with the addition of custom keyboards, iOS8 got a lot more gif-y. via @sonofsandwich

The newest version of Android is making its way out into the world - titled Lollipop - and it looks to be embracing more of Google's Material Design in all the best of ways. I can't speak to the actual experience of using it but the screenshots they provide and features they are touting with the upgrade are very nice. It's been a slow build but Google / Android has been pushing their design techniques into a really admirable place.

I've been working with The Features since the late 90's and they continue to roll out quality new music. They just released two new songs - "Good Old Days" and "Two Hearts" - that continue that tradition. You can hear it on Rdio or Spotify or buy it if you so choose!

If you didn't already realize it, the future of television is apps. Hulu, Netflix, Crackle, ESPN, etc are all working to be consistent destinations for your eyeballs via their apps. Now CBS is throwing their hat in the ring with a $6 month subscription to all their content and HBO is promising a stand alone app in 2015 as well. Obviously, the HBO news is a bit more exciting but something about this kind of news really strikes me as exciting as it is the future that was predicted when we were younger - no more bundled television crap, just what you want!

The next trick is who will bring all that content under one roof?

a fine new album

holy moly. very surprised they are actually pulling the trigger on this

I've really been loving the latest full-length from Steelism and kind of overjoyed at the greatness of their new video for Marfa Lights. It's what a video should be - amusing and engaging. Oh, and the song is great too. Get the LP stat.

Steelism Official

Note to Self: Read This

I'm just scratching the surface of the work of Brandon Rike but, thus far, he's really able to take subject matter that I've little to zero interest in and make it compelling. Thirty Seconds to Mars t-shirts? Not my thing but man, those designs are great. Panic at the Disco? Not for me but I am loving what I'm seeing.

Tons and tons to see and all of it worth your eyeball time.

best mashup

Obviously the era of "Mobile First" for design has really set a foothold in the world of web creation but it never hurts to get a healthy reminder of the type of interaction and audience you're dealing with when using smaller screens. Scott Hurff's How to design for thumbs in the Era of Huge Screens is a great read regarding the enormous screen areas we're dealing with now and the thumb stretch involved with hitting pertinent content. A hamburger menu in the top left on an iPhone 6+ is pretty much unreachable. So, what's the solution? Great question and not one that I have the answer to offhand.

I've posted about it many times in the past but the latest volume of Karborn's Evidence of Time Travel is now available. Each volume seems to get a little better in terms of execution. Lots more GIF's and a little bit of music on this Volume really up the entire experience.

There also seems to be an album featuring the music of John Foxx & Steve D'Agostino paired with these images that I'm quite enticed by. The preview leaves a little too much to the imagination but I have a hard time believing that a 12" LP with these images adorning it would be anything less than stellar.

best method for revealing a hidden menu. So perfectly awkward.

Erica Gorochow is involved in a lot of great things, her animation work is top notch and I can't wait to see what she has in store for Electric Objects. She's also occasionally known for a bit of education - as seen in this great piece, A Largely Visual History of Animation: Part 1 that she compiled for her NYU/ITP Commlab Animation Course. Personally, I love reading (and re-reading) about the likes of Peter Roget, William George Horner, Eadweard Muybridge, Georges Melies, Windsor McCay, Walt Disney, Hanna-Barbera and loads more. It's a crash course but, because of its content, it's incredibly engaging. Read it all, watch it all and come out the other side a little wiser. Then do it again. That's my plan for the day.

this is a rough read but an important one

nice official 'bootleg'

ned to make an Rdio version of this

This week has been bonkers! Lots of projects wrapping up or launching or making some serious headway. It's rather exciting. To celebrate, I'm off to Brooklyn Beta. If you see me, come say hi. Here's a, hopefully, amusing list of videos to watch.

• The Grid - the web design technology promised in this video is unbelievable. I really want to give it a spin but there's a paywall in my way. Anyone tried it?
• Singin' In The Rain (Without Singing) - this guy exists in every major city and he's a hoot.
• Times Square ad for Mailchimp - love it. So simple.
• Big Mouth Masks As Seen On TV - Everything is truly terrible.
• Kitten Bun Bun's Funny Reactions to Camera - this is far from the best kitten video on the web.. nothing really happens. But, man, that kitten is cute.
• Inherent Vice Trailer - I am sure this is old news to most of you but I just watched this new Paul Thomas Anderson trailer this week and I can not wait for its release.
• Hunger Strike 8bit Version - of all the songs to get the chiptunes treatment, Temple of the Dog was very low on the list. Pretty amusing.

Need more? Watch the official Empire Uncut trailer - which I believe debuts in full on StarWars.com very soon.

Have a great weekend! Go watch these movies - you will enjoy it.

really need to dig up some video of this. looks like it was great