Analysis: Making the Ticker Feel "Live" and Current

Current Issue

The ticker shows headlines with category tags, but there's no visual cue that these are fresh, real-time updates. It could be mistaken for static marketing copy.

Options to Communicate "Today's News"

Recommendation: Option F (Label + Live Indicator)

Add a small label row above the ticker content:

Details:

• Small pulsing accent-colored dot (CSS animation)
• "Live" text in muted small caps next to the dot
• Optional: "Today in Tech" or just let the dot + "Live" speak for itself
• The dot pulses subtly (opacity or scale) to draw minimal attention while signaling freshness

Why this works:

• The pulsing dot is a universally understood "live/streaming" indicator
• It's minimal and doesn't add clutter to each headline
• Sets context once, then the headlines flow naturally
• Feels modern and tech-forward (aligns with Rebl's brand)

Alternative: Simpler version

Just add the pulsing dot inline at the very start of the ticker strip (before the first headline), with no label text. The visual language of "pulsing dot = live content" is strong enough on its own.

Which direction do you prefer?

Now let me add the pulsing dot animation and update the ticker with the "Live" indicator:

Added a "Live" indicator above the scrolling headlines with a pulsing accent-colored dot and "Today in Tech" subtitle. The dot uses a subtle opacity animation that pulses every 2 seconds to create a live/streaming feel without being distracting. The fade gradients were adjusted to not cover the label row.