App icons you wish they would change back

[Metasyntactic]

Day 1 complete. Not as many votes as i would have liked. The current icon has grown in popularity (above 74%). I'm wondering what effect the black/white icon is having. Based on my initial poll, i'm guessing it's stealing votes away from both other icons.

I think over the weekend i'll hopefully get the 100k goal. There are usually a lot of people upgrading at that time as well as using NowPlaying to find movies.

I still find it very interesting that the original icon is the least favorite, but it has some incredibly vocal people. Oh well, at least people are passionate

 

[anti-microsoft]

This thread has gone a bit off topic...

I WANT TRISM TO CHANGE BACK! I MEAN WTF WITH THE BLACK BACKGROUND?!?!??!

Ams.

 

[Metasyntactic]

End of day two:

I'm now about 50k votes (half way there!) with >75% in favor of the new icon. I'm guessing that as the international crowd started upgrading that that started pulling the icon upwards. I wish i'd had the poll record what country people had their iPhones set to.

The weekend will probably be a larger influx of votes. I'll wait until that's over before deciding what to do.

 

[TheSpaz]

End of day two:

I'm now about 50k votes (half way there!) with >75% in favor of the new icon. I'm guessing that as the international crowd started upgrading that that started pulling the icon upwards. I wish i'd had the poll record what country people had their iPhones set to.

The weekend will probably be a larger influx of votes. I'll wait until that's over before deciding what to do.

Looks like I won't be installing your app anymore. Thanks for the poll though.

 

[Metasyntactic]

Looks like I won't be installing your app anymore. Thanks for the poll though.

No problem! Wish i could do more to help you out*!

BTW, if you get a moment, i'd appreciate it if you could leave a (small) review on the iTunes appstore. Data licenses are very expensive (and i make no money off of NowPlaying). However, with good reviews, i'm able to negotiate the licenses to lower rates that are far more affordable. So positive reviews help keep NowPlaying free (and ad-free). I'd like to keep things that way as much as possible, so i truly appreciate your help here!

-- Cyrus

--

* BTW, if you're an app developer, you're welcome to download my source code and compile it with the icon you want. It costs $99 to apple to be a developer, but it would let you customize things to your preferences.

 

[Metasyntactic]

Note: you can find the source code for my applications here:
http://code.google.com/p/metasyntactic/source/browse/#svn/trunk

It is apache licensed, so you can pretty much do anything you'd like with it.

If you need any instructions on building (or anything else), please feel free to ask. I hope that this helps!

It's also only about 50k lines of code for NowPlaying. if anyone wants to help me hack on it, i'd love your help.

Cheers!

 

[Zincous]

This thread has gone a bit off topic...

I WANT TRISM TO CHANGE BACK! I MEAN WTF WITH THE BLACK BACKGROUND?!?!??!

Ams.

That's what the Trism icon used to be originally. Then once the app store came around, had to put the blue one for apple. Apple has since loosened their restrictions on that, so the dev put it back to the original.

I like it with just the icon and blended in background. It doesn't match my other icons, but that's not much of a big deal.

 

[TheSpaz]

That's what the Trism icon used to be originally. Then once the app store came around, had to put the blue one for apple. Apple has since loosened their restrictions on that, so the dev put it back to the original.

I like it with just the icon and blended in background. It doesn't match my other icons, but that's not much of a big deal.

I'm with ya. I don't like black icons on a black background. It just looks dumb to me.

 

[Metasyntactic]

End of day 3:

At this point i'm thinking that there's not much hope for the ticket. It might come in second place if things swing around for it. However, i don't think first place is reachable at this point. We've gone around the planet 3 times now and seen fairly consistent voting throughout. The current icon started out lower but has been steadily inching higher. (maybe the early adopters are more passionate about the original icon? can't really tell).

We're at 75k votes, so i think by monday we'll be at the 100k level necessary. Is that acceptable for the posters here?

