Longhorn and icons

Is it over for iconists?

from WinCustomize Forums
In news.com's article An early peek at Longhorn, there was an interesting bit of information:
But while the OS bears plenty of similarities to Tiger, Allchin stressed that Microsoft has broken new ground in Longhorn. For example, document icons are no longer a hint of the type of file, but rather a small picture of the file itself. The icon for a Word document, for example, is a tiny iteration of the first page of the file. Folders, too, show glimpses of what's inside. Such images can be rather small, but they offer a visual cue that aids in the searching process, Allchin said.


Now, I wonder how that will affect the iconists out there. I assume that icons we are used to is still usable depending how high ou set the graphics setting, but what will this new icon system work? Do you think that we will be able to customize how the preview is rendered?
icons
15,460 views 32 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
NNNOOOOOooooo!!!!!

I hope there is an option for turning off that preview so I can still see the icons on my desktop... corel draw 12 already has a kind of implementation of that, it's too small to be of any use in id'ing files, and it looks ugly too.
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
I suppose with a very high-res large-screen monitor and your icons set to tiles or a large size, it might be useful, but I despise tile view in Explorer - you can't see enough of the folder content at one time, not to mention file attributes - so I don't know that it would be terribly helpful. If they limit it to just the document-specific icons (.doc, .xls, etc.), and make it optional, then it might make a little more sense. One thing's for sure, it will work the way the Redmond boys like it and want it.

Cheers,
Daiwa
Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I assume you would be able to turn it off, since you can choose various ways of how the GUI will be, Windows Classic, Visual Styles or Aero.
But remember that things will be more vectorized in Longhorn. I saw a video where they demostrated sizing of the icon view. It was then normal icons beeing sized in similar manner as ObjectDock size icons, but the narrator in the video said in the final release it would be vectorized.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I am thinking we will be able to use some sort of "View" menu, due to the fact that XP allows you to select folder views (i.e., in My Music, and My Pictures) that show content - or select normal view.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm sure somebody will figure a way.
Just like how they figured out how to make WindowBlinds work on XP.
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
I think the icon thing is a HORRIBLE idea. Especially for those of us who browse in list mode or very small icon mode. A word document is extremely easy to spot because of the blue "W" on top of a white sheet of paper. Switching to a preview icon of the document itself will make it a white square with squiggly lines on it. A word document will look like a PDF, or any image file that contains a fair bit of text. This has to be one of the worst UI ideas MS has come up with yet.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
white square with squiggly lines on it


It will still have a W, see Paul Thurotts screenshots.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
This has to be one of the worst UI ideas MS has come up with yet.


Have you actually seen it in action? Seem like a quick assumption to me.
Remember that Longhorn is designed with new technology in mind. Such as high-resolution monitors.
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
No, I have not seen it in action, I am merely going by the descriptions provided. I do not see this as providing anything additionally useful to the Windows UI, just more clutter and distraction. How is a word document icon as it exists confusing? Why do they need to "improve" it by placing a preview of the document on that small white backdrop? It's all well and good to add extra flash and dazzle to an interface, but you reach a point where it is just too much and adds confusion where there was none before.

In case you hadn't guessed, I'm a big fan of clean, effecient, non-clutters GUIs. I don't want my interface to get in the way of what I'm trying to do.


EDIT: After going through the WinSuperSite features, I stand corrected to an extent. The preview icons only apply when you're viewing in Tile mode, not list/tree view, which is how I manage my system. I still think it's needless fluff, but I step back from my "Worst. UI. Ever." comment.

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I can see it useful, at least for me personally. I am borderline dyslectic (that's what they told me) and my brain work better visually. The way the icons are done in tileview from the screenshot at winsupersite, I would identify a document much quicker than by looking in listview. The thumbnail in that screenshot indicated the number documents and you can see roughly how the first page looks like. To me that work alot better than a list with identical icons and a filename. I use thumbnail view like that with XP when I am looking for a image.
I wouldn't agree it's needless, but it comes down to personal preference if you like it or not. And with most things in Windows, there is most likely going to be a way to toggle it on or off.
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
This kind of view (actually nothing else but thumbnail view) is now possible (in XP) for Corel files, Power Point files and maybe something else. It looks incredibly ugly! The icon has bad colours palette, is pixelised... For text files small picture means nothing. All of them look the same. It would be useful only on huge monitors. If the icon looks the same as the original file zoomed out, then it might be useful to somebody. Anyway, I prefer classic tile view as that one in XP.
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top


Frankly I dont think any of you have ever installed longhorn on your system. But this feature rocks. Yes it does make hidin pr0n from ur parents hard, but its well worth it. Also this OS is gonna totally change the way people skin. Its mindblowing. Download it through edonkey, thts how i got it . If u want i can email screenies to you but they wont, do justice.
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Citizen DJ CD RD: How do you get Longhorn through eDonkey?
Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
Bad DJ CD RD... no promoting software piracy... bad... no cookie for you.
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Zoomba has it correct - this site does not promote software piracy!

Meowy - you must be a MSDN subscriber to obtain a legal copy of Longhorn - released for developers.

If interested, you can go here Link, but it is about $700 for base level subscription (unless you work for a Microsoft partner and have legal access that way).
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Where they going to expand the availibility of the beta versions?
Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top
Wider Beta availability should be near the later part of this year. I think the timeline sets it around September.
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Then $700 isnt worth it.
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Not if a preview of Longhorn is all you are after. Then it's much better to save the money for when LH really comes out.
I am just hoping that the Beta is availible for "normal" people like us.
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I agree - the $700 is worth it to a software company who is developing programs that will be run on that platform.

For end users, it is better to wait for a free public version (not sure about a freebie in the OS situation), or the offically released version.

You could buy a nice Video card and the new OS for the $700.
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
You could buy a nice Video card and the new OS for the $700


More than that!

I could get nice processor.......
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
You get a cheap machine for that.
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top

For $50 I could get the most advanced eMachines.
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
For end users, it is better to wait for a free public version (not sure about a freebie in the OS situation), or the offically released version.


Why not, for example you can get XP 64-bit beta free trial.

OK, that was about availability of Longhorn, but the topic is about Longhorn icons...
Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top
hehe... true... topic got a bit stray there...