Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Steve Jobs Defends New iTunes 10 Icon Against Criticism
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I disagree. While some people may not like the icon, it really won't make a difference for the brand. The name iTunes is where almost ALL of the brand recognition is, so if they changed it to iMedia, despite that being much more fitting for what iTunes is now, that's when they'd be throwing away 10 years of brand recognition away.
As far as the icon goes, I don't mind it. A lot of Apple software has been using the glowing orb motif- all of the Core packages, and the new Quicktime icon is similar in style. I do however, prefer the colored icons within iTunes, but in the long run it doesn't really make a huge difference for me.
Seriously? You take the time to draft an email to one of the most powerful CEO's of any company in history, and you criticize a logo? REALLY?
You're right and you're wrong. People are emotionally tied to what they're used to, but in this case, it's not just emotion that's speaking out here. This is a bad logo. It's cheap. It speaks of a knee-jerk reaction. Jobs may be right that downloads are the future, but they are still not currently the big seller. CDs still FAR outsell downloads, regardless of what we may be told by the media - CDs are still the preferred format for the majority of people (I believe it's 75% of sales right now.) It is decreasing each year but CDs are going to be around for years.
Is Apple right to remove the CD from their logo? Sure. Itunes' focus is on digital music. They began as a means to move music from your own CD collection into the computer, but now they exist to be the source. So a logo that reflects that makes sense. This logo, however, reflects a hack job. As others have pointed out, it looks like it was done in minutes. Time alone isn't the factor in making or breaking a logo. It's just a reflection of the thought that went into this. It looks hasty, and that is what is worrisome. Actually, I think all of the design of this Itunes is hasty - it's very badly done. Ugly, ugly, ugly.
Eh... it retains its brand recognition well enough. There's some loss, but that's not such a big deal. I just don't like it. It seems less inspired and unique than other Apple iconsespecially one as prominent as iTunes. I'm not sure what extent of this is graphic designer snobbery in me, a dislike of change related to an icon that has lived in my dock forever, or valid criticism, though.
Wow, what a well-developed rebuttal! I bet Steve was captain of his debate team in high school 
Then again, when you get to be as important as Steve, you don't need to debate. You can just dictate!
Then again, when you get to be as important as Steve, you don't need to debate. You can just dictate!
practical issue
While the icon design is a matter of taste, the removal of colors in the left sidebar create practical problems. I have around 50 items in there and it is taking me now approximately twice as long to find a playlist. Colors, or even gray shades, do help in pattern recognition.
While the icon design is a matter of taste, the removal of colors in the left sidebar create practical problems. I have around 50 items in there and it is taking me now approximately twice as long to find a playlist. Colors, or even gray shades, do help in pattern recognition.
What was his critique? Is it "the purple one is just as ugly as Apples"? Because if it was, I agree with him.
I like the old icon and I am right and you are wrong.
I think we should all move on and realize that different people have different opinions. I like the new one, you like the old one... it's a good thing it's east to do an icon change.
Find the old iTunes app
select and hit command+i
copy icon in top left corner using command+c
close window (command+w)
find new itunes app
select and hit command+i
select top left icon and hit command+v to paste
close window (command+w)
Life goes back to normal.
I think we should all move on and realize that different people have different opinions. I like the new one, you like the old one... it's a good thing it's east to do an icon change.
Find the old iTunes app
select and hit command+i
copy icon in top left corner using command+c
close window (command+w)
find new itunes app
select and hit command+i
select top left icon and hit command+v to paste
close window (command+w)
Life goes back to normal.
exactly. I actually used one of these to replace the new one. And here is one of his that I changed to blue that I might use . . .
Um... Which one is the actual size of your dock?
My dock is about the size of the second one, and those mini-icons within the icon are impossible to see in that one. Heck, even in the first one, I have to actually look at the icon for more than a quarter of a second to see those little bits.
I'm with you, having the same problem. I simply hate the fact they've made everything gray in the left sidebar.
A g.d. should understand better the idea of less is more. I mean, one would not be able to read the cute little transparent icons inside an icon at dock size. These things must be considered. To me, this is a gratuitous attempt. I think the new itunes logo is timeless.
-- designer for 20 years --
The new Icon rocks! Keep up the good work Steve!
It was about time you changed the icon!
It looks so much more apple like and up to the times!
It was about time you changed the icon!
It looks so much more apple like and up to the times!
First, I don't really care that much. I don't think there is anything wrong with slightly outdated metaphors (Mac OS was never really into this except for poorly designed apps, but nearly every Windows program still uses a floppy disk as the "save" icon, much to nobody's confusion). Everyone will know what a CD is for a long time to come. In fact, if they switched a phonograph icon instead I think it would be rather quaint but good.
That being said, I think this icon looks better at higher sizes than it does at dock size, but I'm sure we'll all get used to it--and there's nothing stopping them from refining it as time goes by.
That being said, I think this icon looks better at higher sizes than it does at dock size, but I'm sure we'll all get used to it--and there's nothing stopping them from refining it as time goes by.
They could keep the iTunes Music Store, but use iMedia for the app itself.
iMedia:
iTunes Music Store
iMovies Movie Store
iBooks Book Store
App Store
