diff --git a/src/args.jl b/src/args.jl
index e673c937..e40b0216 100644
--- a/src/args.jl
+++ b/src/args.jl
@@ -91,8 +91,9 @@ const _allMarkers = vcat(:none, :auto, sort(collect(keys(_shapes))))
     :n            => :none,
     :no           => :none,
     :a            => :auto,
-    :circle       => :ellipse,
-    :c            => :ellipse,
+    :ellipse      => :circle,
+    :c            => :circle,
+    :circ         => :circle,
     :square       => :rect,
     :sq           => :rect,
     :r            => :rect,
@@ -628,7 +629,7 @@ function preprocessArgs!(d::KW)
     if haskey(d, :markershape)
         d[:markershape] = _replace_markershape(d[:markershape])
     elseif anymarker
-        d[:markershape_to_add] = :ellipse  # add it after _apply_recipe
+        d[:markershape_to_add] = :circle  # add it after _apply_recipe
     end
 
     # handle fill
diff --git a/src/backends/bokeh.jl b/src/backends/bokeh.jl
index 1c67b5b9..286267de 100644
--- a/src/backends/bokeh.jl
+++ b/src/backends/bokeh.jl
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ supported_args(::BokehBackend) = merge_with_base_supported([
   ])
 supported_types(::BokehBackend) = [:path, :scatter]
 supported_styles(::BokehBackend) = [:auto, :solid, :dash, :dot, :dashdot, :dashdotdot]
-supported_markers(::BokehBackend) = [:none, :auto, :ellipse, :rect, :diamond, :utriangle, :dtriangle, :cross, :xcross, :star5]
+supported_markers(::BokehBackend) = [:none, :auto, :circle, :rect, :diamond, :utriangle, :dtriangle, :cross, :xcross, :star5]
 supported_scales(::BokehBackend) = [:identity, :ln]
 is_subplot_supported(::BokehBackend) = false
 
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ end
 
 
 const _glyphtypes = KW(
-    :ellipse    => :Circle,
+    :circle    => :Circle,
     :rect       => :Square,
     :diamond    => :Diamond,
     :utriangle  => :Triangle,
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ function bokeh_glyph_type(d::KW)
   st = d[:seriestype]
   mt = d[:markershape]
   if st == :scatter && mt == :none
-    mt = :ellipse
+    mt = :circle
   end
 
   # if we have a marker, use that
diff --git a/src/backends/gadfly.jl b/src/backends/gadfly.jl
index d32599b7..1a1df404 100644
--- a/src/backends/gadfly.jl
+++ b/src/backends/gadfly.jl
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ function addGadflySeries!(plt::Plot, d::KW)
     if st in (:histogram2d, :hexbin) && (isa(d[:fillcolor], ColorGradient) || isa(d[:fillcolor], ColorFunction))
         push!(gplt.scales, Gadfly.Scale.ContinuousColorScale(p -> RGB(getColorZ(d[:fillcolor], p))))
     elseif st == :scatter && d[:markershape] == :none
-        d[:markershape] = :ellipse
+        d[:markershape] = :circle
     end
 
     # markers
diff --git a/src/backends/glvisualize.jl b/src/backends/glvisualize.jl
index de834204..c177b19e 100644
--- a/src/backends/glvisualize.jl
+++ b/src/backends/glvisualize.jl
@@ -4,64 +4,34 @@
 
