the rockbox logo looks like a bit of a mish mash.
It's made by a swedish guy called Thomas Saeys. For the record, I like the current logo a lot.I do too.
For the record, I like the current logo a lot.
I know I'll probably get shot down by Llorean for saying this, but it's my opinion.
(http://www.rentmybrain.net/RockboxLogo.gif)
http://www.rentmybrain.net/RockboxLogo.pdf
Much more sleek, modern and cool. The current logo just feels kind of amateurish, not polished. To put it another way - Rockbox with the black logo feels like something I'd have to buy, whereas I'd expect to get Rockbox with the current logo for free.Funny, I have the exact opposite feeling... :-)
More fundamentally, however, I have yet to see anyone articulate any good reason why the existing logo should be replaced. Â (I don't consider 'I like this other logo better' to be a good reason. )
Whether a logo is good or not is pretty much entirely subjective. You like the current logo, I personally don't. So there we are. If the people who have the power to change it don't want to change it, what can you do? Case closed.Indeed. I never understood why some people find the logo that important. I like the current one and don't see any reason to change it. Rockbox is about playing music ;)
Maybe we could slow down the boot process to display the logo longer, that way nobody will miss it.The logo wouldnt have to be only at bootup, could use it for the menu. I put a logo for the background of the menus in all my wps themes.
Well, so far nobody has presented a suggested symbolic logo, tending to opt for the textual ones. The closest still contain text elements.I'll again express my favour of the "Rockbox H300 experimental" (http://www.misticriver.net/showthread.php?t=35654) logo. Not the entire logo - but the small "R" that looks like it's part of a cube. It's in my opinion pretty good, but I don't understand why it's upside down.
If it were to go in that direction (a symbol representing the project) it could even very well coexist with the existing logo. More of a mascot image. BSD Daemon, Linux's Tux, etc. Any cute little critters seem appropriate? ;)
Could it be that the upside down R is actually a box with a musical quarter note? That's what it looks like to me. I actually think it's pretty sharp-looking. Very clever, concise, and well representative of Rockbox.Well, so far nobody has presented a suggested symbolic logo, tending to opt for the textual ones. The closest still contain text elements.I'll again express my favour of the "Rockbox H300 experimental" (http://www.misticriver.net/showthread.php?t=35654) logo. Not the entire logo - but the small "R" that looks like it's part of a cube. It's in my opinion pretty good, but I don't understand why it's upside down.
If it were to go in that direction (a symbol representing the project) it could even very well coexist with the existing logo. More of a mascot image. BSD Daemon, Linux's Tux, etc. Any cute little critters seem appropriate? ;)
Well, so far nobody has presented a suggested symbolic logo, tending to opt for the textual ones. The closest still contain text elements.
If it were to go in that direction (a symbol representing the project) it could even very well coexist with the existing logo. More of a mascot image. BSD Daemon, Linux's Tux, etc. Any cute little critters seem appropriate? ;)
Really, it's just a logo.Now, perhaps that's where our opinions clash. To me, and the other project leaders, the logo *is* important. Like I said in an earlier post:
The whole point of a logo is the element of recognition. When you see the logo, there should be no doubt what it represents. Just like the Coke logo, or McDonald's for that matter.
I'd say that the Rockbox logo is excellent in this respect. What is the point of changing it?
More fundamentally, however, I have yet to see anyone articulate any good reason why the existing logo should be replaced. (I don't consider 'I like this other logo better' to be a good reason. )The whole purpose of this thread is to illustrate that there are people who personally don't like the logo - that much is clear. Why should specific rationale be articulated to you?
If someone comes up with a cool logo everyone likes and can agree on, just change it.
i personally think your all on drugs or something if you see a R in that square.. all i see is a C.. maybe with a bit of prompting an R could be made out... but the C is definatly easier to see...If you rotate it as in the left, or even better as in the right, it's extremely obvious.
/you votes keep the logo... againIn the end, I agree, though this logo is the closest I've come to reconsidering.
think about evolution, not revolution
If you want to fix something (like a proposed guy with a boom box) please think about evolution, not revolution. Take a look at the Rockbox girl by Julius from iPod experimental builds.(http:// http://solutions-i.org/julius/rockbox/rockboxlogo.320x98x16.bmp
)
How's this for evolution? (Note, despite the title, I'm no artist :D Comment on the idea, not the execution)I don't like it. It simly add something that doesn't belong there IMO. Also, the letters are off the baseline for the "box" which looks somewhat broken to me.
How's this for evolution? (Note, despite the title, I'm no artist :D Comment on the idea, not the execution)I don't like it. It simly add something that doesn't belong there IMO. Also, the letters are off the baseline for the "box" which looks somewhat broken to me.
Hi,
what do you think about a symbolic logo like this:
(http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/8985/cleffysmalluk3.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)
I'm sure people would love it.