 

[Metasyntactic]

Wow. Now i'm getting people posting low review scores and claiming the votes are rigged. What compels someone to do this? They could contact me using the link in iTunes or just using the button in my app. But nope. Even after i open up a vote to everyone so that htey can say what they want and see what everyone else wants, some people just go and ignore all that and leave a low review. For what? Spite? Are they mad that i made this free app for them, continued to improve it, and then ended up with an *icon* that doesn't please them?

This is really what development is about??

It makes me angry that i even bother continually trying to make my app better for people and that i spend the time on this project at all.

 

[TheSpaz]

Wow. Now i'm getting people posting low review scores and claiming the votes are rigged. What compels someone to do this? They could contact me using the link in iTunes or just using the button in my app. But nope. Even after i open up a vote to everyone so that htey can say what they want and see what everyone else wants, some people just go and ignore all that and leave a low review. For what? Spite? Are they mad that i made this free app for them, continued to improve it, and then ended up with an *icon* that doesn't please them?

This is really what development is about??

It makes me angry that i even bother continually trying to make my app better for people and that i spend the time on this project at all.

I kinda think you should have just left the ticket icon and didn't change it in the first place. What do your customers know about good design? I think it's great that you're trying to be apart of your community by giving the people what they want, but I don't think posting a poll is the way to do that. You also have to remember that just because they're your users doesn't make them design experts.

I'm a fan of the ticket icon, but if you just rounded the corners and gave it gloss, it would've been fine.

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

I kinda think you should have just left the ticket icon and didn't change it in the first place. What do your customers know about good design? I think it's great that you're trying to be apart of your community by giving the people what they want, but I don't think posting a poll is the way to do that. You also have to remember that just because they're your users doesn't make them design experts.

I'm a fan of the ticket icon, but if you just rounded the corners and gave it gloss, it would've been fine.

Do you not get that he HAD to change from the ticket icon?

 

[Metasyntactic]

I kinda think you should have just left the ticket icon and didn't change it in the first place. What do your customers know about good design?

I'm not sure why that matters. As i said earlier, it could have the best design in the world, but if people hate it, then that doesn't help me.

I think it's great that you're trying to be apart of your community by giving the people what they want, but I don't think posting a poll is the way to do that. You also have to remember that just because they're your users doesn't make them design experts.

I'm a fan of the ticket icon, but if you just rounded the corners and gave it gloss, it would've been fine.

As i also mentioned earlier, this was an option in the original poll, it also was vastly outvoted by the new design.

Going back to the earlier icon would also drop me to earlier download rates. I'm not sure why people are so upset (and willing to give 1-star reviews) over an *icon* which i've chosen to please the majority. Why would it be beneficial to pick an icon that clearly my original and new poll show that far less people like.

If you have a choice, why go with the less popular one?

You are, in effect, asking me to disregard thousands and thousands of my customers (who are also in the majority) because there is a minority group that prefers something else (and is unfortunately willing to act spiteful over it). I'm not sure how that makes sense. The point of the app is to be as good as possible to as many people as possible. Also, i don't see why i (as a person) would want to help you out if you lashed out against me and tried to pull down my ranking over this (not to mention calling me a liar). Do people think taht that behavior is productive or conducive toward working for the best solution for all? Do they experience this in their own efforts? Do people berate them over their hobbies and for making something available for free *and* interacting with the community to make it better?

 

[BJWanlund]

Back On Track

I'm still having difficulty getting used to the new AroundMe icon...

BJ

 

[TheSpaz]

I'm not sure why that matters. As i said earlier, it could have the best design in the world, but if people hate it, then that doesn't help me.

As i also mentioned earlier, this was an option in the original poll, it also was vastly outvoted by the new design.

Going back to the earlier icon would also drop me to earlier download rates. I'm not sure why people are so upset (and willing to give 1-star reviews) over an *icon* which i've chosen to please the majority. Why would it be beneficial to pick an icon that clearly my original and new poll show that far less people like.

If you have a choice, why go with the less popular one?

