Comments on: A Blast From The Past – The Return Of The Favicon http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/04/a-blast-from-the-past-%e2%80%93-the-return-of-the-favicon/ thoughts on | comments about | examples of } web design trends. Sat, 06 Sep 2008 06:20:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.2 By: Martin Ringlein http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/04/a-blast-from-the-past-%e2%80%93-the-return-of-the-favicon/#comment-13869 Martin Ringlein Mon, 04 Dec 2006 14:24:42 +0000 http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/04/a-blast-from-the-past-%e2%80%93-the-return-of-the-favicon/#comment-13869 Who isn't adding them? I still see the Favicon as a norm -- as a must even. Most people have been branded by their favicon! If "designers" are not adding them, it must be laziness or ignorance -- I can't imagine anyone is making a willing decision to not include one. Who isn’t adding them? I still see the Favicon as a norm — as a must even. Most people have been branded by their favicon!

If “designers” are not adding them, it must be laziness or ignorance — I can’t imagine anyone is making a willing decision to not include one.

]]> By: Nate K http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/04/a-blast-from-the-past-%e2%80%93-the-return-of-the-favicon/#comment-13870 Nate K Mon, 04 Dec 2006 14:55:53 +0000 http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/04/a-blast-from-the-past-%e2%80%93-the-return-of-the-favicon/#comment-13870 I am with Martin, I still see them all over the place. Adding them is simple, and there are even more ways to add them than the above listed. As someone who monitors and checks logs often, I add them just to rid the 404 from automated searches for the favicon and robots.txt file. You could omit the head link to the shortcut icon and it would still be picked up by most browsers or bookmarking applications (though its best practice to leave it in there - just making a note that it is checked by most anyway, just take a look at your logs) I guess I never saw them fade in the first place..... I am with Martin, I still see them all over the place. Adding them is simple, and there are even more ways to add them than the above listed.

As someone who monitors and checks logs often, I add them just to rid the 404 from automated searches for the favicon and robots.txt file. You could omit the head link to the shortcut icon and it would still be picked up by most browsers or bookmarking applications (though its best practice to leave it in there - just making a note that it is checked by most anyway, just take a look at your logs)

I guess I never saw them fade in the first place…..

]]> By: giz404 http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/04/a-blast-from-the-past-%e2%80%93-the-return-of-the-favicon/#comment-13871 giz404 Mon, 04 Dec 2006 14:57:13 +0000 http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/04/a-blast-from-the-past-%e2%80%93-the-return-of-the-favicon/#comment-13871 I think Safari 2 didn't show the favicon next to address. That maybe a reason why designers let it down... "Loin des yeux, loin du coeur" I think Safari 2 didn’t show the favicon next to address. That maybe a reason why designers let it down… “Loin des yeux, loin du coeur”

]]> By: nick http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/04/a-blast-from-the-past-%e2%80%93-the-return-of-the-favicon/#comment-13895 nick Mon, 04 Dec 2006 17:58:13 +0000 http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/04/a-blast-from-the-past-%e2%80%93-the-return-of-the-favicon/#comment-13895 I find that, instead of messing around with .ico's, this method works just as well. They icons don't need to be 16x16, and they can be any recognizable format. I forget why you need both, for browser support or legacy stuff. <code> </code> I find that, instead of messing around with .ico’s, this method works just as well. They icons don’t need to be 16×16, and they can be any recognizable format. I forget why you need both, for browser support or legacy stuff.

