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Circles vs Squares: The Most Pressing Migration Concern

Should avatars on MacRumors be circular or square?

  • Circular

    Votes: 73 46.5%

  • Square

    Votes: 84 53.5%
  • Total voters
    157
Not liking the circle avatars at all, it crops off a lot from an avatar. OK if you have a circular image, but for the majority a square based avatar would suit best without having to find one that will work with a circular-based avatar window.

It's the same reason why I really dislike the circular contact photos used in iOS 7 and more recently in WhatsApp. Rounded edges would have been a lot better if the insisted on some curvature. As someone said above, a square icon on much more versatile.

Just my two cents :)
 
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Update your avatar to best to take advantage of the larger size (200x200) and the shape and your sorted. I actually really like them :)
 
MRU said:
Update your avatar to best to take advantage of the larger size (200x200) and the shape and your sorted. I actually really like them :)
Click to expand...
I do like how Rick looks sinister in mine now! But I'm scared at other things. Gonna take some adjusting to this!
 
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As the great show Hollywood Squares put it, "Circle gets the square".
 
AngerDanger said:
Here is a quick collage of circular and square avatars. Remember, information is power. Arm yourself.

Click to expand...

I would like to say that I'm honoured to be part of this post :p

I may be in the minority, but I really like the circular avatars. I find it provides a more cohesive look and they're more "friendly". I've altered mine so it's more circle-ready.
 
I think it all relies on the icon.

For example, with my current icon it's perfect, but I've had previous icons where a circle would've ruined it.

I'm all for it, but if we do go back to squares, I hope transparency becomes a viable option.
 
Dagless said:
I do like how Rick looks sinister in mine now! But I'm scared at other things. Gonna take some adjusting to this!
Click to expand...

Speaking of sinister, why are you referring to yourself in the third person, Dr. Rick Dagless M.D.? Has the forum change inserted a wildcard into the deck?
 
maflynn said:
… as I suspected, it has grown on me …
Click to expand...

I do like the square avatar badged on a round avatar –

Screen Shot 2015-06-02 at 21.06.05.png


(I assume that each badge represents a subscription.)

I don't mind the circles, but that's probably because avatars in general are of minimal interest to me. I'm here for the words …
 
Its seems people are somewhat split on the square vs. round debate. I was staunchly in the square camp when we were testing the forums, but since then I've switched as noted before. The round took some getting used too and I now like them.

I'm surprised to see the vote (so far) split down the middle, I would have thought it would have been largely one sided with the square camp. I think as time goes on, people will get used to them and even develop avatars that use the circle in a more artist manner as we've already seen from some members.
 
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I honestly hate the circle. But I'll continue using the site obviously if you keep it. Squares have more area to show your image.

Sadly this reminds me of the dreaded use of circles to represent artists in the Google Play music app and desktop client.

Please revert back to squares.
 
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maflynn said:
I think as time goes on, people will get used to them and even develop avatars that use the circle in a more artist manner as we've already seen from some members.
Click to expand...

If people want to use circles in an artistic manner they can (and always have been able to) do that with a square avatar. The circle just removes (or I suppose technically 'limits') the choice. I can't work out whether it's the case that lots of people don't get that, or alternatively just don't care.

Also I find this idea that people will get to used to the circular avatars, and only dislike them because they're new a little patronising. It's not as if Macrumors have invented the circle :D, or that no other forums or social media existed with circular avatars before the recent MR forum changes.

Ultimately it's not the biggest issue in the world of course, but to my mind that is all the more reason that people be offered more choice, as there's little or no functional reason to deny people that choice. A square maximises the size for whatever choice of avatar shape one might want, be it circle, hexagon or dodecahedron.
 
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I vote circular. For a quickly-made avatars taken from some random image, a circular crop makes it look less home-made and more polished. A well-made square can look just as good, but few are. I think the automatic circles have succeeded in making a good overall impression. And having them all the same shape is good for consistency vs. clutter/chaos. The change is jarring, but in time, I think people would find it MORE jarring to go back to a random mix of squares and circles. "Choice" sounds good, but this is a UI. MR could offer the choice to put your avatar on the right instead of the left, or make it half-size instead of full-size, or make it tall and thin... but the result is an inconsistent UI, which matters even though we rarely consciously think about it. And a circle does not mean less area. You can make a circle of a size that has the same area has a given square.

If area is the problem, people could just request a bigger circle--but I think the size is good now. It looks to me like we now have MUCH more area than the old square avatars (which were also smaller). It just takes a different design to make the best use of it in some cases.

Plus mine was always a circle anyway :)

(And you can always put a square IN your circle if you must; transparent backgrounds seem to be preserved. So if the shape matters more to you than total area, there's still the choice.)
 
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nagromme said:
And a circle does not mean less area. You can make a circle of a size that has the same area has a given square.
Click to expand...

But to have the circle you need the same diameter as the height and width the square would be anyway. With a square that had the same height and width, you could have the exact same avatar as a circle. But you can't fit the square in the circle without making it smaller. Seems the wrong way round to me. Your random mix of squares and circles will now be a random mix of inconsistently smaller squares and large circles, surely the worst of all possible combinations if you're hoping for a consistent look.

168erdg.jpg


Personally I would have always supported your choice to have a circular avatar if you wanted to (I think your avatar looks great btw) - it's a shame you, and others, can't support others' choice to have a similarly-proportioned square if that's what they want.

What else is an avatar if not an expression of identity for the user? Confining it in this way limits that expression for some users in a rather arbitrary manner. There may as well be a rule that you are only allowed avatars in a certain colour, or that can only be abstract geometric shapes rather than representational images. I find it to be a backward step.
 
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MRU said:
Update your avatar to best to take advantage of the larger size (200x200) and the shape …
Click to expand...

Done :D

It's true what people say, I grew to appreciate the circles – after a few days. So, on Tuesday I was ambivalent.

Now it's Thursday, circles feel so last century. I'm bored. Can we have something new?

Pear shaped will be ideal for my full body avatar. TIA.
 
Porco said:
But to have the circle you need the same diameter as the height and width the square would be anyway. With a square that had the same height and width, you could have the exact same avatar as a circle. But you can't fit the square in the circle without making it smaller. Seems the wrong way round to me. Your random mix of squares and circles will now be a random mix of inconsistently smaller squares and large circles, surely the worst of all possible combinations if you're hoping for a consistent look.

168erdg.jpg


Personally I would have always supported your choice to have a circular avatar if you wanted to (I think your avatar looks great btw) - it's a shame you, and others, can't support others' choice to have a similarly-proportioned square if that's what they want.

What else is an avatar if not an expression of identity for the user? Confining it in this way limits that expression for some users in a rather arbitrary manner. There may as well be a rule that you are only allowed avatars in a certain colour, or that can only be abstract geometric shapes rather than representational images. I find it to be a backward step.
Click to expand...
Well put. I'm all for those who like how their avatar looks in circles to have that option, and the same goes for squares of the same size. There's nothing wrong with offering more choice for avatars, yet MR refuses to do so.
 
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