You are, in effect, asking me to disregard thousands and thousands of my customers (who are also in the majority) because there is a minority group that prefers something else (and is unfortunately willing to act spiteful over it). I'm not sure how that makes sense. The point of the app is to be as good as possible to as many people as possible. Also, i don't see why i (as a person) would want to help you out if you lashed out against me and tried to pull down my ranking over this (not to mention calling me a liar). Do people think taht that behavior is productive or conducive toward working for the best solution for all? Do they experience this in their own efforts? Do people berate them over their hobbies and for making something available for free *and* interacting with the community to make it better?

So you're only concerned with getting the most downloads of your app? Your app is free, why are you worried that some people don't like the icon. Also, what makes the majority like the ugly icon? Why do I like the least popular icon? The original has a high quality look to it.

 

[Metasyntactic]

So you're only concerned with getting the most downloads of your app?

Because i'd like as many people as possible to find value in this app.

Your app is free, why are you worried that some people don't like the icon.

Um, you're not understanding. I'm unhappy because they are attempting to pull down my ranking and harm my app just because they don't like the icon. i.e. when the next person comes across, they then see a lower score and think "ah. well, that app isn't that good" and they will miss out.

It's the same reason i didn't like that you were trying to skew votes. What encourages people to do this? It's like "there is one thing i don't like about this app. thus i'm going to throw a tantrum until i get it". How is that a approach that makes any sense? Why do people think that that will ever accomplish anything?

Also, what makes the majority like the ugly icon?

I'm not sure what you're referring to. The majority like the colorful cell. Likely for many of the reasons i listed before.

Why do I like the least popular icon?

Personal preference i would imagine. Do you think an app is 1-star because the icon isn't something you happen to like, while the rest of the app is valuable? Does that make sense?

My guess is that these people are also continuing to use the app as well. They find value in it, and like it, but out of spite over nothing more than an icon they wish to hurt my apps chances.*

The original has a high quality look to it.

In your (and my) opinion sure. And clearly there are like 10k people that agree. However, lots more think that the new one looks better.

---

* What's worse is that i'm able to negotiate things like better licensing rates based on my review scores. So when people act out in this way, they just end up pushing me toward having to do things like add ads or charge. It's ultimately self defeating (esp. since i have little desire to work toward improving things for people who would lash out at me like they have).

 

[WishIWasHere]

Metasyntactic, don't let it get you down. My favorite is the black and white icon, followed by the ticket icon. The colored one is way, WAY back in third place for me. I've decided to chalk up it's popularity to 'there's no accounting for taste'. However, I think anybody who chooses to use or not use an app based on the icon has problems. All this will blow over and people will continue to use your app because it's a good one, and that's the most important thing.

 

[tasset]

Wow, this is an interesting thread! I'm actually surprised the poll is so greatly in favor of the new icon- I actually think the original ticket has a classy style with the edges and colors used.
I haven't upgraded since the icon change, or other apps that require 2.2.1.
Great app though!

 

[TheSpaz]

Wow, this is an interesting thread! I'm actually surprised the poll is so greatly in favor of the new icon- I actually think the original ticket has a classy style with the edges and colors used.
I haven't upgraded since the icon change, or other apps that require 2.2.1.
Great app though!

I haven't upgraded to the newest Jaadu VNC until they fix the icon. I'm staying with the unshiny finish.

If Apple would just make it so that we could change the icons ourselves, we'd be all set and people could download what ever they want and make it look whatever way they wan on the springboard.

 

[SFC Archer]

Spaz...what the hell is your problem...why are you so damn selfish and disrespectful? Why don't you just go somewhere else and leave this thread. You just don't get it...you are so tunnel visioned that you can't see past your own selfishness. Now you go to such low life extremes as giving poor reviews on a guys app because it don't MEET YOUR STANDARDS...You make me SICK!!!
YOU ARE SELFISH and INCONSIDERATE and do not even belong in a society of regular app users. The friggin majority rules...the guys shouldnt change JUST BECAUSE YOU SAY SO!!!! Suck it up and back the frick off...you have provided no reasons other then your own SELFISHNESS!!! Drop it already and either delete the dang App from your iPhone or SUCK IT UP and use it in the FREE, GIVING, KEEPING MOVIE LOVERS informed that it was meant to be.

