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Google Photos now lets you disable that sticker animation – here’s how to turn it off
9to5google.com Aug 7, 2026

Google Photos now lets you disable that sticker animation – here’s how to turn it off

Curated by · TechCapsules ·

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Google has introduced a new setting in Google Photos that allows users to disable the “shimmer” animation associated with its sticker creation feature. Launched last year, this tool automatically highlights compatible photo subjects with an outline and a shimmering effect to indicate eligibility for conversion into stickers. While intended to guide users by showing which parts of an image are being cut out, many found the visual cue distracting. In response to user feedback, Google added a toggle to remove this animation. The feature remains enabled by default but can now be turned off at any time. Users can access this option by navigating to Settings, then Preferences, followed by Photo view, and finally toggling off “Show shimmer.” This update provides greater control over the viewing experience, allowing individuals to enjoy their photos without the automatic visual highlights that previously accompanied potential sticker subjects.

💡 Why It Matters

  • · This adjustment demonstrates Google’s responsiveness to user interface preferences, prioritizing a cleaner visual experience over default gamified elements.
  • · It reflects a broader trend where tech companies refine features based on direct community feedback to reduce digital clutter.
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5 for Good: Tour along Boston’s Freedom Trail shares Indigenous perspectives
wcvb.com · Aug 7

5 for Good: Tour along Boston’s Freedom Trail shares Indigenous perspectives

White Snake Projects, a Brookline-based nonprofit founded by Cerise Lim Jacobs, has launched Indigenous Stories, a free augmented reality tour along Boston’s Freedom Trail. The initiative commissions Native American artists to create original performances accessible via a mobile app at historic sites including Faneuil Hall, the Old State House, and Boston Common. These digital experiences offer Indigenous perspectives on historical events, contrasting with traditional narratives. Artist Mwalim DaPhunkee Professor, of Mashpee Wampanoag descent, contributed two pieces, one located at the Old State House. This site was selected for its connection to the Phips Bounty Proclamation, which placed monetary rewards on Indigenous scalps. Professor noted that the tour shares harsh truths rooted in oral tradition and personal heritage. The project aims to present stories that Indigenous communities understand and have experienced, utilizing technology to overlay contemporary artistic interpretations onto Boston’s colonial landmarks. This effort seeks to broaden the historical narrative presented to tourists and locals exploring the city’s most famous walking route.

💡 The tour forces visitors to confront the violent colonial history of Boston by overlaying Indigenous artistic responses directly onto sites of oppression. It transforms passive sightseeing into an active engagement with suppressed narratives.

Brainrot Royale Brings Some Of The Internet’s Wildest Characters To PUBG MOBILE’s World of Wonder
ign.com · Aug 7

Brainrot Royale Brings Some Of The Internet’s Wildest Characters To PUBG MOBILE’s…

PUBG MOBILE’s World of Wonder (WOW) creator platform has launched Brainrot Royale, an exclusive new experience developed in collaboration with Do Big Studio. This update integrates viral internet meme characters, such as Ballerina Cappuccina and Brr Brr Patapim, into a unique gameplay loop centered on collecting and defending these digital assets. Players engage in frantic races to gather Brainrot characters scattered across the map, escorting them to base to upgrade weapons and unlock rarer entities. The mode introduces a strategic balance of offense and defense, allowing players to steal collections from rivals while protecting their own. Beach party eggs and boss encounters add additional layers of reward and challenge. Since WOW’s March 2023 launch, the platform has facilitated over 5.4 million user-generated maps. This collaboration marks a significant step in integrating professional studio content with the community-driven ecosystem, offering fresh, non-traditional battle royale experiences that leverage accessible drag-and-drop creation tools for global players.

💡 This partnership validates user-generated content platforms as viable channels for mainstream IP integration, moving beyond niche community experiments. By licensing viral meme culture, Tencent demonstrates how established shooters can capture younger demographics through culturally relevant, low-barrier creative ecosystems rather than relying solely on traditional competitive mechanics.

Still simple, still powerful, BBEdit is a Mac app legend
appleinsider.com · Aug 7

Still simple, still powerful, BBEdit is a Mac app legend

BBEdit, a Mac-exclusive text editor developed by Bare Bones Software, has maintained active development and a dedicated user base for 34 years. Originally created in 1989 to handle large files that Apple’s early APIs could not support, the application launched publicly in 1992. Unlike modern word processors, BBEdit remains a focused plain text editor, avoiding features like mind-mapping or image editing. It is widely used by programmers and writers for coding in languages such as C, C++, and Objective-C, as well as for web content in HTML and Markdown. The software is renowned for its powerful search capabilities, including regular expressions, and its responsiveness. Developer Rich Siegel notes that the app is written using itself, ensuring that daily-use builds match those tested by customers. Now on version 16, BBEdit continues to refine its feature set while maintaining its simple, "bare bones" philosophy. Its longevity and consistent improvement have made it a legendary tool in the Mac ecosystem, with some users remaining loyal solely because it lacks a PC version.

💡 BBEdit proves that specialized, single-purpose software can outlast bloated industry giants by prioritizing core functionality over feature creep. Its enduring relevance challenges the modern tech trend of forcing users into subscription-based, multi-functional ecosystems.

OpenAI API Tutorial: Build Your First AI Application
analyticsinsight.net · Aug 6

OpenAI API Tutorial: Build Your First AI Application

OpenAI’s API allows developers to integrate advanced artificial intelligence features into applications without training proprietary models. The platform connects software with powerful AI models capable of processing text, images, and other data types. Developers must create an account and generate a unique API key for each project. Secure management of these keys via environment variables is critical to prevent security risks and protect sensitive information. Installation of the official software library simplifies communication for Python and Node.js users. The Responses API is now the recommended interface for new applications, replacing older, fragmented endpoints. It supports text generation, image understanding, structured output, reasoning, and tool use within a single consistent framework. This unified approach reduces development complexity and confusion. A basic application structure involves the user submitting a request, the backend sending it to the API, the model generating a response, and the application displaying the final answer to the user.

💡 Consolidating features into the Responses API lowers the technical barrier for entry, enabling rapid deployment of sophisticated AI tools. This standardization allows developers to focus on application logic rather than managing multiple, disparate interfaces.

Top 10 KOReader Features Every E-Book Reader Should Know
analyticsinsight.net · Aug 6

Top 10 KOReader Features Every E-Book Reader Should Know

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💡 By consolidating diverse formats into one app, KOReader eliminates the need for file conversion, streamlining workflows for students and professionals who juggle multiple document types.

TikTok lays off 250 employees, shutters its Nashville office
techcrunch.com · Aug 6

TikTok lays off 250 employees, shutters its Nashville office

TikTok is laying off 250 employees and permanently closing its Nashville office, a facility that housed key members of its content moderation team. The New York Times first reported the restructuring, which TikTok USDS Joint Venture spokesperson Zanna Crowley confirmed. Crowley stated the move aims to streamline operations and align teams for long-term growth, while reaffirming commitment to safety for the platform’s 200 million American users. The Nashville office, leased in 2024, will cease operations on October 5. This reduction coincides with a broader industry trend where social media companies increasingly rely on artificial intelligence to monitor and remove violent or explicit content, reducing the need for large human moderation staffs. The decision reflects TikTok’s strategic shift toward automated systems for maintaining community guidelines and user safety across its rapidly growing platform.

💡 The closure underscores a definitive pivot from human-heavy moderation to AI-driven oversight in social media safety. By replacing staff with algorithms, TikTok reduces operational costs while accelerating content review, setting a precedent for how platforms manage scale without proportional headcount growth.