]]> By: Ephram Zerb http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/04/a-blast-from-the-past-%e2%80%93-the-return-of-the-favicon/#comment-13897 Ephram Zerb Mon, 04 Dec 2006 18:03:35 +0000 http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/04/a-blast-from-the-past-%e2%80%93-the-return-of-the-favicon/#comment-13897 I wouldn't consider favicons a trend, especially one that has dampened down. Approximately 80% of sites I subscribe to feature a favicon. For sites I bookmark and access frequently (web apps), I get frustrated when the bookmarks don't have an icon associated with them. Favicons make it much easier to scan a list of sites (be it in an RSS reader like Net News Wire, or just browser bookmarks). They also do a good job of re-inforcing the brand. The W3C recommends including favicons in the way you recommend. From my experience, I also usually put them in the root directory of a website as well. I remember it solving some compatibility issues. Also, not having it the root directory, you’re liable to get a lot of log file entries from user agents that look for the favicon there (see Nake K's comment). When adding a favicon, make sure it’s a finalized version. While it’s easy to swap out images included in the CSS file or on a web page, favicons are pretty persistent in the browser cache. I wouldn’t consider favicons a trend, especially one that has dampened down. Approximately 80% of sites I subscribe to feature a favicon. For sites I bookmark and access frequently (web apps), I get frustrated when the bookmarks don’t have an icon associated with them. Favicons make it much easier to scan a list of sites (be it in an RSS reader like Net News Wire, or just browser bookmarks). They also do a good job of re-inforcing the brand.

The W3C recommends including favicons in the way you recommend. From my experience, I also usually put them in the root directory of a website as well. I remember it solving some compatibility issues. Also, not having it the root directory, you’re liable to get a lot of log file entries from user agents that look for the favicon there (see Nake K’s comment).

When adding a favicon, make sure it’s a finalized version. While it’s easy to swap out images included in the CSS file or on a web page, favicons are pretty persistent in the browser cache.

]]> By: Andrew Faulkner http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/04/a-blast-from-the-past-%e2%80%93-the-return-of-the-favicon/#comment-13898 Andrew Faulkner Mon, 04 Dec 2006 18:05:24 +0000 http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/04/a-blast-from-the-past-%e2%80%93-the-return-of-the-favicon/#comment-13898 <blockquote>The more you can get your logo or colours in front of somebody – the more chance you will have of that person remembering your company.</blockquote> I think that this is the most important issue here. If you can put your logo somewhere, why not? It's not just competition though. It stops confusion. If you have a folder of bookmarks labelled 'accessibility' for instance, it's useful to see where those articles came from without having to click. It can be an aid to memory. e.g. What was that accessibility article on alt attributes? <looks in bookmarks> Aha - that one from A List Apart. I remember know. Simple.

The more you can get your logo or colours in front of somebody – the more chance you will have of that person remembering your company.

I think that this is the most important issue here. If you can put your logo somewhere, why not?

It’s not just competition though. It stops confusion. If you have a folder of bookmarks labelled ‘accessibility’ for instance, it’s useful to see where those articles came from without having to click. It can be an aid to memory.

e.g.

What was that accessibility article on alt attributes? Aha - that one from A List Apart. I remember know.

Simple.

]]> By: Andrew Faulkner http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/04/a-blast-from-the-past-%e2%80%93-the-return-of-the-favicon/#comment-13899 Andrew Faulkner Mon, 04 Dec 2006 18:14:05 +0000 http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/04/a-blast-from-the-past-%e2%80%93-the-return-of-the-favicon/#comment-13899 Adding to Nate & Martin, I don't remember a 'fade' really, but I do recall a time when favicons were rather tacky random icons - not always branded. It was a case of "because one could" and now it's a case of "because they're good. They went from bells and whistles to a usability feature. They grew up. Adding to Nate & Martin, I don’t remember a ‘fade’ really, but I do recall a time when favicons were rather tacky random icons - not always branded. It was a case of “because one could” and now it’s a case of “because they’re good.

They went from bells and whistles to a usability feature. They grew up.

]]> By: Justin Kistner http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/04/a-blast-from-the-past-%e2%80%93-the-return-of-the-favicon/#comment-13903 Justin Kistner Mon, 04 Dec 2006 18:48:21 +0000 http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/04/a-blast-from-the-past-%e2%80%93-the-return-of-the-favicon/#comment-13903 I don't have a favicon yet. Even though I'm a designer, I decided not to make a custom design for my blog until I've successfully maintained it for 6 months. I didn't want to be a fanboy that has a name for his band and first album before locating other band members. I do look forward to making my favicon, though. Wee!!!!!!!!11 I don’t have a favicon yet. Even though I’m a designer, I decided not to make a custom design for my blog until I’ve successfully maintained it for 6 months. I didn’t want to be a fanboy that has a name for his band and first album before locating other band members. I do look forward to making my favicon, though. Wee!!!!!!!!11