DROP IT ALREADY

 

[TheSpaz]

Spaz...what the hell is your problem...why are you so damn selfish and disrespectful? Why don't you just go somewhere else and leave this thread. You just don't get it...you are so tunnel visioned that you can't see past your own selfishness. Now you go to such low life extremes as giving poor reviews on a guys app because it don't MEET YOUR STANDARDS...You make me SICK!!!
YOU ARE SELFISH and INCONSIDERATE and do not even belong in a society of regular app users. The friggin majority rules...the guys shouldnt change JUST BECAUSE YOU SAY SO!!!! Suck it up and back the frick off...you have provided no reasons other then your own SELFISHNESS!!! Drop it already and either delete the dang App from your iPhone or SUCK IT UP and use it in the FREE, GIVING, KEEPING MOVIE LOVERS informed that it was meant to be.

DROP IT ALREADY

Thank you for that lovely post. I didn't give his app a bad review and I don't have it installed on my iPhone. I gave Jaadu a great review because I love that app, but the new icon makes me not want to upgrade. I'm just being a part of a discussion here you know... It's a forum, it's made for opinions. The developer himself even likes the first icon.

Yes it's selfish because I don't have the same tastes as the majority? Wow...

Why do you have such a grudge against me. This thread was about icons you would like to change back. I don't believe it was called "Change Now Playing back to the original icon please"

I belong in this discussion just as much as everyone else. I'm not doing anything wrong.

 

[SFC Archer]

Thank you for that lovely post. I didn't give his app a bad review and I don't have it installed on my iPhone. I gave Jaadu a great review because I love that app, but the new icon makes me not want to upgrade. I'm just being a part of a discussion here you know... It's a forum, it's made for opinions. The developer himself even likes the first icon.

Yes it's selfish because I don't have the same tastes as the majority? Wow...

Why do you have such a grudge against me. This thread was about icons you would like to change back. I don't believe it was called "Change Now Playing back to the original icon please"

I belong in this discussion just as much as everyone else. I'm not doing anything wrong.

Because your like the energizer bunny and just keep going and going and going and never friggin stop with the same whining over and over and over again. Get over it...the majority say to use the color app and retire the flippin ticket...accept it already...you whinin about it is not ever going to bring it back and I am tired of you saying the same old garbage over and over and over. You said your piece...we ALL KNOW you don't like it ...OK got it...how many time are your gonna spout the same old frustrating BS. YOU are the one that keeps knockin on Meta and his App Icon and its on every friggin page.

I feel so sorry for you basin your desicion not to upgrade or use a fully functional useful app over a stupid icon. It is selfish and egotistical. The app store is not Burger King and you will not get it your way...accept it! If you dont like an app icon put it to the back of your iPhone so you are not embarresed by a bad icon...geee we wouldnt want your manhood threatened because of a bad icon.

I am done...I have said my piece and have nothing further to say to someone so stuck on the value of a little picture in stead of the usefulness and usability of great apps. Maybe someday you will have something of value and useful to say and your glass will be half full, until then good luck with your so positive outlook on life

 

[WishIWasHere]

'the app store is not Burger King, and you will not get it your way'.....THAT is beautiful. I'm going to have to use that for a while.

 

[Rayfire]

People are entitled to their own opinions, but I can't believe that some people would go that far. I'm a programmer but not an app dev and I do understand your sentiments meta. If only we could hammer them with our 100111 or swing a 50k-line of codes so they would be open minded and understand first before even questioning us. But humans are insatiable...

 

[WhySoSerious]

I happen to think along the lines of the poll being biased (aka...it's not really a poll, i feel the developer is just plugging in numbers).

no way the current icon is that far ahead. the current icon is completely elementary looking.

paint-by-number's.......YAH!