 supported_args(::GLVisualizeBackend) = merge_with_base_supported([
     # :annotations,
-    # :axis,
-    # :background_color,
-    # :color_palette,
-    # :fillrange,
-    # :fillcolor,
-    # :fillalpha,
-    # :foreground_color,
-    # :group,
+    # :background_color_legend, :background_color_inside, :background_color_outside,
+    # :foreground_color_grid, :foreground_color_legend, :foreground_color_title,
+    # :foreground_color_axis, :foreground_color_border, :foreground_color_guide, :foreground_color_text,
     # :label,
-    # :layout,
-    # :legend,
-    # :linecolor,
-    # :linestyle,
-     # :seriestype
-    #  :seriescolor, :seriesalpha,
-    # :linewidth,
-    # :linealpha,
-    # :markershape,
-    # :markercolor,
-    # :markersize,
-    # :markeralpha,
-    # :markerstrokewidth,
-    # :markerstrokecolor,
-    # :markerstrokestyle,
-    # :n,
-    # :bins,
-    # :nc,
-    # :nr,
-    # :pos,
-    # :smooth,
-    # :show,
-    # :size,
-    # :title,
+    # :linecolor, :linestyle, :linewidth, :linealpha,
+    # :markershape, :markercolor, :markersize, :markeralpha,
+    # :markerstrokewidth, :markerstrokecolor, :markerstrokealpha,
+    # :fillrange, :fillcolor, :fillalpha,
+    # :bins, :bar_width, :bar_edges, :bar_position,
+    # :title, :title_location, :titlefont,
     # :window_title,
-    # :x,
-    # :xguide,
-    # :xlims,
-    # :xticks,
-    # :y,
-    # :yguide,
-    # :ylims,
-    # :yrightlabel,
-    # :yticks,
-    # :xscale,
-    # :yscale,
-    # :xflip,
-    # :yflip,
-    # :z,
-    # :tickfont,
-    # :guidefont,
-    # :legendfont,
-    # :grid,
-    # :surface
-    # :levels,
+    # :guide, :lims, :ticks, :scale, :flip, :rotation,
+    # :tickfont, :guidefont, :legendfont,
+    # :grid, :legend, :colorbar,
+    # :marker_z, :levels,
+    # :ribbon, :quiver, :arrow,
+    # :orientation,
+    # :overwrite_figure,
+    # :polar,
+    # :normalize, :weights,
+    # :contours, :aspect_ratio,
+    # :match_dimensions,
+    # :clims,
+    # :inset_subplots,
   ])
 supported_types(::GLVisualizeBackend) = [:surface]
 supported_styles(::GLVisualizeBackend) = [:auto, :solid]
-supported_markers(::GLVisualizeBackend) = [:none, :auto, :ellipse]
+supported_markers(::GLVisualizeBackend) = [:none, :auto, :circle]
 supported_scales(::GLVisualizeBackend) = [:identity]
 is_subplot_supported(::GLVisualizeBackend) = false
 
@@ -69,10 +39,10 @@ is_subplot_supported(::GLVisualizeBackend) = false
 
 
 function _initialize_backend(::GLVisualizeBackend; kw...)
-  @eval begin
-    import GLVisualize
-    export GLVisualize
-  end
+    @eval begin
+        import GLVisualize
+        export GLVisualize
+    end
 end
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -81,55 +51,37 @@ immutable GLScreenWrapper
     window
 end
 
-# function _create_plot(pkg::GLVisualizeBackend, d::KW)
-function _create_backend_figure(plt::Plot{GLVisualizeBackend})
-  # TODO: create the window/canvas/context that is the plot within the backend
-  # TODO: initialize the plot... title, xlabel, bgcolor, etc
+function gl_display(plt::Plot{GLVisualizeBackend})
+    # init a window
+    w=GLVisualize.glscreen()
+    @async GLVisualize.renderloop(w)
+    GLScreenWrapper(w)
 
-  # TODO: this should be moved to the display method?
-  w=GLVisualize.glscreen()
-  @async GLVisualize.renderloop(w)
-  GLScreenWrapper(w)
-  # Plot(GLScreenWrapper(w), pkg, 0, d, KW[])
+    for sp in plt.subplots
+        # TODO: setup subplot
+
+        for series in series_list(sp)
+            # TODO: setup series
+            d = series.d
+            st = d[:seriestype]
+
+            if st == :surface
+                x, y, z = map(Float32, series.d[:x]), map(Float32, series.d[:y]), map(Float32, series.d[:z].surf)
+                GLVisualize.view(GLVisualize.visualize((x*ones(y)', ones(x)*y', z), :surface), plt.o.window)
+            else
+                error("Series type $st not supported by GLVisualize")
+            end
+        end
+    end
 end
 
 
 # ----------------------------------------------------------------
 
-function _series_added(plt::Plot{GLVisualizeBackend}, series::Series)
-  # TODO: add one series to the underlying package
-  # TODO: this should be moved to the display method?
-  x, y, z = map(Float32, series.d[:x]), map(Float32, series.d[:y]), map(Float32, series.d[:z].surf)
-  GLVisualize.view(GLVisualize.visualize((x*ones(y)', ones(x)*y', z), :surface), plt.o.window)
-  # plt
-end
-
-
-# When series data is added/changed, this callback can do dynamic updates to the backend object.
-# note: if the backend rebuilds the plot from scratch on display, then you might not do anything here.
-function _series_updated(plt::Plot{GLVisualizeBackend}, series::Series)
-    # TODO
-end
-
-# ----------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
-# Override this to update plot items (title, xlabel, etc), and add annotations (d[:annotations])
-function _update_plot_object(plt::Plot{GLVisualizeBackend})
-    # TODO
-end
-
-
-# ----------------------------------------------------------------
-
-function _writemime(io::IO, ::MIME"image/png", plt::AbstractPlot{GLVisualizeBackend})
-  # TODO: write a png to io
-end
+# function _writemime(io::IO, ::MIME"image/png", plt::AbstractPlot{GLVisualizeBackend})
+#     # TODO: write a png to io
+# end
 
