Please revert to old, pre v5.400, app icon!

[gcalzo]

The new icon is really ugly, please give us back to old one! ...at least let the user decide between the two!

Why it has been changed?

[mikeloeven]

Seconded. I get that everything is going material now a days but this really looks like a MS Paint doodle.

[gcalzo]

...I found where, more than one year ago, someone where talking about the new icon with a few examples... I bet it's too late for voting... :(

1723

[gcalzo]

I have found an older, closed issue about the same request with a very simple answer... :-(

2834

[Krzmbrzl]

Is this (partly) about the background of the icon being pink? If so I wholehartedly support the reverting!

[gcalzo]

Well, a less "shocking" red could help... -- Ciao, Giangi Inviato da MotoG5 plus con K-9 Mail.

-------- Messaggio originale -------- Da: Raven notifications@github.com Inviato il: 29 dicembre 2017 19:31:53 CET A: k9mail/k-9 k-9@noreply.github.com Cc: gcalzo giangi@gcalzo.net, Author author@noreply.github.com Oggetto: Re: [k9mail/k-9] Please revert to old, pre v5.400, app icon! (#2998)

Is this (partly) about the background of the icon being pink? If so I wholehartedly support the reverting!

-- You are receiving this because you authored the thread. Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHub: https://github.com/k9mail/k-9/issues/2998#issuecomment-354483144

[felfert]

I second that. I love the old filigrane icon. The new one is ugly.

[korelstar]

I'm using this app because of its features and not because of its icon. I don't really like the new one, but @cketti has chosen it for this version, so let's accept it. :-)

[gcalzo]

IMHO a poll would let us express our opinion... -- Ciao, Giangi Inviato da MotoG5 plus con K-9 Mail.

-------- Messaggio originale -------- Da: korelstar notifications@github.com Inviato il: 29 dicembre 2017 21:49:20 CET A: k9mail/k-9 k-9@noreply.github.com Cc: gcalzo giangi@gcalzo.net, Author author@noreply.github.com Oggetto: Re: [k9mail/k-9] Please revert to old, pre v5.400, app icon! (#2998)

I'm using this app because of its features and not because of its icon. I don't really like the new one, but @cketti has chosen it for this version, so let's accept it. :-)

-- You are receiving this because you authored the thread. Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHub: https://github.com/k9mail/k-9/issues/2998#issuecomment-354498807

[kq01526]

The icon presented by @moctodot in https://github.com/k9mail/k-9/issues/1723 looks much better.

[cketti]

I'm leaving this issue open for a little while longer so people who feel the need to voice their opinion will find it and not open new issues. However, this won't change the decision. The app icon won't be replaced with the old icon.

[najgorsza-zmiana]

Yes, the icon is depressingly ugly. Whoever designed it has absolutely no idea about visual design and seriously lacks in good taste. It feels as if someone just defecated on one of my favorite apps.

As the owners seem to be deaf to the voice of the - more aesthetically discerning - public (and I find this unwillingness to react quite childish), there is a workaround. Use an app such as Icon Changer or Awesome Icons to create a shortcut with the old icon. You will still have to face the kitschy horror when using the app, but at least your desktop will remain unpolluted.

[edit] Here is a png with transparent background, which can be used for the replacement mentioned above: http://lh6.ggpht.com/4nAIkTwY8Zmo3Vt1XPNXWH3_YVXj9muHfLyLjuT9LUHIxSgiC_RTHFl9PSPqwhAuFW7l=w300

[gcalzo]

So, stated that a new icon in "Material" design is mandatory and the old one won't be restored, I suggest to open a real poll with (as far as I know) the only two possibile replacement icons:

• the current v5.400 (from @bertob https://github.com/k9mail/k-9/issues/1723#issuecomment-273327881)
• the one from @moctodot https://github.com/k9mail/k-9/issues/1723#issuecomment-258468293

Personally I vote for the second one! I may eventually accept the first one if the red will be darker!

[najgorsza-zmiana]

+1 for the second (@moctodot) icon.

