“Clearly, a growing number of companies are looking into outsourcing at least some of their IT infrastructure. Google says it signs up roughly 3,000 businesses a day for its online bundle of programs… Whereas Microsoft Office can cost as much as US$500 for each version installed, a premium version of Google Apps for businesses is available for US$50 a year per user. A standard version, which includes advertising, is free for small businesses.”

“I’m Dr. Ronald Chevalier, acclaimed author of science fiction novels and novellas such as ‘Cyborg Harpies,’ ‘Brain Cream,’ and the all-new novel ‘Brutus & Balzaak.’ Welcome to my official internet website.” Viral promo site for the forthcoming movie from “Napoleon Dynamite” director Jared Hess, called “Gentleman Broncos.”

“That’s how I roll…”

“Teeny versions of monumental chairs from the Rietvelt to Le Corbusier to all manner of Eames, from one to three inches high…” Just US$9 a pop.

Bill Drenttel rounds up the many excellent slideshows that the site has put together over its still young existence. A reminder of how very good Design Observer is.

Really beautiful old school typographic designs. More on his blog.

Cute, retro-style imagery for places that you can’t actually go to.

“The best design movie of 2008 is not about a typeface. It’s about a tightrope walker… ‘Man on Wire’ shows how easy it is to have an idea, and how hard — and sometimes even miraculous — it is to see it realized.”

“According to officials with the National Venture Capital Association, not a single technology initial public offering was made in the second quarter — the first time this happened since 1978… Now, it seems, no one thinks the public will bite on any tech offering, no matter how cool.”

First foray into blogging from my favorite UK design magazine.