — or purchased — the Shark FlexFusion, that statement might confuse you.

As of Aug. 11, the Glam is available exclusively on the Sephora app, but will be available to the general public on Aug. 12 for $449 at Sephora and Shark's website.

A quick glance at the product listings of the Glam and the FlexFusion on Sephora's site confirmed to me that I wasn't crazy for sensing some similarities:

pink shark flexfusion with attachments

Left:
The Shark FlexFusion.
Credit: Shark
Right:
The Shark Glam.
Credit: Shark

I've tested the Shark beauty lineup, and I was impressed with the innovation behind tools like the FlexStyle and the FlexFusion, so I was surprised by the marketing for the new Glam tool. Shark's Instagram tease makes it seem like this multi-styler is entirely unique. To get some clarity, I asked Shark about the differences between the Shark Glam and the Shark FlexFusion.

How is the Shark Glam different from the Shark FlexFusion?

Shark's team told me there were three main differences between the Glam and the FlexFusion:

  1. The Shark Glam attachments use a new Heat Sense technology that distributes heat better for improved styling and temperature control.

  2. The Shark Glam's Silki straightener is "slimmer and lighter" than the Shark FlexFusion Wet-or-Dry air straightener. It also includes a sensor for automatically turning down airflow when it's not being used for styling.

  3. The power cord is lighter, making the overall styler lighter.

While I can't personally speak to the lighter power cord or new heat sense tech just yet (the Glam is still on the way to me to be tested), the straightener attachment does appear to be more compact overall in the photos of the multi-stylers side by side.

Like the FlexFusion (and other Dyson AirWrap alternatives), the Shark Glam comes in a couple of different configurations. The starting cost for the styler is $449 for five distinct attachments, making it the most expensive starting price of any Shark multi-styler. That said, it does have the best attachment variety from any Shark base model.

For comparison, the Shark FlexFusion build-your-own models start at $349.99 (for the straightener, plus two attachments) or $399.99 for versions with the straightener, plus three more distinct attachments. (Note: a version of the FlexFusion without the straightener attachment exists and starts at $349.99 for four attachments).

The Shark Glam attachments

The Shark Glam is available in two models: straight & wavy and curly & coily. However, as of this writing, we could only find one Shark Glam model available for sale online.

Here's the breakdown for each:

Straight & Wavy

  • Shark Glossi: a ceramic round brush that uses both heat and air for styling

  • Shark Silki: an air straightener with ceramic hot plates for styling the hair with air, heat, or both

  • 1.25-inch Coanda Auto-Wrap curlers: curlers that "grab" the hair for air styling, found also on the Shark FlexFusion and FlexStyle

  • FrizzFighter: a tool that uses Coanda air to grab and smooth flyaways

  • Concentrator: a standard blow dryer attachment for focusing airflow while drying

shark glam straight/wavy lineup

The full attachment lineup for the Shark Glam.
Credit: Shark

For comparison, the Shark FlexFusion does have a model with a near identical product lineup that costs $429.99. However, you won't get the slimmer straightener, lighter cord, or improved heat tech.

Curly & Coily

The curly & coily adds one additional attachment (starred below) over the curly & coily FlexFusion. The lineup in full is:

  • Shark Glossi

  • Shark Silki

  • 1.25-inch Coanda Auto-Wrap curlers

  • Curl Defining Diffuser

  • Wide tooth comb*

The wide tooth comb is technically available on the FlexFusion, but only as part of the build-your-own sets or for purchase separately.

It is worth noting that Shark's improvements toward the heat tech seem to be targeted for folks with type three and four hair. According to the press release, Shark Beauty CMO Kleona Mack said, “Shark Glam was designed to address an unmet need – especially with textured hair. Hair types 3 and 4 have long been underserved in the styling tool category and we knew that it was time to raise the bar."

If you're most intrigued by the new attachments on both models, the individual attachments will be available for purchase and will work on the main unit of the Fusion. But, you would still miss out on the heat and airflow tech, which is housed in the main unit of the Glam itself, according to a Shark spokesperson.


gold shark glam with all available attachments

Credit: Shark


Shark Glam

$449
at Sephora



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DJI drones are flying off shelves — here’s where to buy online

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TL;DR: The DJI Mini 4K drone is available to purchase for $299 on Amazon.



DJI Mini 4K on white background

Credit: Amazon

DJI is one of the biggest names in drones, with a strong reputation for creating incredible aerial shots. The DJI product range is the top choice of TikTokers, YouTubers, and filmmakers. That being said, we were surprised to see the DJI Mini 4K drone as one of the best-sellers in recent months. We knew these drones were popular, but surely not as popular as AirPods?

Then the real reason hit us like a drone to the head.

President Donald Trump has signed two executive orders aimed at helping the U.S. drone industry and shoring up protections against malicious drone activity. The measures don't actually order a full ban on Chinese-made drones (yet), but talk of a ban on DJI drones has been doing the rounds for a while now. That uncertainty is clearly causing an uptick in sales.

The good news for anyone hoping to get ahead of a potential ban is that you can still find the DJI Mini 4K drone on Amazon, listed for $299 right now. This popular drone is being sold by Fly Image Tech at the time of writing. We generally don't recommend third-party sellers, but they have decent reviews and times are tough right now. We'll take what we can get at this point.

The DJI Mini 4K is full of helpful features for beginners and advanced users alike. It has a one-tap takeoff function and a helpful return to home feature. But perhaps most importantly for content creators is the three-axis gimbal and 4K quality, as well as advanced wind resistance and extended battery life. It's a step up from the DJI Neo Mini 4K that we think creators will appreciate.

Get the DJI Mini 4K drone for under $300 at Amazon.

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NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 12, 2025

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Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

  • Yellow: They share the same number

  • Green: They all have separate pathways

  • Blue: Found in The Big Apple

  • Purple: They have openings

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

  • Yellow: Groups of ten

  • Green: Places with lanes

  • Blue: Landmarks in Downtown NYC

  • Purple: Things with holes

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #794 is…

What is the answer to Connections today

  • Groups of ten: BOWLING PINS, COMMANDMENTS, DECADE, FINGERS

  • Places with lanes: BOWLING ALLEY, HIGHWAY, SUPERMARKET, SWIMMING POOL

  • Landmarks in Downtown NYC: BOWLING GREEN, BROOKLYN BRIDGE, CITY HALL, WALL STREET

  • Things with holes: BOWLING BALL, COLANDER, GOLF COURSE, SPONGE

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands?

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

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