 function _display(plt::Plot{GLVisualizeBackend})
-  # TODO: display/show the plot
-
-  # NOTE: I think maybe this should be empty?  We can start with the assumption that creating
-  #       and adding to a plot will automatically open a window and draw to it, then the display
-  #       wouldn't actually need to do anything
+    gl_display(plt)
 end
diff --git a/src/backends/gr.jl b/src/backends/gr.jl
index 476d3ff1..8554294f 100644
--- a/src/backends/gr.jl
+++ b/src/backends/gr.jl
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ const gr_linetype = KW(
 const gr_markertype = KW(
     :auto => 1,
     :none => -1,
-    :ellipse => -1,
+    :circle => -1,
     :rect => -7,
     :diamond => -13,
     :utriangle => -3,
diff --git a/src/backends/pgfplots.jl b/src/backends/pgfplots.jl
index d7f131e2..71b479a9 100644
--- a/src/backends/pgfplots.jl
+++ b/src/backends/pgfplots.jl
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ supported_args(::PGFPlotsBackend) = merge_with_base_supported([
   ])
 supported_types(::PGFPlotsBackend) = [:path, :path3d, :scatter, :steppre, :stepmid, :steppost, :histogram2d, :ysticks, :xsticks, :contour]
 supported_styles(::PGFPlotsBackend) = [:auto, :solid, :dash, :dot, :dashdot, :dashdotdot]
-supported_markers(::PGFPlotsBackend) = [:none, :auto, :ellipse, :rect, :diamond, :utriangle, :dtriangle, :cross, :xcross, :star5, :pentagon] #vcat(_allMarkers, Shape)
+supported_markers(::PGFPlotsBackend) = [:none, :auto, :circle, :rect, :diamond, :utriangle, :dtriangle, :cross, :xcross, :star5, :pentagon] #vcat(_allMarkers, Shape)
 supported_scales(::PGFPlotsBackend) = [:identity, :ln, :log2, :log10]
 is_subplot_supported(::PGFPlotsBackend) = false
 
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ const _pgfplots_markers = KW(
     :xcross => "x",
     :utriangle => "triangle*",
     :dtriangle => "triangle*",
-    :ellipse => "*",
+    :circle => "*",
     :rect => "square*",
     :star5 => "star",
     :star6 => "asterisk",
diff --git a/src/backends/plotly.jl b/src/backends/plotly.jl
index 4598cf7d..325ab4e0 100644
--- a/src/backends/plotly.jl
+++ b/src/backends/plotly.jl
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ supported_types(::PlotlyBackend) = [
 ]
 supported_styles(::PlotlyBackend) = [:auto, :solid, :dash, :dot, :dashdot]
 supported_markers(::PlotlyBackend) = [
-    :none, :auto, :ellipse, :rect, :diamond, :utriangle, :dtriangle,
+    :none, :auto, :circle, :rect, :diamond, :utriangle, :dtriangle,
     :cross, :xcross, :pentagon, :hexagon, :octagon, :vline, :hline
 ]
 supported_scales(::PlotlyBackend) = [:identity, :log10]
diff --git a/src/backends/pyplot.jl b/src/backends/pyplot.jl
index 6a73521d..7c25ab26 100644
--- a/src/backends/pyplot.jl
+++ b/src/backends/pyplot.jl
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ end
 # get the marker shape
 function py_marker(marker::Symbol)
     marker == :none && return " "
-    marker == :ellipse && return "o"
+    marker == :circle && return "o"
     marker == :rect && return "s"
     marker == :diamond && return "D"
     marker == :utriangle && return "^"
diff --git a/src/backends/qwt.jl b/src/backends/qwt.jl
index e4b43ac9..c311f3db 100644
--- a/src/backends/qwt.jl
+++ b/src/backends/qwt.jl
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ supported_args(::QwtBackend) = merge_with_base_supported([
     :guide, :lims, :ticks, :scale,
   ])
 supported_types(::QwtBackend) = [:path, :scatter, :hexbin, :bar]
-supported_markers(::QwtBackend) = [:none, :auto, :rect, :ellipse, :diamond, :utriangle, :dtriangle, :cross, :xcross, :star5, :star8, :hexagon]
+supported_markers(::QwtBackend) = [:none, :auto, :rect, :circle, :diamond, :utriangle, :dtriangle, :cross, :xcross, :star5, :star8, :hexagon]
 supported_scales(::QwtBackend) = [:identity, :log10]
 is_subplot_supported(::QwtBackend) = true
 