And it could also be used inside the firmware for example to show splash screens (by showing the text in a yellow speech bubble) ...or random popups just to annoy the user ;).
I can't believe I'm getting pulled into this, but I like that box.You know what my biggest problem with the rockbox logo is. Its the fact that its yellow. Yellow isn't the most appealing color, and usually if you do public presentations or videos you try to avoid the yellow as a backdrop. Extremely screamy colors never are that good really. For instance neon green would look horrid on this logo
How's this for evolution? (Note, despite the title, I'm no artist :D Comment on the idea, not the execution)
(http://planetretcon.com/img/rockbox1.png)
You know what my biggest problem with the rockbox logo is. Its the fact that its yellow. Yellow isn't the most appealing color,
Extremely screamy colors never are that good really. For instance neon green would look horrid on this logoUm, so don't use neon green with it?
You know what my biggest problem with the rockbox logo is. Its the fact that its yellow. Yellow isn't the most appealing color,
Well, to reinforce the point that Linus made earlier:
(http://www.mcdonalds.com/images/global_splash/arch.jpg)
Clearly, yellow can be effective as the color of a logo.
(http://landingpage.guinness.com/NR/rdonlyres/045B250C-D39D-4AFD-B71A-E57186B1CBB8/0/guinness.gif) (http://www.deere.com/en_US/deerecom/media/images/us_homepage/logo_green.gif) (http://www.yellowpages.com.fj/images/logo.gif)QuoteExtremely screamy colors never are that good really. For instance neon green would look horrid on this logoUm, so don't use neon green with it?
Just for no good reason:
(http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/7433/rockboxlogoua1.jpg)
Anyone willing to try the inverted logo?
If it were to go in that direction (a symbol representing the project) it could even very well coexist with the existing logo. More of a mascot image. BSD Daemon, Linux's Tux, etc. Any cute little critters seem appropriate? ;)That's what I'm thinking as well. If there's no consensus (or chief decision) that it should be changed, it'd be nice if there was a smaller logo that was more of an "icon", like perhaps in addition to the logo, like the McDonalds arches or the Windows windows. There is now, to some extent; the G-clef is used as the website's favicon. I think it's a little too generic, but then again, Rockbox doesn't really need its own "branding". Personally, I think the blue note thing by jeanreno is the best one yet. The color doesn't seem bad to me either; the entire website is already blue, after all. It could be recolored in yellow too, I guess.
Just for no good reason:They're very professional-looking, that's for sure. I really like the round ones. The boxed one was a nice idea and a good way to incorporate the name, but I'm not sure if the outcome works.
(http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/7433/rockboxlogoua1.jpg)
We DO need a themesong (for the credits plugin!)
Keep in mind this is a rough image, but here:Mummy, make the bad man stop.
(http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/7240/rb1ve4.png)
Hey alfred.I think the appearance of an R was just coincidence. I think the artist was trying to emphasize the musical aspect of Rockbox by placing a quarter note in a box, and the upside-down R was coincidental.
I like it too. But the logo is upside down!!! Unless there was some reason for that Im not aware of. Its meant to be visible as an R.
Attached is the right way up version.
as i mentioned above, i took it from needleboy's logo
quarter note in a boxemphasize the musical aspect of Rockbox by placing a quarter note in a box
... to me it looks more like a herbie car! Not that thats a bad thing, could be a pimped-herbie! ;)
I just want to point out that before Rockbox could ever use this as a logo, we would need to get jeanreno's permission.
Not to mention possibly a vector and better quality version as well. He is or was on the MisticRiver forums, so you might be able to contact him through there.I just want to point out that before Rockbox could ever use this as a logo, we would need to get jeanreno's permission.
So does anyone know how to get a hold of him, to get his potential permission? Maybe his 2 cents could be worth it.
I just sent jeanreno a PM asking him to contact us to discuss this... The thing is I'm not too sure he ever visits MR currently, and his email was hidden :(Yeah, I noticed that as well, maybe a MisticRiver admin could be persuaded to contact him (I'm pretty sure a valid email is required to register, so they'll have an address)?
As a moderator at MR, I can access his e-mail, but I would prefer to wait to see if he responds to the PM before doing so.It probably also won't matter unless a decision is taken that his logo might be a candidate for use in some way.
Is nobody going to tell us what came in first? ???
Is nobody going to tell us what came in first? ???
Hi.http://www.rockbox.org/mail/archive/rockbox-archive-2002-01/0134.shtml
Thanks for voting, everyone. The final results were surprisingly even:
Rockbox: 15
Gnukebox: 10
Orpheus: 17
Just to show what a ruthless dictator I am, I have decided to not use the
winning name Orpheus, instead going with the more descriptive second place
Rockbox. I'm such a crook! :-)
As you can see at the top of this mail, I have changed the mail address and
also the web page address (although the old will still work in both cases).
