INTERACT FORUM
More => Old Versions => JRiver Media Center 29 for Windows => Topic started by: JimH on March 13, 2022, 02:09:39 pm
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I'm sorry but I lost the thread when I tried to edit it. I've got a piece of it I'll post as an image.
Here are some of the suggestions:
https://pix01.jriver.com/gallery/8D12431D-7EA0-495D-9EA2-775091458CB9/Lost_Icons/thumbnails.html
RedJ started the thread, suggesting that we use a flat icon to better fit in with current style of OS's.
Others joined in, saying yes, no, maybe.
I said JRiver could probably add one or more so that users could choose a different icon.
When I have more time later, I'll try to recover the thread.
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I've got some of it in my web browser History
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Red J
I just updated to version 29 today, and it occurs to me that Media Center has evolved so much lot in the past decade, but still uses the same icon style that it did since at least version 10. This icon has served MC well but, in my opinion, looks quite visually dated at this point (almost reminiscent of the WinAmp era). Can we consider updating the icon to fit in with the flatter style that is prevalent across every major OS today?
To demonstrate, I designed a flat-inspired interpretation of the current icon that aims to retain major visual cues of the current one while bringing it up to stylistically. I've replaced my MC29 icon with it to try on for size. I think it instantly feels more at home alongside other modern app icons:
(https://bn1304files.storage.live.com/y4mKX53p8gVlfDHW6MI28uuTi3Wz_IciRaskChTt7_zrKP_OQGHoHQDKSpyOoUbHbUx1b4f2rb000TrvGAKQlB_NwjSUUx0O_VR1kmhtme8Myywe4TMVx4AUel1kh2qttsjF6-qm8KPL7cnSrHmXZjhLjLYcyXdjdy--6-cS-710b7zd66p3A5IpybphXXAjNqg?width=128&height=128&cropmode=none)
(https://bn1304files.storage.live.com/y4m0-IchO0-KZWUFmFxosTjvdRAz5r9yueUXALBJoe0mQTInkUGu21HNrwUkEh30GXxb38A9kmDJt9vJWcpSytzb8rDAeOYThLdmNAKKolT7vPq5Ynrir4X4M2TPUVrGQRZwrWI-x2cwPkttjifrrsveNaCbekid6v_YeDGi8Zv8LvubCSGcRgJSAJKZUDbZMpx?width=276&height=83&cropmode=none)
(https://bn1304files.storage.live.com/y4mrXDrgF7tlaDSxx1XUxPBCI9Xon7b5WtEbmrd2LwyaUN3ENkJ_j6BrHlfZA5cI8922mIdw6vsyxff4B6kD7Hr94KCAreRPny6lSsxJJrdH2hxu5McdZbWCUhthNTFst4T55X3Wfd7BTO_ZyrUG4owC87eAHwo53kNmS5yUYalwxvROgpRZhvrsZIl1wnWbian?width=789&height=386&cropmode=none)
Here's a multi-resolution .ICO file for anyone who wants to take it for a test drive:
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AimeAWQyOGbxyr1tvnpUuobv3dClAg?e=ZnL88T
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Matt
Wow, you're a good artist! Thanks!
What do other people think?
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flac.rules
I think a flatter icon style would be nice, I like the new suggestion, but ut is a bit generic, i would like the outer grey ring to be split into four sector like the original, I think it would give it the more distinct "MC-look", but I am not a designer, just a random guy.
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Hendrik
I like our icon, and don't particularly think it looks "old". If anything, the suggested icon looks rather generic to me, no offense meant to the effort spent =)
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JimH
I don't want to get into a beauty contest (I'd lose) but maybe we could add your icon as an option so you could switch to it.
Thanks very much for your efforts.
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Awesome Donkey
I have to be honest, I do like the way that new icon looks. You are a really good artist!
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Wheaten
For sure I like the new icon, but it does not stand out like the current one. With the current icon, it's recognisable between 100 other media icons.
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Mans
+1 for this one or another new styled icon.
Not only looking more '2022' but also cleaner when lined up amongst other icons within the tray.
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RedJ
Thanks for the compliments and, I actually agree that it is on the generic side. My instincts would be to start fresh and come up with a completely new icon that speaks more to the uniqueness of the JRiver brand, but I didn't want to stray too far from the current branding as users already visually know these shapes and colors.
I actually had created a number of variations before posting, several of which have the outer ring divided into four sectors. Here are some examples:
(https://bn1304files.storage.live.com/y4mfgdSP9-KOmplanAwp5MMJGIV6twIC1BFDwwTsrs_S1nU5B386K5u3EjYy-yhTl3V2KUARGsGhwKlag2-pIFZUV7HVx3wpdBYB3Tn0HDFMQDAmHzPRkCZ5IwDcS6bYXUsner6ewQ5RMWy0dPhzLOFBZx1TYj3OBdE9KFp1yojatD7ojqiZiCdSq4iMz0mIscO?width=128&height=128&cropmode=none) (https://bn1304files.storage.live.com/y4mfgdSP9-KOmplanAwp5MMJGIV6twIC1BFDwwTsrs_S1nU5B386K5u3EjYy-yhTl3V2KUARGsGhwKlag2-pIFZUV7HVx3wpdBYB3Tn0HDFMQDAmHzPRkCZ5IwDcS6bYXUsner6ewQ5RMWy0dPhzLOFBZx1TYj3OBdE9KFp1yojatD7ojqiZiCdSq4iMz0mIscO?width=26&height=26&cropmode=none)
I ended up not choosing it because the icon's dividing lines did not scale as nicely as the other, but perhaps could be tweaked to look better as smaller sizes.