@@ -72,13 +72,13 @@ function adjustQwtKeywords(plt::Plot{QwtBackend}, iscreating::Bool; kw...)
   if st == :scatter
     d[:seriestype] = :none
     if d[:markershape] == :none
-      d[:markershape] = :ellipse
+      d[:markershape] = :circle
     end
 
   elseif st in (:hline, :vline)
     addLineMarker(plt, d)
     d[:seriestype] = :none
-    d[:markershape] = :ellipse
+    d[:markershape] = :circle
     d[:markersize] = 1
     if st == :vline
       d[:x], d[:y] = d[:y], d[:x]
diff --git a/src/backends/unicodeplots.jl b/src/backends/unicodeplots.jl
index eb3a6ab2..35975b2e 100644
--- a/src/backends/unicodeplots.jl
+++ b/src/backends/unicodeplots.jl
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ supported_types(::UnicodePlotsBackend) = [
     :histogram2d
 ]
 supported_styles(::UnicodePlotsBackend) = [:auto, :solid]
-supported_markers(::UnicodePlotsBackend) = [:none, :auto, :ellipse]
+supported_markers(::UnicodePlotsBackend) = [:none, :auto, :circle]
 supported_scales(::UnicodePlotsBackend) = [:identity]
 is_subplot_supported(::UnicodePlotsBackend) = true
 
diff --git a/src/backends/winston.jl b/src/backends/winston.jl
index 10117100..db9ca629 100644
--- a/src/backends/winston.jl
+++ b/src/backends/winston.jl
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ supported_args(::WinstonBackend) = merge_with_base_supported([
   ])
 supported_types(::WinstonBackend) = [:path, :scatter, :bar]
 supported_styles(::WinstonBackend) = [:auto, :solid, :dash, :dot, :dashdot]
-supported_markers(::WinstonBackend) = [:none, :auto, :rect, :ellipse, :diamond, :utriangle, :dtriangle, :cross, :xcross, :star5]
+supported_markers(::WinstonBackend) = [:none, :auto, :rect, :circle, :diamond, :utriangle, :dtriangle, :cross, :xcross, :star5]
 supported_scales(::WinstonBackend) = [:identity, :log10]
 is_subplot_supported(::WinstonBackend) = false
 
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ end
 
 @compat const winston_marker = KW(:none=>".",
                             :rect => "square",
-                            :ellipse=>"circle",
+                            :circle=>"circle",
                             :diamond=>"diamond",
                             :utriangle=>"triangle",
                             :dtriangle=>"down-triangle",
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ function _series_added(plt::Plot{WinstonBackend}, series::Series)
 
   elseif d[:seriestype] == :scatter
     if d[:markershape] == :none
-      d[:markershape] = :ellipse
+      d[:markershape] = :circle
     end
 
   # elseif d[:seriestype] == :step
diff --git a/src/components.jl b/src/components.jl
index 65055dc3..d7d05902 100644
--- a/src/components.jl
+++ b/src/components.jl
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ function makearrowhead(angle; h = 2.0, w = 0.4)
 end
 
 const _shapes = KW(
-    :ellipse    => makeshape(20),
+    :circle    => makeshape(20),
     :rect       => makeshape(4, offset=-0.25),
     :diamond    => makeshape(4),
     :utriangle  => makeshape(3),
diff --git a/src/recipes.jl b/src/recipes.jl
index a1601033..807a3e94 100644
--- a/src/recipes.jl
+++ b/src/recipes.jl
@@ -501,7 +501,7 @@ end
 @recipe function f(::Type{Val{:scatter3d}}, x, y, z)
     seriestype := :path3d
     if d[:markershape] == :none
-        markershape := :ellipse
+        markershape := :circle
     end
     linewidth := 0
     linealpha := 0
@@ -606,7 +606,7 @@ notch_width(q2, q4, N) = 1.58 * (q4-q2)/sqrt(N)
     # Outliers
     @series begin
         seriestype := :scatter
-        markershape := :ellipse
+        markershape := :circle
         x := outliers_x
         y := outliers_y
         label := ""
diff --git a/src/series_new.jl b/src/series_new.jl
index ad861949..fc3c224c 100644
--- a/src/series_new.jl
+++ b/src/series_new.jl
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ function _add_defaults!(d::KW, plt::Plot, sp::Subplot, commandIndex::Int)
     if d[:seriestype] in (:scatter, :scatter3d)
         d[:linewidth] = 0
         if d[:markershape] == :none
-            d[:markershape] = :ellipse
+            d[:markershape] = :circle
         end
     end