About

#iconsftw is a Twitter hashtag that began trending shortly after Apple announced its latest version of popular digital media player application, iTunes 10. One of the more noticeable changes introduced with update is the revamped icon (shown above), which has been met by grievances from many users for its plain, ugly design.

Origin

Within hours of announcement on September 1st, 2010, a twitter account called @itunes10icon was registered, vigorously defending itself from all the iTunes 10 haters via tweets.

Spread

Within a few more hours, dozens more “Icon” accounts sprung up. To name a few: @iChaticon @windows7icon, @windows95 icon, @quicktime7icon, @mailicon, @itunes9icon, @FacebookIcon etc. All these new accounts strated doing something similar to @itunes10icon: defending themelves against haters while simultaneously declaring that they are, in fact, the best icon. Many of these icons/users have started putting the hashtag #iconsftw at the end of all their posts.

Development on Twitter

Twitter user @osxdude created a Twitter list encompassing all iconFTW accounts.

Apple CEO Responds

On September 3rd, Wired.com blogged a brief exchange between Apple CEO Steve Jobs and Joshua Kopac, a lead designer at the advertising firm ValuLeads who expressed his minor concerns over the iTunes10 icon via e-mail:

Kopac:

Steve, Enjoyed the presentation today. But…this new iTunes logo really sucks. You're taking 10+ years of instant product recognition and replacing it with an unknown. Let's both cross our fingers on this…

Steve Jobs then responded:

Jobs:

We disagree. Sent from my iPhone

User-Generated Icons for iTunes 10

Unsatisfied with the redesigned icon, some users began uploading their own alternative designs via Dribbble.