]]> By: Matt Davies http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/04/a-blast-from-the-past-%e2%80%93-the-return-of-the-favicon/#comment-13920 Matt Davies Mon, 04 Dec 2006 21:21:10 +0000 http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/04/a-blast-from-the-past-%e2%80%93-the-return-of-the-favicon/#comment-13920 From the sounds of it my experience of Favicons becoming used less frequently may be a little isolated. It may have just been coincidence that I have seemed to look at alot of sites without Favicons. I still maintain though that they are not used enough - just flicking through some CSS galleries I found that although over half had Favicons there was still a good percentage that didn't. I remember a few years ago every site had a Favicon and I'd like to see this continue. Keep up the good work chaps - does anybody not use Favicons deliberately? From the sounds of it my experience of Favicons becoming used less frequently may be a little isolated. It may have just been coincidence that I have seemed to look at alot of sites without Favicons. I still maintain though that they are not used enough - just flicking through some CSS galleries I found that although over half had Favicons there was still a good percentage that didn’t. I remember a few years ago every site had a Favicon and I’d like to see this continue. Keep up the good work chaps - does anybody not use Favicons deliberately?

]]> By: Paul Armstrong http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/04/a-blast-from-the-past-%e2%80%93-the-return-of-the-favicon/#comment-13960 Paul Armstrong Tue, 05 Dec 2006 02:52:36 +0000 http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/04/a-blast-from-the-past-%e2%80%93-the-return-of-the-favicon/#comment-13960 in response to "giz404", Safari 2 does show favicons, the only problem with Safari and favicons is that it caches them until practically the end of time. Another problem is when a logo just won't scale to 16x16. Some designers just omit doing it out of sheer laziness. These are the designers you should not hire. in response to “giz404″, Safari 2 does show favicons, the only problem with Safari and favicons is that it caches them until practically the end of time.

Another problem is when a logo just won’t scale to 16×16. Some designers just omit doing it out of sheer laziness. These are the designers you should not hire.

]]> By: Nate K http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/04/a-blast-from-the-past-%e2%80%93-the-return-of-the-favicon/#comment-14116 Nate K Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:38:09 +0000 http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/04/a-blast-from-the-past-%e2%80%93-the-return-of-the-favicon/#comment-14116 RE: Justin I understand what you are saying completely. I initially started my website on a wordpress blog, and haven't been able to update it until around...now (over the christmas season). My favicon is simply the same fade as the default wordpress header. I added it to remove the 404's from my server logs looking for the favicon. I like the idea that you are waiting to commit fully to it, though. That is a good decision. RE: Matt I think it is just perception. I don't really even think about it most of the time. I am using RSS more and more instead of bookmarking that I don't really pay as much attention to the favicon. So, its not that you are wrong, just that it might not seem as 'fading' to others. The example of creating a favicon will help others, im sure. RE: Justin
I understand what you are saying completely. I initially started my website on a wordpress blog, and haven’t been able to update it until around…now (over the christmas season). My favicon is simply the same fade as the default wordpress header. I added it to remove the 404’s from my server logs looking for the favicon.

I like the idea that you are waiting to commit fully to it, though. That is a good decision.

RE: Matt
I think it is just perception. I don’t really even think about it most of the time. I am using RSS more and more instead of bookmarking that I don’t really pay as much attention to the favicon. So, its not that you are wrong, just that it might not seem as ‘fading’ to others. The example of creating a favicon will help others, im sure.

]]> By: Matt Davies http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/04/a-blast-from-the-past-%e2%80%93-the-return-of-the-favicon/#comment-14230 Matt Davies Wed, 06 Dec 2006 08:49:01 +0000 http://fadtastic.net/2006/12/04/a-blast-from-the-past-%e2%80%93-the-return-of-the-favicon/#comment-14230 Good point Nate - maybe somebody should invent an rss feed reader which pulls down the Favicon too - there’s an idea for a budding rss feed software designer... Good point Nate - maybe somebody should invent an rss feed reader which pulls down the Favicon too - there’s an idea for a budding rss feed software designer…

]]>