Free the Icons
Rogue Amoeba vehemently argues against Apple's macOS Tahoe decision to force all third-party app icons into a uniform "squircle" shape, claiming it stifles creativity and harms usability. The article celebrates Apple's recent internal icon improvements in macOS Golden Gate but demands further action to "free the icons." This sentiment resonates strongly with Hacker News, sparking a chorus of agreement over Apple's design missteps and aspirations for a more open visual ecosystem.
The Lowdown
Rogue Amoeba's latest blog post, "Free the Icons," critiques Apple's controversial design choices regarding app icons in macOS Tahoe. The author argues that forcing all third-party app icons into a generic "squircle" shape, alongside the "Liquid Glass" effect for first-party apps, resulted in a significant downgrade in both aesthetic appeal and practical usability. While acknowledging recent positive changes in macOS Golden Gate for Apple's own icons, the article calls for a full reversal of the squircle mandate.
- Tahoe's Icon Travesty: macOS Tahoe introduced "Liquid Glass" icons for Apple's apps and, more controversially, mandated a uniform "squircle" shape for all third-party app icons. Non-compliant icons were "jailed" in an ugly gray background.
- Usability Woes: The forced uniformity eliminated distinct shapes, a key visual cue for quick app identification. This makes distinguishing apps challenging, especially for users with color vision deficiencies, as color becomes the primary differentiator.
- Golden Gate's Glimmer of Hope: The author notes that macOS Golden Gate brings genuine improvements to Apple's own icons, shedding the "Liquid Glass" effect and becoming sharper. This shows Apple is willing to correct past design mistakes.
- A Call for Freedom: Rogue Amoeba urges Apple to extend these improvements to third-party icons, advocating for the return of diverse and unique icon shapes to foster creativity and enhance user experience. There's no technical barrier to this change.
The piece concludes with a passionate plea to "Free the icons," envisioning a return to the era of varied, distinctive app icons that were both more expressive and easier to differentiate.
The Gossip
Tahoe's Tantrums
Many commenters strongly agree with the article's condemnation of macOS Tahoe's design, particularly the icon changes. They describe Tahoe as a significant regression, some likening it to Apple's 'Vista moment.' There's a palpable hope that a change in Apple's leadership might usher in a return to more user-centric software design, prioritizing aesthetics and usability over uniform-at-all-costs approaches.
Linux's Look
A thread of discussion emerges suggesting that if Apple insists on restricting icon creativity, perhaps Linux distributions could seize the opportunity to cultivate a richer, more diverse icon ecosystem. This prompts a rhetorical question and a brief, humorous exchange about why Linux hasn't historically been known for 'gorgeous icons.'
Leadership's Lens
Commenters ponder Apple's executive focus, speculating that the new CEO, with a background in hardware engineering, might prioritize hardware innovation over software refinements. There's an expressed desire for more attention to software from an engineering perspective, which could potentially address design issues like the controversial icon changes.