The 2013 Google I/O has been underway for approximately one day and they've already announced a slew of impressive new things. A Spotify/Rdio competitor called All Access, redesigned Google+ and a Google Maps overhaul are the heavy hitters so far but they're also improving search, Chrome, video codecs, Google Glass and more. It's funny how a company perception can go from having their hands in too many pies to being properly positioned for life improvement. Was it a Master Plan or just kismet?

The recent relaunch for LayerVault is an impressive piece of work. Overall, the look is quite flat and simple but the small details they've integrated (animations everywhere!) certainly don't go unappreciated. Check the customer stories to get a better understanding of the tool but, mostly, just cruise around and look at the pretty design.

Have you seen the recently launched Square Stand? Square's iPad housing makes for a pretty slick looking checkout experience. I dunno who is behind the design but it's always clean, intuitive and smart. The fact that I, personally, have zero need for a retail register but am still intrigued by this piece of hardware is pretty telling of how right they are doing things.

gorgeous artwork by Rachel Briggs and super catchy songs

Ave Octavus

from their forthcoming fall album

SIFFNews

I've never been to SIFF - the Seattle International Film Festival - but based on what I'm seeing from their Internet offerings, it's a worthwhile endeavor. Nevermind the Kyle MacLachlan Tribute or the quality programming - you must see this 2013 Festival Trailer. There are 20 movies depicted in miniature during that one minute and they're all impressive. You can see how it was done in the Making Of but see if you can guess all the films just by watching.

I've been a fan of Scott Benson for some time - any right-minded individual would be. I hadn't really scrubbed through his latest works recently so it was a real treat to come upon his latest prints - Travelers of the Solar System and Hemisphere Boreal. Or maybe these have been up for awhile and I'm an idiot for not having seen them already. Regardless, they're inspiring in every way and a healthy reminder - Keep Up With Scott Benson At All Times.

Vanishing Point. It uses a series of lasers to create arbitrary vanishing points within the space provided. It's hard to imagine what this looks like in person but, in photo, it's gorgeous.

Kevin showed me the Chirpify service yesterday and I was immediately intrigued. On the surface, it appears to be a rather clever way of allowing in-stream transactions to occur with Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Essentially, you see a thing you want, you leave a comment (or @reply) with "buy" and it's yours. Is this exploitative of impulse buying? Absolutely! But that doesn't make it an awful thing.

My question is - what level of safety is being guaranteed here? As a buyer, I don't get a sense of being protected from the site. As a seller, I don't really see a downside. Food for thought, for sure.

more of this pls

Ohji

even if you don't read a single sentence, scroll through this for visual goodness. via @brooksalford

Brass band covers of Daft Punk classics.

Ferris Plock is a personal favorite of mine - his fine art is such an incredible combination of things it's hard to nail down. So when I saw that he has a new cartoon up (from Eighty Four Films) I jumped on it! It exists in a slightly more crass world than his fine art but I think it's that ability to bounce around that makes it so appealing. I'm convinced he needs his own show - this would only get better and better if given a chance to blossom.

Federico Dordei

Artist Zhang Xiangxi creates diorama's inside of hollowed out CRT television shells. The creations depict lavish living spaces or cramped dormitory life - all appearing flat from a distance and revealing their depth on closer inspection. You can see more here.

via Wreck and Salvage.

Eighty Four Films

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