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Enzaierte / android-notifier

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Menu Icon of OS X: make it more subtle #25

Closed GoogleCodeExporter closed 8 years ago

GoogleCodeExporter commented 8 years ago 
> What steps will reproduce the problem?
1. normal usage of OS X tool of android-notifier

> What is the expected output? What do you see instead?

I expect to see some kind of icon of android-notifier to signal me the
running tool.

But what I see is this icon with the exclamation sign that signals me some
kind of error or at least asks for attention. But this is not the case.

> What version of the product are you using? On what operating system?

MacDroidNotifier v0.2.5

> Please provide any additional information below.

This is a usability issue: with a certain number of icons in the OS X menu
bar, the user depends on "red signals" ask for attention if - and only if -
there is a problem the user has to handle.

With this prominent exclamation sign the user thinks, that his/her
attention is needed. But this is not the case. 

I suggest an icon symbol that does not distract the user when there is no
problem at all.

Original issue reported on code.google.com by RoyBoy.A...@gmail.com on 5 Jun 2010 at 2:05

GoogleCodeExporter commented 8 years ago 
Kahil, you're our icon master - can you comment on this issue?

Original comment by rdamazio@gmail.com on 23 Aug 2010 at 5:00

GoogleCodeExporter commented 8 years ago 
Well...  Suggestions???  The icon just sits there.  Its not like it flashes or 
anything.  I followed and used OS X standards for menu icons.  The only way to 
make it more "subtle" would to make it grey, which would in turn bring up other 
complaints since grey icons in the menu bar indicate that something is 
inactive.  When there is an action item for any other icon up there, like the 
facebook notification app or others, the icon will change into a color icon.  
The Android Notifier icon does not. 

So in short, I'm failing to understand how it is so distracting. I would think 
that anyone using this little app would know that the icon in the menu bar is 
only there to indicate that the service is running.  The only thing that would 
and should distract you to get your attention would be the Growl notifications.

Remember folks, the menu icon is only there to show you that you have the 
service running.  Lots of utilities use this method, such as DropBox or 
Facebook Notifications.  Even your bluetooth and wifi services place icons in 
the menu bar for the main purpose of letting you know it is running.  The menu 
bar was designed to give a home to small apps/utilities that, while important, 
do not warrant the use and clutter of a dock icon.

Original comment by KahilYoung on 23 Aug 2010 at 5:31

GoogleCodeExporter commented 8 years ago 
Can we have the ability to turn it off? I have the program set up as I'd like 
it and I'd much rather not even know that this program is running in the 
background. If I want to modify my preferences, I can open it from my 
Applications folder.

Original comment by Till...@gmail.com on 6 Sep 2010 at 7:33

GoogleCodeExporter commented 8 years ago 
That's the thing though...  There is no normal application interface for the 
app.  It runs strictly from the status bar.  You can't just go into your 
application folder and manage the preferences.  The only way to know it is 
running and to manage/edit the preferences is from the status bar.  

How many things do you have running up in the status bar?  I'm sorry, I just 
don't understand what the hype/frustration is over having that one, little icon 
just sitting there.  It is no different than the volume, bluetooth, wifi, 
dropbox, search buttons that are always there.  You know they are running and 
active because they are there.  If the notifier icon is there, then you will 
know that the service is running and you will see your growl notifications.

So far no one has offered any suggestions as to what would make it more subtle 
other than removing it.  All I can suggest is to uncheck the option to have it 
automatically run when you start the OS and only run it when you need/want it 
to.

Original comment by KahilYoung on 6 Sep 2010 at 7:45

GoogleCodeExporter commented 8 years ago 
The solution we've thought about for this (see issue 6) is to have it show up 
in the system preferences. While it's doable, I've been putting it off as it's 
a considerable amount of rework (converting from a plain app to an app + 
service + system preference).

Original comment by rdamazio@gmail.com on 6 Sep 2010 at 7:48

GoogleCodeExporter commented 8 years ago 
Currently, the number of icons I have up there takes up a large amount of 
space. Programs with already long menu items are already a problem.

Original comment by Till...@gmail.com on 6 Sep 2010 at 7:51

Attachments:

GoogleCodeExporter commented 8 years ago 
A phone icon or an Android icon would both be rather more meaningful, even if 
they didn't take up any less space.

Original comment by scottish...@gmail.com on 8 Sep 2010 at 1:51

GoogleCodeExporter commented 8 years ago 
The original icon was an Android, but it was barely visible due to contrast.

Original comment by rdamazio@gmail.com on 8 Sep 2010 at 1:58

GoogleCodeExporter commented 8 years ago 
Issue 63 has been merged into this issue.

Original comment by rdamazio@gmail.com on 9 Sep 2010 at 1:04

GoogleCodeExporter commented 8 years ago 
Here are two icons I work from the base official android robot (who is freely 
usable under CC), I changed the official color because of the contrast issues.

Other possibility is choosing a different color from green, i. e., the blue of 
the current icon.

Original comment by urbanos...@gmail.com on 10 Sep 2010 at 11:10

Attachments:

GoogleCodeExporter commented 8 years ago 
Ok ok ok...  I will try to come up with something that is more subtle.  I do 
have an idea that I think will work.  I will update everyone soon.  The android 
icon doesn't really work.  Once you get it shrunken down to a menu bar icon 
size, it doesn't really look good...just looks weird.

Original comment by KahilYoung on 10 Sep 2010 at 11:23

GoogleCodeExporter commented 8 years ago 
How about this?  It still features our current icon, but it doesn't have the 
dark colored fill that some found so distracting.

Lemme know what y'all think.  If the majority of people like it, then Rodrigo 
can issue an update one of these days.

Original comment by KahilYoung on 11 Sep 2010 at 12:07

Attachments:

GoogleCodeExporter commented 8 years ago

Original comment by KahilYoung on 11 Sep 2010 at 5:48

GoogleCodeExporter commented 8 years ago 
I like the new icon - an Android robot in that outline style would be even 
nicer :)

Original comment by rdamazio@gmail.com on 11 Sep 2010 at 4:21

GoogleCodeExporter commented 8 years ago 
lol...i tried that...  didn't look right.  once shrunken down to the right 
size, it just look like a blob.

Original comment by KahilYoung on 11 Sep 2010 at 5:51

GoogleCodeExporter commented 8 years ago

Original comment by rdamazio@gmail.com on 27 Sep 2010 at 5:29

GoogleCodeExporter commented 8 years ago 
Originally I was not referring to the style or colour of the icon. The one 
thing that puzzled me was the exclamation mark. This character implies that 
something *already happened* that *needs my urgend attention*.

This is the commonly used metaphor for this character.

Using an exclamation mark in an icon that is used to access "only" preferences 
without any urgent attention being needed breaks the learned usability pattern 
of the system.

Original comment by RoyBoy.A...@gmail.com on 31 Mar 2011 at 9:05