calibre's new icons - Page 3

DoctorOhh · 07-19-2010, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaley

(Daddy, Daddy, look over there - a real live dinosaur!)

You and I both, forget Fred and Ethel (only another dinosaur will understand the reference) and think Fred, Wilma and Dino.

I still think user selected and developed skins/icon sets would be a nice touch and everyone is happy.

Lady Fitzgerald · 07-19-2010, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaley

OK, having been challenged to provide suggestions instead of flaws, here goes:

First, I agree with banjomike's list.

Now my own:

I suggest that calibre be completely consistent with arrows and plus marks. It appears that an arrow pointing down means put something into the library (see the news icon). An arrow pointing up seems to mean put something somewhere else (see send-to-device). Use something similar for books; an arrow pointing down would be consistent with news. Same thing with save-to-disk, use an arrow pointing up. For the same reason, get rid of the arrows on convert. They confuse the meaning, because the function does not move things around. This might be a good place to use a plus, meaning I am adding another something.

For save-to-disk, I would also not use such a stylized icon, but instead would use something like http://www.openclipart.org/people/Ma...a_harddisk.svg.

For the 'circle I', I suggest something like http://www.openclipart.org/image/250...properties.png, which gives (to me at least) the idea that I am applying a tool to something.

For the trash, I would use something like http://www.openclipart.org/people/li...dyman_logo.svg, although it is probably too stark for most people.

Instead of the magnifying glass, I suggest an open book, something like http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...literature.svg.

Yes, I know that the color schemes of the various suggestions don't work together. I don't touch color schemes because I am partially color blind. I do suggest that meaning of icons not depend on subtle color variations.

Finally, I would gently ask people to dispense with telling us what we should and should not like, or should and should not care about. Reading something like that doesn't change what we think, but instead tells us to take our marbles to some other playground.

I'm also color blind so I appreciate the comment about color schemes (I curse anyone who promotes color coding; in the USA, color coding should be a violation of the American Disabilities Act).

The request to be consistant with arrows also is good. How about an arrow pointing right for convert.

tpw · 07-19-2010, 08:43 AM

I have no problem with the icons themselves, only how big they are (huge), and the fact that you can't resize them.

The program itself is absolutely outstanding.

Schaapje82 · 07-19-2010, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwanthny

Interesting, I have text labels below my icons. My guess is that you had the choice to have or not have text previously and that choice temporarily has been lost. If you had text below the labels then it is still there, if you did not have text below your icons there is currently not a way to revert back to text and icons.

Don't think that's it because I always had the text labels and they just disappeared after installing 0.7.9. I didn't even know we had a choice.

DoctorOhh · 07-19-2010, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schaapje82

Don't think that's it because I always had the text labels and they just disappeared after installing 0.7.9. I didn't even know we had a choice.

Since I still have text labels on two different computers w/0.7.9 I was guessing there must have been a choice in the options somewhere.

kovidgoyal · 07-19-2010, 04:43 PM

In 0.7.9 the text labels are automatically hidden if there is not enough width for them. This behavior will become configurable again in the next release.

GlenBarrington · 07-19-2010, 06:56 PM

They seem functional enough. But frankly, I'd still use Calibre if you drew little stick figures or had puppies and kittens with big eyes doing 'cute' stuff.

Lady Fitzgerald · 07-20-2010, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

They seem functional enough. But frankly, I'd still use Calibre if you drew little stick figures or had puppies and kittens with big eyes doing 'cute' stuff.

Oooh! I like the idea of puppies and kittens with big eyes doing 'cute' stuff.

banjobama · 07-20-2010, 04:58 AM

I voted both that I liked the new ones and that I didn't care. As long as something has pretty, colorful buttons that monkeys could figure out the meaning of I'm good to go.

But like someone else said, I was confused by the "Send to device" button moving. Sounds like that is just temporary, though.

kovidgoyal · 07-20-2010, 12:14 PM

The lovers appear to be beating the haters handily, good news for the world

mikij · 07-20-2010, 03:03 PM

I voted I didn't like, but there are, in fact, only few icons I really dislike:
- View - it's not clear. It's like "More detail" button rather than view
- Save to disk - absolutely horrible. Doesn't look like a hard drive at all. Although a floppy doesn't exist any more in recent computer, the image of a floppy is still widely used as a universal symbol to Save.
-Remove books - completely unclear without a text.

The rest is OK.

But, why bother? We have an application superior to what our reader's manufacturers give with devices (SONY, in my case).
Instead of criticizing, we should thank you, Kovid, for this great program.

kovidgoyal · 07-20-2010, 03:17 PM

No worries, I didn't design the icons, so my feelings dont really get hurt if people dont like them.

