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App icons: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly

S

stevearm

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Nov 15, 2007
992
91
I thought we could have a topic where people could discuss app icons. From the ones they love, to the ones they hate... or perhaps if a developer recently changed the icon and you prefered the first one etc...

Do you prefer with gloss or without?

I'll start us off:

Tweetie - Fantastic app, but very dull icon. The app itself is quite simple looking though so perhaps it fits.

Twitellator Pro - The opposite. Fantastic icon, overcomplicated app (IMO)

Jaadu VNC - The very first icon was the best. The current one looks smaller without any thin border around it and very blurry (even the gloss is blurry!)

Peggle - Amazing game, not sure about the icon though.

Pocket God - Love the way the icon changes with each episode.

Personally I prefer icons WITH gloss.
 
How many have deleted an app just because the icon sucked?

I'm surprised apple doesn't let developers add several icons to an app that let's users could choose from.
 
aerospace said:
How many have deleted an app just because the icon sucked?

I'm surprised apple doesn't let developers add several icons to an appctjat users could choose from.
Click to expand...

This is a silly idea. Seriously? I've never really cared about the icon. I want a functional application worth my money.
 
^ I guess when you're 14 and you download mostly free apps then it's form > function.
 
Im 19 and still prefer a nice looking icon if its available to me.
I like the moron test App, but the icon is a duck.
Also, it says "updated" onmy icon.
I know its updated, thats why I BOUGHT it.
Its like an ad on my PAID app!

Other than that, I think Devs are getting better at having nice icons.
 
It's not meaningless if a lot of us know what the icons we're talking about look like.

Starting out with the icons I dislike:

Pocket Informant - awesome app, icon is a clash of ugly colors with a clown's nose at the center. I've known a few people to pass up Pocket Informant due to the icon, fortunately a new icon is coming to us in a couple of weeks, and it 'll actually be a favorite.

myVideos - boring black icon

HT Recorder - also boring balck icon

Myst - a pic of an open book, could've done better methinks

Great icons now:

Oxford Deluxe - beautifully done

Deep Green - nice elegant wooden chess theme

Wurdle - can't put into words, I just like it.

Zenonia - unique blue flame dragon

Galcon - cool looking red planet from space icon

Todo - simple white checkmark on blue, looks great though.

Nice icons are great, I'll buy an app with an ugly icon if it's functional for my needs.
 
As a developer I received a lot of complaints about my app ABContacts icon :rolleyes:

A few even told me they love the app but have deleted it because the icon makes the entire iPhone look ugly !
 
vettori said:
As a developer I received a lot of complaints about my app ABContacts icon :rolleyes:

A few even told me they love the app but have deleted it because the icon makes the entire iPhone look ugly !
Click to expand...

I don't get why someone would delete an otherwise functional app due to the icon, but ok. To each is own.
 
Agreed, deleting a functional app because of its icon is just, well, just what I'd expect of an iPhone user given 2 years worth of their posts.

That said, any developer who doesn't think an icon will help/hurt sales is sadly mistaken. Especially given that many apps are impulse buys, a little eye candy helps move the merchandise.
 
jessica. said:
I don't get why someone would delete an otherwise functional app due to the icon, but ok. To each is own.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't go so far as to delete an app JUST because of its icon, but if it's a close run race deciding which of two similar apps to use, the icon might well sway it for me.

case in point" until recently, MyFootball and iFooty were pretty much even in terms of the functionality I was looking for, but I *much* prefer the iFooty icon, so that's the one that stayed on my phone.
 
A few apps whose icons make me wanna puke:

Formulus For Calculus
PandoraBox
Dinosmash Online
Sonic (would it kill them to add a little gloss?)

But overall I think devs have been producing some pretty decent looking icons.
 
I too like a nice looking icon. As a Graphic Designer, design and style have a lot to do with what I will buy, both in icon and the app, game, etc. Even if the concept is great, but you can tell there was no effort to polish the look, I will pass it up. That's just my nature as a designer, I like a well thought out clean and polished package.

I will say, I think 'imeem Mobile' had the best creative use of the square icon I have seen.

app_icon_250x250-2-150x150.png


Others on my phone that I think look nice are:

AirportMania
Dactyl
KoiPond
PaperToss
3D logic

They are al very clean and simple in design, look good on the iPhone black background.
 
candyman said:
I too like a nice looking icon. As a Graphic Designer, design and style have a lot to do with what I will buy, both in icon and the app, game, etc. Even if the concept is great, but you can tell there was no effort to polish the look, I will pass it up. That's just my nature as a designer, I like a well thought out clean and polished package.

I will say, I think 'imeem Mobile' had the best creative use of the square icon I have seen.

app_icon_250x250-2-150x150.png
Click to expand...
Agreed. Aesthetics can be just as important as functionality for a whole lot of people, when it comes to making a purchase.
As good example is the Tweedeck app. The app has eye candy throughout, and has become the Twitter choice of many, even if it lacks a few features that more established Twitter apps have.
I guess you could say that the aesthetic choice also applies to the iPhone itself.
 
THE GOOD
Beejive, Facebook, iTV, Bank Of America, Garden, Tap tap revenge 2, Flick Fishing, Pocket God, Tennis 09, Rolando, Monkey Ball, Topple, Easy Relax, Koi Pond, City Transit, Movies, LeafTBone

THE BAD
Remote, American Idol, Cameraman, Need for Speed (idk why, but i don't like it).

THE UGLY
FML, Blogpress, Ocarina.

this are just the one that stand out on my phone.
 
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