[DavidGriffith]

Perhaps we could have some mechanism for changing the icon from within the app's settings menus?

[Krzmbrzl]

I don't have any problem with the icon itself. Just the background is absolutely horrible

[unitblocks]

Please revert to old icon or give users a choice. The new icon is ugly and obnoxious. It looks like you sold out to T-mobile.

[unitblocks]

@moctodot better than the new logo.

@bertob complete failure, other than worshipping the false gods of bad UI. The K-9 portion of the image is so burdened by the hot-pink envelope that is does not communicate K-9 and omits the original Doctor Who reference. The pink chosen causes confusion in the marketplace with T-mobile's default email offerings. K-9 is a user install, not a default app.

[Rhialto]

I hate the new icon too!

First I had a Doctor Who themed mail program. Now I have some stupid dog themed mail program. And I'm a cat person. I want the old icon back!

[bunk3m]

Adding my $0.02.

I was surprised by the ugly new icon this morning. Usually I couldn't care less about this but it got to me enough that I came here.

I'd prefer the @moctodot icon or the old icon.

I understand that it had to change due to the material UI requirements but isn't it possible to just adjust the old icon to fit the new requirements rather than completely change it?

[mikeloeven]

Pretty much my reaction to the new icon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDXrXBsTFSE

[bheiserman]

@cketti I appreciate the work you do, but changing the visual interface is a big deal and shouldn't be blown off.

I hate the new icon so much, I joined GitHub to comment and to actively participate in the project, because I actively use and love this app.

How do I get you to either revert the icon or add a menu preference to revert for the users that despise the new icon?

I'll even see if I can figure out how to cobble together the coffee to do it if you're unwilling to entertain reverting the icon.

[ctgraham]

+1, for reference, the PR appears to be here: https://github.com/k9mail/k-9/pull/2082/files

[Meteor0id]

I am ok with the new icon, clearly shows this is about email, not about dogs. But hey, give these people an option in settings. everyone happy? Just use the new icon in appstores etc. and as default icon

[najgorsza-zmiana]

Agree re: option to select icon / revert to old icon in global settings. The latter is a matter of adding a checkbox in the GUI and a couple of if/else statements.

[katonagl]

The new icon is ugly, please bring back the old one. Why do you have to change sg which is just fine? Spend time on other features or just go and have a beer instead.

[ChristianKreuzberger]

The old icon was better

[dhwalker]

+1 for providing an option to use the old icon.

[Rhialto]

I forked the repository and added a couple of new branches which follow master and 5.4-MAINT, but with the icons reverted. I have uploaded a custom build as well: https://github.com/Rhialto/k-9/releases/tag/rhialto-5.4-MAINT-002 that Travis CI made for me (I didn't want to set up an Android build environment right now).

[allo-]

The google play comments are a quite clear poll. I think by reverting you will get quite a few stars back ;-). Personally I use a mail program for its function, but I must say the icon is very ugly and dominates the home screen, while the old one looked really nice and more decent. In general material design isn't the last word in design, to say the least.

[ghost]

Hey everyone – I know its tough embracing change, especially when it comes to design. It deals with visual things, and sometimes there are aesthetics that don't fit your subjective taste or perception.

Feedback can be constructive but please try to be nice. Everyone is basically volunteering their time and effort for something like K-9. Although I understand how everyone's comments, even if negative, come from a place of caring about where K-9 goes because a lot of people love this app.

I know I'm not making this discussion any easier, but there's also this version I've made a while back: https://github.com/k9mail/k-9-design I hear your ideas about having a 'choose your icon' in settings. I was actually thinking of having different K-9 icon options with different 'dog breeds', but I have a sense this isn't what people mean. 🙂

What could actually be helpful is if you specifically point out what you like, and what you dislike about all the icons (the current one, the proposals in https://github.com/k9mail/k-9/issues/1723 and my suggestion above). Be specific but again, try to be nice.

