🪅 Heap Heap Hurray Ed. #267

Happy Wednesday! Keep that mid-week energy high!

#Material3 - Google I/O is just around the corner, and we have already been seeing glimpse of the Material 3. Expressive design language that the company is set to announce during the event. Google unintentionally (or intentionally) shared a complete blog on the redesign ahead of the event, but it was quickly taken down.

#Google - Google gossip again! Remember when you watch movies, you come across subtle brand placements - specifically that of Apple products? Well, Google’s taking a leaf out their book. Google's trying to be cool, partnering with Hollywood to make movies and TV shows that feature its tech, like Android phones and AI, to win over young audiences and change its image.

Oracle Partners With Andhra Pradesh To Train 400,000 Students In Emerging Tech
Oracle has partnered with the Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation. The initiative will deliver free, structured digital training through Oracle MyLearn. Students will receive foundational and professional-level training.

Nvidia will release its $299 RTX 5060 on May 19th
Nvidia has announced a May 19th release date for its $299 RTX 5060 graphics card and the first laptops, which start at $1,099, that will feature it. At 3,840 CUDA cores, the 5060 has nearly 800 fewer cores than the Ti version of the card.

Pinterest - New visual search features enable users to segment elements of Pin images for more personalized product discovery, with added refinement options and AI-powered matching.

Windows 11 - Redesigned Start menu with automatic categories, single scrollable view, and dedicated Phone Link button.

Spotify - Introduced a new podcast metric called "plays" that displays the number of times an episode has been actively listened to or watched.

Apple Snapshot - Apple's new Snapshot hub is a sleek, interactive portal that brings you closer to your favorite stars—be it Zendaya, Taylor Swift, or Lionel Messi. Each profile links directly to their work across Apple Music, TV, and Podcasts, making it a one-stop destination for curated celebrity content.

Brand Guidelines - Explore a curated collection of top-tier brand style guides from global design leaders. Whether you're a designer seeking inspiration or a brand strategist aiming for consistency, this platform offers a wealth of visual identity resources. Submit your own standout guidelines and join a community celebrating design excellence.

Breeze PDF - Breeze PDF is a free, privacy-first PDF editor that runs entirely offline in your browser—no uploads, no sign-ups, and no installations. It lets you add text, images, and signatures; create fillable forms; merge or delete pages; and password-protect documents—all while keeping your files on your device. Perfect for quick edits or secure workflows, it’s a powerful tool that respects your privacy.

Web Performance In 2025: Key Takeaways
Learn how to improve web performance by identifying weaknesses, understanding targets, and prioritizing optimization efforts. Discover how to analyze real user data, debug common issues, and avoid micro-optimizations.

Taking Calculated Risks As A Software Engineer
Working on side projects, or "side bets," can be beneficial for senior engineers, allowing them to take calculated risks and potentially gain recognition and reputation. However, it's crucial to focus on tasks with concrete benefits and be prepared for the possibility of failure. Juniors, on the other hand, should prioritize assigned tasks to build reputation and gain experience, with senior oversight.

Tech's Ugly Truth: Enshittification Of Labor
Tech companies' treatment of workers is a tale of two extremes. While engineers are pampered, factory workers face harsh conditions. "Vocational awe" is used to exploit even well-paid tech workers, prioritizing profits over people.