The iTunes 10 icon, where did Apple go wrong?
During the Apple Special Event which took place this week, Steve Jobs unveiled iTunes 10, with much attention drawn to a new updated icon. The crowd seemed really pleased with the icon, applauding and whooping. However, since then there has been much criticism all over the internet, which makes me wonder how Apple got it so wrong.
Apple events draw a lot of attention and their products have devoted users, but there are also people just as willing to knock anything Apple does. I’m sure Apple expects to receive good and bad critique of anything they do, but this new iTunes 10 icon does appear to have stirred up a hornets’ nest. The criticisms range from not liking the blue or the gradient, it being likened to a Window’s Vista icon (could it get any worse than that!), it compared to free clip art or something from iStock for $5.00 and also likened to a child’s drawing (though I think that’s taking it a bit too far). I guess the point is, many people aren’t happy with it.
iPod Nano displaying new iTunes logo.
iTunes 10, Apple’s latest release of its’ popular digital media player application.
Apple’s new music social network, Ping, which uses the new iTunes 10 icon to dot the ‘i’.
Apple decided that after ten years it was time to ditch the familiar icon of the CD and music note that had been in use since the first release of iTunes in 2001. The icon was looking rather dated, so using just the note within a circle does seem a more logical choice. Overlooking the fact that iTunes covers far more than just music now, so perhaps should have a new non music specific name and icon. Though this seems unlikely considering how well known the iTunes name has become.
Original iTunes icon, since 2001.
New iTunes 10 icon.
Apple’s track record had been quite good lately with their iOS icons. Fans seem to be pleased with the design choices they’ve made, so it’s surprising that they’ve chosen to release an icon that has drawn this type of attention since its release. Perhaps they’ve got too complacent and didn’t appreciate the good decisions they’ve been making with their iOS icons.
The iTunes app icon as it looks on the iPhone.
Apple fans being the creative bunch that they are, took no time before tweaking the new icon themselves. Many can now be found online and are available for download, allowing you to replace the new iTunes 10 icon with something more desirable. One such icon which appears to be very popular, was posted on Dribbble by Chris Carlozzi. It moves away from the blue, instead influenced by iTunes on iOS.
Unofficial alternative iTunes icon by Chris Carlozzi.
The criticism has become so bad that the icon is fighting back. iTunes 10 icon can now be found on Twitter, replying direct to it’s critics! And already has over 1,500 followers at time of writing.
iTunes 10 icon on Twitter.
In just a few days the iTunes 10 icon has created a lot of attention. Apple may be quite pleased, then again they get enough attention as it is, I’m sure they would rather positive things said about their new icon. It’s surprising considering the resources of Apple that they came up with this icon, it’s certainly not the worst I’ve seen but it could have been so much better. I do wonder who made the final decision on the icon, I’m sure they would have had many options, so I’d be interested to know why they went with that one.
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I can understand their reluctance to move away from the recognisable note icon, because to change from that would be like Microsoft Word changing the “W”, which would cause major confusion.
It really does look like a Windows Vista Icon! It is consistent with Vista icons and branding, not Apple’s! I’m almost starting to think that Apple are doing this intentionally to get people talking.
Mark McCorkell said:
Mark, it does make you wonder. Maybe it was just a poor choice on their part, but for an application as important to them as iTunes it’s surprising that they wouldn’t have gone all out and created a great icon. Then again, that wouldn’t have drawn this much attention, so perhaps they are being really cunning in releasing an icon that they know will cause much debate, so that in a short period of time it becomes very memorable.
This icon looks extremely cheap to me. Even worse, they seem to be implementing ways to keep you from changing it. I use Windows 7 (I know. I’m whining about an Apple product on a Windows OS), and even though I’ve gone through the normal steps to change my icon, it will automatically override and bring the default icon onto my taskbar. Even if I pin the changed icon to the taskbar, it will open a SECOND taskbar button with the default icon next to the one I pinned there. It’s infuriating. What if someone even just generally wanted to customize all of their icons to a consistent theme? Apple won’t allow that? Removing user freedom isn’t the way to get good feedback.
As someone with some graphic design training, I could easily recreate the new iTunes 10 icon in about 45 minutes in Adobe Illustrator, using default effects. It looks quickly-made, poorly thought-out, and none-too-attractive. In fact, if you look carefully, the notes aren’t even consistent from top to bottom. The poorly-rendered shading makes the notes look convex at the top, and concave toward the bottom. It’s just BAD.
@ Morgan E. Ashton
Hi Morgan, thanks for stopping by. It seems very strange that you’re unable to change the icon on your PC. I’ve only got a Mac so I’m unable to advise but I have heard several PC users online saying that they have changed theirs, but maybe they were on a different version of the OS. I know on the Mac it’s possible to go into the actual folder where the icon is located and replace it, I don’t know if that’s possible on a PC too.
Yes, I see what you mean about the icon and the gradient on the note itself, it does look odd. I’m sure their design team would have come up with some much better options though, so maybe it was Steve that overruled them and wanted it that way.
@ Paul Galbraith
The lack of being able to change my icon is a new thing, starting today. I did it on the original version of iTunes 10, but when it updated again today, it didn’t allow me to change the icon on the taskbar. It’s almost as if they got so many complaints about the icon, that they decided to force it upon us until we like it. I’m not sure. Either way, it’s really not doing a lot to help my like of the new version. In fact, I’ve reverted back to the last installment of Version 9, because the whole interface was just cleaner, didn’t have the extra “Ping” feature that I really don’t want or need, and is more attractive. I’ll keep looking to see what kinds of things Apple puts out in the future. As for now, I’m not very happy with the new direction.
@ Morgan E. Ashton
Morgan, the icon reverted back for me with the last update too, though I’ve not tried changing it again as the same will happen with each update, just seems like a hassle. If they have found a way to stop you changing it, I’m sure it’ll only be a matter of time until someone finds a way around it.
As for the changes to the interface of iTunes 10, it feels as if the design is taking a step backwards in some respects. Some components, such as the volume slider, are over detailed using effects such as gradients, which look a bit tacky. I personally prefer a much cleaner look.