Now with this name business behind us, let's get on with the code. I have
submitted a SourceForge project registration, so we'll have a proper CVS and
task manager up and running within days.
--
Björn
;) as i mentioned above, i took it from needleboy's logo (see attachment)... i don't know why he turned it around.
it looks even better, now that one can recognize the 'r', i think. thanks!
by now i can tell you that i definitely prefer the yellow version.
alfred
EDIT: rounded corners now, s'il vous plait ;) although the black background wasn't part of the logo for me.
Is nobody going to tell us what came in first? ???
(Many snips)
Rockbox: 15
Gnukebox: 10
Orpheus: 17
but it might help make the community bigger and project more visible.Honestly, if it was the appearance of the logo that would attract some people to this community, I'd say that Rockbox is not for them. Let them go to other projects and admire their logos, and let us listen to music and have fun hacking code.
Honestly, if it was the appearance of the logo that would attract some people to this community, I'd say that Rockbox is not for them. Let them go to other projects and admire their logos, and let us listen to music and have fun hacking code.Amen to that!
Honestly, if it was the appearance of the logo that would attract some people to this community, I'd say that Rockbox is not for them. Let them go to other projects and admire their logos, and let us listen to music and have fun hacking code.Amen to that!
Honestly, if it was the appearance of the logo that would attract some people to this community, I'd say that Rockbox is not for them. Let them go to other projects and admire their logos, and let us listen to music and have fun hacking code.Amen to that!
Sounds like an argument to remove Doom and Rockboy!
;D
Sounds like an argument to remove Doom and Rockboy!
;D
Sounds like an argument to remove Doom and Rockboy!
;D
What is this fabulous Jubebox you speak of, and how may I get one?
:D
What is this fabulous Jubebox you speak of, and how may I get one?
:D
ha-ha didn't even notice I will fix that later how do you like he emblem though?
but, to be honest, out of the current logo and everything proposed, my vote would go to the one shown here: http://forums.rockbox.org/index.php?topic=6202.msg72495#msg72495I have to agree
but, to be honest, out of the current logo and everything proposed, my vote would go to the one shown here: http://forums.rockbox.org/index.php?topic=6202.msg72495#msg72495
I have to agree
... and how good does it work on greyscale or monochrome displays?2 minutes' work in gimp:
Dunno, just trying to point out that it's not an insurmountable problem.I know it isn't an unsolvable problem, but I still think the current logo works better using greyscales. And it looks like a lot of logo arguers / creators forget the greyscale / monochrome aspect we still need.
A little contribution: Plain and simple, and suitable in various colours.
No, we don't need a new logo, thanks.
I got a great reason for a new logo, everytime I look at it I see "Rockbax" the o with the x makes it look like an a and it kills me, I really like that "RB" thing someone made a couple of posts ago.
In fact, I'd say we *can* guarantee that no logo but the original would win it. :D
Honestly, I'm pretty tired of the whole reflection thing. Everything's doing it, and it doesn't even look that great in the first place. To me, at least, that sucks any life the Rockbox logo had out of it, and replaces it with a helping of "hey, we want to be indistinguishable from everyone else who likes shiny surfaces." Not to be overly critical, I suppose, it's just *really* not my thing.
maybe I need to exepriment with different shades of yellow.. I'll give it another shot..
EDIT: that's better now..
Really, I'd like to see the custom splash patch (http://www.rockbox.org/tracker/task/7538?histring=splash&pagenum=2) commited, so that everyone can have the logo they want. But that's probably not going to happen, either.
And you saw it coming.. heres my version - put in the context of a new web page
http://www.unco.co.nz/legacy/work/rockbox/rockbox1.jpg
4) I realise that open source is normally a case of standing on the shoulders of giants but when you use and or propose an image like this http://pijulius.blogspot.com/2006/06/rockbox-bootloader-with-fullscreenlogo.html you should at least credit the origins? http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&safe=off&q=hed+kandi+image&btnG=Search+Images
I don't see any indication of "music" in that logo at all. It's more or less all box, no rock.
Here's an evolution version (yes, sometimes evolution has leaps and bounds too) using the r/note/box of an earlier poster modified so it isn't read upside down.
We prefer not to sticky topics here. There's just too many topics that one could argue *could* be stickied, it makes more sense to expect people to just follow the guidelines and run a quick search or two on their area of interest.ok fair enough
It would be also good to remember that the people you most need to convince are the people who really like the original image. The line "think evolution, not revolution" means "We're more likely to prefer ones inspired by and closely related to the current one." Saying "Well, sometimes evolution makes jumps" just means to us "I don't really like your current image so I'm going to make something completely different and call it evolution."Obviously no one on the rockbox team has asked for design concepts so this situation is different to a normal design process - my personal reason for throwing my 2c into the logo ring was that (even though the current logo is loved like a child) there are reasons to be critical of it.
