'Re: Discussions about amaroK not using default icons'

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List: kde-usability
Subject: Re: Discussions about amaroK not using default icons
From: "Chi Shang Cheng" <chishangcheng () gmail ! com>
Date: 2006-04-23 18:54:05
Message-ID: 8e5359a90604231154r1e835a2ahb4a0d78efb5624f6 () mail ! gmail ! com
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Hi Christian,

I've just read your bug report and you do have a point: interface
inconsistency is a bad thing. However, there are several more things to
consider:

First of all, Amarok has more (and severe) usability issues that have to
addressed, which I will not describe in detail right now. I will be
releasing an in-depth article about this as soon as possible.
Second, the default icons in KDE (Crystal icons by Everaldo) are known to b=
e
oversaturated and not very pleasing for the eye. If a KDE app chooses to us=
e
custom icons that are better designed, and improves the usability of that
specific app, would that be wrong. Let's take this to the next level: what
if Amarok was an audio player that looked totally inconsistent with the res=
t
of the KDE desktop, but usability-wise was super? What is more important?
Interface consistency for the sake of interface consistency, or true
usability?
Third, the icons that are customized, are icons that are only used in the
controls of multimedia player apps, for which aren't a ton of in an ordinar=
y
KDE desktop. The impact of inconsistent use of icons will be minimal.
Obviously, when for instance the default CD icon was replaced by a custom
one, the impact would be much greater.
Fourth, the custom icons aren't much of an improvement in my opinion. They
are still oversaturated and do not have a clear and pleasant contrast.

Chi Shang

2006/4/23, Christian Nitschkowski <segfault_ii@web.de>:
>
> Am Sonntag, 23. April 2006 16:14 schrieb Aaron J. Seigo:
>
> > what's needed is the amaroK developers to understand that this new
> setting
> > is a mistake. however, the usability team has very little authority to
> > enforce such a change. were it a standard kde application then we would
> > have more ability to affect change here, but it's really up to the
> amaroK
> > team. yes, it's a mistake, but it's their mistake.
> >
> I know amaroK isn't a part of the KDE project, but I think the usabilitie=
s
> opinion weighs more than a user's opinion.
>
> > i've talked with the developers fairly extensively on irc about it and
> > there is apparently very little desire on their part to affect a change=
.
> > i've added a comment to the BR in any case
> I've read your comment already. Thank you for posting there, too.
> Before amaroK 1.4 b3 was released I read your comment on the amaroK-wiki
> pages
> when they introduced those new icons.
>
> What makes me wonder, afaik amaroK is part of kde-extragear.
> Don't you have any "official" influence on projects that make up the
> extragears?
>
> If not, maybe a policy that every application in the extragears has to
> conform
> to the (upcoming) KDE HIG would be a good idea?
>
> Best Regards
> Christian Nitschkowski
>
> --
> --: Christian Nitschkowski <segfault_ii@web.de> :--
> --: Jabber: segfault_ii@a-message.de :--
> --: ICQ#: 66190597 :--
>
> Go where the silence is and say something
> - Chumbawamba
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> kde-usability mailing list
> kde-usability@kde.org
> https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/kde-usability
>
>
>
>

[Attachment #5 (text/html)]

Hi Christian, I've just read your bug report and you do have a point: \
interface inconsistency is a bad thing. However, there are several more things to \
consider: First of all, Amarok has more (and severe) usability issues that \
have to addressed, which I will not describe in detail right now. I will be releasing \
an in-depth article about this as soon as possible. Second, the default icons in \
KDE (Crystal icons by Everaldo) are known to be oversaturated and not very pleasing \
for the eye. If a KDE app chooses to use custom icons that are better designed, and \
improves the usability of that specific app, would that be wrong. Let's take this to \
the next level: what if Amarok was an audio player that looked totally inconsistent \
with the rest of the KDE desktop, but usability-wise was super? What is more \
important? Interface consistency for the sake of interface consistency, or true \
usability? Third, the icons that are customized, are icons that are only used in \
the controls of multimedia player apps, for which aren't a ton of in an ordinary KDE \
desktop. The impact of inconsistent use of icons will be minimal. Obviously, when for \
instance the default CD icon was replaced by a custom one, the impact would be much \
greater. Fourth, the custom icons aren't much of an improvement in my opinion. \
They are still oversaturated and do not have a clear and pleasant \
contrast. Chi Shang <div>2006/4/23, Christian \
Nitschkowski &lt; <a \
href="mailto:segfault_ii@web.de">segfault_ii@web.de</a>&gt;:<blockquote \
class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt \
0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">Am Sonntag, 23. April 2006 16:14 schrieb Aaron J. \
Seigo: &gt; what's needed is the amaroK developers to understand that this \
new setting &gt; is a mistake. however, the usability team has very little \
authority to &gt; enforce such a change. were it a standard kde application then \
we would &gt; have more ability to affect change here, but it's really up to the \
amaroK &gt; team. yes, it's a mistake, but it's their mistake. &gt; I know \
amaroK isn't a part of the KDE project, but I think the usabilities opinion \
weighs more than a user's opinion. &gt; i've talked with the developers fairly \
extensively on irc about it and &gt; there is apparently very little desire on \
their part to affect a change. &gt; i've added a comment to the BR in any case \
 I've read your comment already. Thank you for posting there, too. Before \
amaroK 1.4 b3 was released I read your comment on the amaroK-wiki pages when they \
introduced those new icons. What makes me wonder, afaik amaroK is part of \
kde-extragear. Don't you have any &quot;official&quot; influence on projects that \
make up the extragears? If not, maybe a policy that every application in \
the extragears has to conform to the (upcoming) KDE HIG would be a good idea? \
 Best Regards Christian Nitschkowski -- --: Christian \
Nitschkowski &lt;<a href="mailto:segfault_ii@web.de">segfault_ii@web.de</a>&gt; \
:-- --: Jabber: <a href="mailto:segfault_ii@a-message.de">segfault_ii@a-message.de \
</a> :-- --: ICQ#: 66190597 :-- Go where the silence is and say \
something - Chumbawamba _______________________________________________ kde-usability \
mailing list <a href="mailto:kde-usability@kde.org"> \
kde-usability@kde.org</a> <a \
href="https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/kde-usability">https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/kde-usability</a> </blockquote></div>

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