Interestingly enough, I thought the save to disk icon was very evocative of a hard disk, but perhaps that's because I have opened up hard disks, so I know what they look like inside.

Starson17 · 07-20-2010, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

I thought the save to disk icon was very evocative of a hard disk, but perhaps that's because I have opened up hard disks, so I know what they look like inside.

It looks like an opened disk drive to me, too. I have a refrigerator full of magnets from HDs I've opened. It's fun to watch someone try to remove one of those rare earth magnets once its grabbed the front of the fridge.

texasnightowl · 07-20-2010, 04:54 PM

OK, did my upgrade to 0.7.9 so as for the icons...the only one I'm really not crazy about is the "recycling" icon for Remove. A regular trash can icon type thing would be more straightforward to me. The other one I'm a little iffy about is the Convert books icon but I'm not sure what I would do with it.

banjobama · 07-20-2010, 05:19 PM

I also thought the save to disk button was very obviously a hard disk.

View Poll Results: What's your opinion on calibre's new toolbar icons?
I like the new icons	71	55.04%
I dislike the new icons	33	25.58%
I dont care about icons	15	11.63%
I have better things to do than worry about icons	21	16.28%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 129. You may not vote on this poll

07-19-2010, 06:56 PM	#37
GlenBarrington Cheese Whiz Posts: 1,986 Karma: 11677147 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Springfield, Illinois Device: Kindle PW, Samsung Tab A 10.1(2019), Pixel 6a.	They're OK. . . They seem functional enough. But frankly, I'd still use Calibre if you drew little stick figures or had puppies and kittens with big eyes doing 'cute' stuff.

07-20-2010, 03:03 PM	#41
mikij Connoisseur Posts: 98 Karma: 161 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Quebec, Canada Device: PRS-600	I voted I didn't like, but there are, in fact, only few icons I really dislike: - View - it's not clear. It's like "More detail" button rather than view - Save to disk - absolutely horrible. Doesn't look like a hard drive at all. Although a floppy doesn't exist any more in recent computer, the image of a floppy is still widely used as a universal symbol to Save. -Remove books - completely unclear without a text. The rest is OK. But, why bother? We have an application superior to what our reader's manufacturers give with devices (SONY, in my case). Instead of criticizing, we should thank you, Kovid, for this great program. Last edited by mikij; 07-20-2010 at 03:08 PM.

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07-19-2010, 08:43 AM	#33
tpw Zealot Posts: 107 Karma: 250 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Brisbane, Australia Device: Kobo, Sony PRS650	I have no problem with the icons themselves, only how big they are (huge), and the fact that you can't resize them. The program itself is absolutely outstanding.

07-19-2010, 04:43 PM	#36
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,604 Karma: 28548974 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	In 0.7.9 the text labels are automatically hidden if there is not enough width for them. This behavior will become configurable again in the next release.

07-20-2010, 04:58 AM	#39
banjobama Busy Read'n Posts: 980 Karma: 5039283 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Auburn, WA Device: Pocketbook Touch Lux 5	I voted both that I liked the new ones and that I didn't care. As long as something has pretty, colorful buttons that monkeys could figure out the meaning of I'm good to go. But like someone else said, I was confused by the "Send to device" button moving. Sounds like that is just temporary, though.

07-20-2010, 12:14 PM	#40
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,604 Karma: 28548974 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	The lovers appear to be beating the haters handily, good news for the world

07-20-2010, 03:17 PM	#42
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,604 Karma: 28548974 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	No worries, I didn't design the icons, so my feelings dont really get hurt if people dont like them. Interestingly enough, I thought the save to disk icon was very evocative of a hard disk, but perhaps that's because I have opened up hard disks, so I know what they look like inside.

07-20-2010, 04:54 PM	#44
texasnightowl Guru Posts: 812 Karma: 2873645 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Texas Device: PW5, Oasis 3, K4B(NT), K3/KK	OK, did my upgrade to 0.7.9 so as for the icons...the only one I'm really not crazy about is the "recycling" icon for Remove. A regular trash can icon type thing would be more straightforward to me. The other one I'm a little iffy about is the Convert books icon but I'm not sure what I would do with it.

07-20-2010, 05:19 PM	#45
banjobama Busy Read'n Posts: 980 Karma: 5039283 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Auburn, WA Device: Pocketbook Touch Lux 5	I also thought the save to disk button was very obviously a hard disk.