Or - even better - in addition to giving feedback on the current option, draw out what kind of icon you'd like to see. Doesn't have to be a masterpiece. Can be on a napkin. Just to get an idea of what most of you think, visually, as an icon, when you think of K-9.

And if you have any additional thoughts, there's a feedback questionnaire here: (doesn't always work, I'm using a free version, sorry) https://uxquestionnaire.typeform.com/to/SHacN5/

[ghost]

And just to reiterate - this was @cketti 's decision as he's managing this project. I'm curious to hear everyone's feedback, thoughts, and ideas, though.

[bheiserman]

In the new icon, the email envelope is too big and too red. It also lacks the background circle that many other material icons have, which would help it be visible. Without it the icon is nearly invisible on most of the newest landscape backgrounds on my Pixel 2. So between the garish red envelope and being invisible, not my favorite redesign choice.

The old icon had enough distinguishing characteristics that it stood out, so was easy to visually identify. It was not the most "material" or related of icons, but I think that only matters for initial install. If anything the distinctive non email icon made me curious enough to read about this app in the first place, as opposed to choosing one of the many other email apps.

[bheiserman]

I think the old icon can conform to the material guidance if you simply do something similar to this. Put it in a circle. It is still distinctive, shows the email icon, but retains the personality of K-9.

[dhwalker]

@juliakorbut As an answer to your question to @bheiserman I would say, generally, that it's the old icon's dog-like look that I liked. More specifically, it's the greater emphasis on the ears and snout (while preserving the envelope for the robot "eyes"), as well as the collar. I also prefer the 3/4 view of the dog's head, rather than the flatter, straight-on view of the new icons.

[ghost]

Well, if anyone wants to participate in an experiment of drawing the K-9 icon from memory, or what they see when they think 'K-9 mail' – this is an interesting experiment to kind of illustrate what I was going for: https://www.signs.com/branded-in-memory/

so that there's a shared 'understanding' of what K-9 looks like for most users. Just for future reference, or if any of the current contributors want to explore making more icon options

[allo-]

The color is part of the problem. Not because it is girlish, but because its intensity and huge contrast to the rest of my homescreen and the rest of the icon itself. Further the closeup perspective is ugly and it changes the dog icon to a letter icon (which may be intended). Using a pastel pink may work better, but it still goes from k9-dog to envelope. And the whole design scheme, even the other suggestions here, seem to move from a plastic model to comic style.

[Krzmbrzl]

I'm vortig for a less strikingly colored background of the icon. A darker color would suffice for that I think (instead of the current pinkt)

[kxcooper]

I vote for old icon. Forgive me but new icon is childish and indistinct. Does not reflect the quality of the app.

And maybe my resistance is childish but only thing that would tempt me to upgrade to the app with new icon would be if a print facility was introduced.

[mikeloeven]

My only real issue is the fact that redesigned icon doesn't reflect the app's mascot. K-9 mail was a reference to the character K-9 from classic Dr Who and the new icon is not identifiable as such http://olddoctorwho.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/k9-classic-doctor-who.jpg

[gcalzo]

@juliakorbut

What could actually be helpful is if you specifically point out what you like, and what you dislike about all the icons (the current one, the proposals in #1723 and my suggestion above). Be specific but again, try to be nice.

Where should we wrote? Comments into the topics referenced by you and me are still getting deleted...

Someone from the "staff" should open an official topic/poll/whatever so to have just the feedback in one place.

Personally, and I'm repeating for the second or third time:

• I vote for moctodot's one https://github.com/k9mail/k-9/issues/1723#issuecomment-258468293
• as a secondary preference I vote for using a (much) darker red on current one and with a (much) smaller envelope-eyes

[katonagl]

Could someone explain why a new icon is needed? What is the problem with the previous one?

[najgorsza-zmiana]

I don't think this discussion will lead to anything constructive. Whoever decided to use the new icon clearly has no intention to admit to their tragic mistake - quite immature, as I've said before.