And, as to your legibility test, why exactly are we scaling the full website header image down to ridiculously small sizes, exactly? (PS: It looks to me like your scaling is done by a poor algorithm, look in the top left corner of this page to see a similarly scaled one to your medium image, but with a lot less ugliness, and I suspect both our and your image would look better with better scaling).
I thought the idea was to see how well loved the old one is? Why are we comparing it to Hayden's now, rather than any other suggestion we've been given?Because I don't know of an internationally recognised scale of love ::) Comparing (with one or more) contenders might give logo designers a clue where the consensus of opinion is, in terms of preferred design style.
Ignoring the "they can scale down to smaller images" factor since that's pretty much irrelevant.The logo is shown scaled down on the DAPs, so there is relevance (IMHO)
The logo is shown scaled down on the DAPs, so there is relevance (IMHO)The logo isn't even remotely scaled down to the level he scaled it in the way he scaled it, nor is it necessary that the website logo be used without modification on the DAP. The fact is, the Rockbox logo can be scaled down through simplification (removal of the textures to replace with solid colors, removal of detail text) to scale down an awful lot and remain recognizable. Further modification (such as shortening the text to "Rb") for tiny screens or changing contrasts for grayscale and B&W targets is also possible. As it stands, the Rockbox forum staff icons are small enough to fit on the screen of any current bitmap target we have or, as far as I know, have looked at, and are still pretty darn recognizable.
Should it just be the few people who maintain the website (and thus make the very final decision) who vote, since those people at least have the authority to reject images?
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/truedenny/rblogoconceptsmall.png?t=1223133336)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/truedenny/rblogoconcept2small.png)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/truedenny/rblogoconcept2small.png)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/truedenny/rblogoconcept2small.png)
Could we see that latest logo with a lower-case "box", and perhaps (I'm not sure how this will look) shaving the point off the upper left corner so that it's also a right angle?Perhaps also some shading on the right side of the note so the line between it and the yellow background is more distinct @ lower resolution?
One thing I'd like to ask Hayden: Ignoring the "they can scale down to smaller images" factor since that's pretty much irrelevant, what exactly is your goal with the image redesigns? My personal perspective on your redesigns is that you're basically attempting to take any life out of them and make it "a boring word and an icon", which I know sounds really negative, but it's the impression I get from it, and I'd like to hear what your intent with it was to understand. At that point maybe I can offer some constructive feedback instead.
Heck, some people probably don't even play music on their MP3 players. I'm sure a lot of people use it for audiobooks, as it's surely a decent way to have voice-navigated use of audiobooks.
Speaking of "Communication", what elements of your logo actually communicate anything about what Rockbox is? I see an R and a musical note, and that's about it. Nothing about that communicates "software" or "a continually developed project" or "many rough edges are to be expected" or anything else about the project other than "there's a letter R, and it involves music."
Could we see that latest logo with a lower-case "box", and perhaps (I'm not sure how this will look) shaving the point off the upper left corner so that it's also a right angle?Perhaps also some shading on the right side of the note so the line between it and the yellow background is more distinct @ lower resolution?
:D
+--+--+
| | |
+--+--+
|\\| |
+--+--+
I "cheated" by expanding each "pixel" to a 2x2 block to make the diagonal look smoothish, while not losing all of its blockiness.
I said ish!I "cheated" by expanding each "pixel" to a 2x2 block to make the diagonal look smoothish, while not losing all of its blockiness.
That looks smooth to you?
It's in serious need of shading, as opposed to solid black/white.Well, I wanted to make it as simple as possible, so it's not just black and white, its a 2-color palate.
EDIT: It'd need to scale to 12x12 to be used also, can it go that low?It does not, at least not smooth(ish)ly, as you need 2 pixels for each horizontal/vertical line, and 6 pixels for each large box. That's a total of 2+2+2+6+6=18 pixels.
[St.]
There's only one thing I think is a candidate for a new logo: (http://svn.rockbox.org/viewvc.cgi/trunk/android/res/drawable-hdpi/icon.png?revision=29664)
You mean like this?
(http://i52.tinypic.com/24xjed4.jpg)
it's actualy not a bad idea- very simple and easy to recognize.
I'm using the Rockbox clef logo in my 24px iconset for RaaA, and it looks quite nice.
The original version I used for the 24px iconset (I think it's still on the tracker...) used the square "Rb" logo that I really like:
(http://svn.rockbox.org/viewvc.cgi/trunk/rbutil/rbutilqt/icons/rockbox-5.png?revision=29664)
It scales really well too.
I believe that logo was only being discussed in the context of targets like the Clip, low resolution and Mono. It's just scaled up for better visibility. Everythings going to have the "MS Paint" look under those circumstances.