Icons
I don't know if I'm exceptional here, but I have a really hard time deciphering what many of the little icons used in applications and websites actually mean. I have grown accustomed to the near universal use of the blank sheet of paper to mean something like "create new document". But in Microsoft Word, the blank sheet with a magnifying glass on it means "print preview". WTF. Why doesn't it mean View Zoom?
Consider [Windows] XP Style Icons at icongalore.com.
Their E-mail Application Icon Set (regular $249, on sale for $77) taught me that an envelope with an explosion on it means "Mail Blaster":
Now all I have to do is figure out what the hell "Mail Blaster" means. Also, an envelope with its right side made out of metal means "Edit mail":
Finally, envelopes floating in a transparent vat of water mean "Bulk mail":
The icons used at ebay are so intuitive that they produce
multiple glossaries to explain them: Icon Glossary for Listings, and Icon Glossary for My eBay. From the latter we learn that a green guy riding on a blue guy's back means "Second Chance Offer":
It all makes sense now, I take it back, icons are great.
posted by sgt.turmeric at 09:03
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