Thus I am no longer a user of K9. I have switched to BlueMail, uninstalled k9 from all my devices and left a 1* review on Google Play. I suggest everyone not satisfied with the new icon and the developer's lack of reaction to the massive negative feedback do the same.

[Clive55]

I agree with the above comments here, The K9 icon needs to be changed back to how it was before, there are a lot of complaints about this on Google Play - I really liked the previous icon & as a Doctor Who fan seeing K9 was a cool icon that needs to return! Please bring it back ASAP and then you will have more 5 star reviews on Google Play. Also please sort out the syncing issue on receiving messages as this has been an issue for some time now. Thanks in advance.

[ArchangeGabriel]

I, for one, like the new icon more than the previous one. It’s way better integrated with other MD icons on my phone. That being said, if you don’t like the new icon, just create an Android icon set with only the former icon inside and set it in your launcher as your icon set.

[Meteor0id]

This is a typical never ending debate I see in many open source projects. It is incredibly unfair and frustrating for developers who put their time and best effort in their projects when others come to complaign and make demands. Unessesary.

In my own opionion, the icon was changed based on the idea that an icon should clearly reflect the nature of the project. In this case an e-mail client. Therefore the email icon was brought forward.

A valid counter argument I read in this treat is that the new icon no longer acuratly reflects the k-9 caracter from the tv-serie doctor who, and therefore does not do justice to the history of the icon.

Both side make valid arguments, however both side are also overexagurating.

I am repeating myself here, but it seems some people haven't gone though the effort of reading my previous comment: I suggest adding an option in settings to revert back to the previous icon. This seems like a reasonable compromise. However I am not etirely sure if it is technicly possible to switch the icon in android without reinstalling. Do keep in mind that in appstores, only one icon can be shown. I suggest that being the new icon, since it reflects k9 being an email client, and users new to k9 are unlikely to have a nostagic preference for the old icon.

Tl,dr: If technicly possible in android, introduce a setting "revert to old icon".

I hope any further discussion on this topic will be constuctive.

[Meteor0id]

Excuse the many typos please, I should have reviewed the text before posting. I do usually write proper English ;)

[bheiserman]

@Meteor0id I would love an option to roll back the icon.

I also appreciate @juliakorbut suggestions and discussion.

I prefer the old icon. I also think the new icon could be tweaked to be less offensive.

From a design and branding standpoint, I think the material design guidelines are laughable.

Due to this complaint I've now spent way too much time looking at app store icons. You which ones stand out for email clients? The ones that aren't envelopes. Astro mail, Bird mail, etc.

The old icon encapsulated both an envelope and the Doctor Who theme. With minor tweaks it too can fit better into the design guidelines, while also retaining recognizable branding.

[Rhialto]

@bheiserman @Meteor0id Please note that I have an alternative build with the original icons: https://github.com/Rhialto/k-9/releases

My problem with the new icon isn't in the colour (I even like the bright colour by itself) but that it isn't recognizable as the Doctor Who reference. The design from @juliakorbut is somewhat better, but still too far off from K-9. I don't understand why there needs to be a new icon in the first place. And why "material design"? It is a stupid name since it generally doesn't look like any material. Rather the opposite: it's all very abstract. On the site which purports to be the material design icon site ( https://material.io/icons/ ), all examples are horrible in their flatness, indistinctiveness, colorlessness. The best icons on my phone are the ones that differ from this straightjacket.

And next year there will be a new fashion.

[ArchangeGabriel]

@Meteor0id I don’t think it’s technically possible to let user choose the icon from inside the app. However most launchers (the app that runs your home screen, “desktop”, etc.) have support for icon sets and as I suggested above you could create an icon set with the K-9 icon of your choice and use it (all other apps will keep their default icon if you don’t provide any in your set).

@Rhialto Those are not app icons, but icons to be used inside apps (actions icons, etc.). Material designs app icons are more like the ones in https://github.com/PapirusDevelopmentTeam/papirus-icon-theme.

[mikeloeven]

The problem with that suggestion is if you are already using a custom icon set last i checked most launchers dont let you apply multiple icon sets at the same time