Here is another option that's more of a radical departure from the old icon:
(https://bn1304files.storage.live.com/y4ma8ibkkoF5WJtii53F8oRIcPKN0UiXmyv8vC-UwJo4XXJRRV0s8CpgNXYPYIO3OX4yTepbqq9res4gAZoxb2AQN0HsiEidvsSL4135-8PTfEq5eeI3JSm6xLPt1y5-Bv-Hem4A3K0T1mYivvAUAJ2HW9w71CW6pMljL56DmeL7tnWw0rChTdXEZSk_jtkehZ8?width=128&height=128&cropmode=none) (https://bn1304files.storage.live.com/y4ma8ibkkoF5WJtii53F8oRIcPKN0UiXmyv8vC-UwJo4XXJRRV0s8CpgNXYPYIO3OX4yTepbqq9res4gAZoxb2AQN0HsiEidvsSL4135-8PTfEq5eeI3JSm6xLPt1y5-Bv-Hem4A3K0T1mYivvAUAJ2HW9w71CW6pMljL56DmeL7tnWw0rChTdXEZSk_jtkehZ8?width=24&height=24&cropmode=none)
Sorry for the black background- I'm not sure why some PNGs post here with correct transparency and others do not.
In any case, once there's consensus on direction (or you can have them all), I'm happy to send the art as SVG for JRiver to iconize or I can send an already made multi-resolution ICO file (can't attach certain file types here though, I tried).
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Awesome Donkey
I actually really like that new icon with the four sectors too, seems like a good evolution from the current icon.
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Wheaten
for sure the radical one ;D
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flac.rules
I like the one labeled as "radical"
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rec head
At tool bar size I think the first one is the nicest.
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Awesome Donkey
Yes, I've been playing around with the first icon on Windows and Linux (Fedora) and it looks the best of the three in my opinion. To my eyes (which I admit are not as good as they once were) as the other two icons gets smaller, the sector dividers kinda ruin the look a bit but the first posted icon without them looks great at 16x16. It's probably the wisest choice, since it better fits the current aesthetic found in modern OSes and apps.
Just my two cents.
P.S. Random idea, shame there's no way to visual something like a scroll wheel to replace the 4 physical buttons on the icon. But, I suppose, a scroll wheel is now considered "out-of-date" these days too, heh. ;D
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jmone
FWIW, I don't really mind one way or another. Apart from the "main" PC I do maintenance on, the rest boot straight in TheaterView so I never see any icons anyway.
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Wheaten
Quote from: Awesome Donkey on Today at 10:08:05
a scroll wheel is now considered "out-of-date" these days too,
Well it fit with the classic view of JRiver, as this one is pretty solid since the last decade ;D
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SkGe
I can show my icon remake which I use for a while on MC. I've retained the old design of MC icon with a bit of new stylish.
(https://i.gyazo.com/5cd26e99037ea5226f47bc13fe160beb.png)
It's quite a flat icon. I didn't want to change too much and keep it as the old one.
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JimH
Good one!
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leezer3
Leave well alone...
The current flat trend is IMHO obnoxious.
Just because everybody else is doing something is no reason to adopt it :)
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FYI - That is all I had in the history for this thread.
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Thanks!
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Having a few choices within the executable would be nice. Other programs do it that way. But I do like the present icon.
(And you could add the old Media Jukebox icon for the audio-only folks! ;D)
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SkGe
I can show my icon remake which I use for a while on MC. I've retained the old design of MC icon with a bit of new stylish.
(https://i.gyazo.com/5cd26e99037ea5226f47bc13fe160beb.png)
It's quite a flat icon. I didn't want to change too much and keep it as the old one.
Hello jmone,
Can you make me an ico of it, please.
[multi-resolution .ICO file]
thanks,
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Here's a multi-resolution .ICO file for anyone who wants to take it for a test drive:
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AimeAWQyOGbxyr1tvnpUuobv3dClAg?e=ZnL88T
This looks quite nice when used in Directory Opus; saves me the trouble of re-pointing the image file in the button each time I upgrade. I did have to convert the ICO to PNG, but it looks good. Thanks!
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MC's icon has come full circle and is back in style. Like my parents linoleum flooring. For years I was waiting for it to get updated, but I currently like it how it is. There is something to be said for the new flat icons that people seem to dislike. They look good when really small. Though I like MC's icon when displayed at a decent size, it does look a bit crummy when small. A couples example are when in the Windows taskbar and browser tabs when viewing the forum. I know you old fellows probably have your scaling cranked up so you can see, but I keep my icons small so I can have more real estate on my displays. I would welcome and updated icon but am happy with the current one.
I always thought it would be nice to change the icon colour at every release, that way you can tell what version you are opening when multiple versions are installed. Of course options would be needed to turn it blue again once the move to an updated version is finalized.
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Yes I too noticed how small it looks snuggled in down on the Windows taskbar.
🙂
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Back to this topic. I know wanted a .ico for that logo, I will share you later, right now I'm trying a few attempts to make it appealing.
Here is a small preview of two logo type.
(https://i.gyazo.com/f2dbc0616e455fbd770dd411ca4d6b03.png)
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I do like that second one there, it's modern looking but still looks a lot like the current icon, it's like an evolution.