The Breakroom • A blog for the Iconfactory

Pixelpalooza Deadline Looms

March 24, 2003

Let Hollywood keep their Oscars, we’ve got pixels! Seems like only yesterday we were announcing the start of this year’s annual icon design contest, Pixelpalooza. Seven weeks later, we’re nearing the end, and that means that if you’ve not submitted your entry to this year’s contest, get yourself moving!

To date, Pixelpalooza 2003 has garnered 70 entries from around the world in this year’s submission categories: OS X, CandyBar and Classic. Be sure to keep stopping by over the course of the week, as we’re sure to have a great many last minute entries come in under the wire. Now get moving people, these pixels don’t push themselves!

R.I.P. John Crichton

March 21, 2003

By Webmaster

Preview

Today is a sad day for fans of the cult science fiction television series, Farscape. Despite fan efforts to save the show, tonight marks the U.S. airing of the series finale on the Sci-Fi Channel and the factory workers are none too pleased about it.

Arguably the best sci-fi show on TV today, Farscape dared viewers with original, unpredictable storylines, complex characters, exotic locations and masterfully designed aliens. Add to the mix some of the best dialog and acting on the small screen and you’ve got one of the most loved sci-fi shows to hit the airwaves in the last 10 years.

Unfortunately, Bonnie Hammer, CEO of the Sci-Fi Network didn’t see it that way and canceled the show prematurely and without warning late last year. You can read Sci-Fi’s take on the cancellation at their official FAQ page. Then, check out what Farscape’s producers had to say about the subject and you be the judge.

All we know is that the show got the short end of the stick with no new episodes for 9 months between seasons 3 and 4, a bad 10pm time slot, and tons of money being diverted to projects like the new Tremors series. Oh yeah, we’ll be watching that. NOT!

We vent because we love the show, and with all the stuff going on in the world today, Farscape gave us a chance to get away from it all on Friday nights. But, alas, no longer. :-(

Yoroshiku Baby, Desuno!

March 15, 2003

By Webmaster

We’re pleased to announce the release of our latest collection of icons based on a new anime series called Risky and Safety.

Thinking that she can never see her boyfriend again, Moe Katsuragi’s despair summons a spunky soul collecting apprentice named Risky. Risky urges Moe to depart the mortal realm, leaving behind her precious soul until a glimmer of hope and a brief smile on Moe’s face cause Risky to transform into Safety, a polite and proper apprentice angel who just happens to share a body with Risky. The best of Japanese animation combines with a charming universal story about the struggle between light and dark to make Moe’s adventure a contemporary fairy tale for all ages!

if you are fan of Japanese anime, then we invite you to visit and download the official Risky and Safety icon collection for either Mac or Win today!

The Day of Anime

March 14, 2003

By Webmaster

The planets of Japanese animation have somehow aligned today because in addition to the icon set mentioned below, we wanted to let everyone know that Mindy has released a really kick-butt desktop pict of one of our favorite characters from Evangelion. So get yourself in gear and check it out!

Tick Tock, Tick Tock!

March 13, 2003

By Webmaster

That’s right folks, according to that ol’ calendar on the wall, there is less than three weeks left to enter this year’s Pixelpalooza Icon Design Contest. We’ve already received over 60 sets in this year’s three entry categories; OS X, CandyBar and Classic icons. With time running out, we expect the number of entries to increase quite a bit right up until the end. Check back each day for the latest contest goodies to be posted. Stay tuned, its starting to heat up!

Warp Factor 9, Engage!

March 3, 2003

By Webmaster

We’re pleased to announce the release of our latest freeware icon collection – Trek Insignia. Resident artist and confessed Trek fanatic, Ged Maheux, has faithfully re-created the logos affiliated with Starfleet as well as many of their better known enemies and allies including The Borg, The Dominion, The Klingons, the Vulcan IDIC and many, many more. Ged’s even thrown in some special bonus icons as a special treat. Trek fans also won’t want to miss this set’s read-me file with a timely editorial on the latest Trek franchise, Enterprise. All this awaits you, so beam on down people!

Announcing IconBuilder Pro 4.0

February 26, 2003

By Webmaster

The Iconfactory is pleased to announce the release of version 4.0 of our professional icon construction filter for Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. IconBuilder Pro 4.0 boasts a wide range of new features that we are excited about, but the most important one is its support for Open / Drop folder states in Mac OS X Jaguar.

Many of you have written to ask how we’ve been creating freeware icon collections with folders that have the Open / Drop states built into them (like Smoothicons 5 included with CandyBar). Well, the answer is we’ve been using IconBuilder Pro 4.0 internally to create these special icons, and so can you!

But icon states are not the only new aspect of IB Pro 4.0. The update also includes all new features to strengthen and speed QuickBuild operations, improvements when building icons for Windows, expanded and improved documentation and much, much more. We encourage you to visit the IconBuilder Pro 4.0 homepage to learn more and download the update.

IconBuilder Pro 4.0 is shareware and costs $69.00. Users who registered the filter after Oct. 1st, 2002 are entitled to a free upgrade. The fee to upgrade the filter for those who registered v. 3.x prior to 10.1.02 is $20.00.

Showroom Gets Some Spit and Polish

February 17, 2003

By Webmaster

We’re pleased to unveil the newly re-designed Iconfactory Showroom! The days of 32×32 Mac icons are slowly fading into the past, and with it comes a renewed focus on those 128×128 Mac OS X monster icons we’ve come to know and love. We hope the new design will make it easier for you to spot what icon sets you’re interested in downloading. We’ve also added links for our new CandyBar iContainers (where they apply) and increased our support for our PC visitors by providing direct Windows links right in the Showroom. We hope you find the changes helpful, and if you have feedback, be sure to drop us a line!

You’re Shmoopie! No, You Are!

February 10, 2003

By Webmaster

With the U.S. holiday of Valentine’s Day right around the corner, our resident romantic, Dave, has whipped up a new set of OS X icons just for you! Send one of these Candy Valentine Hearts to your sweetie to convey a special message or decorate your desktop and get your Mac in the holiday mood. We’ve got sweets for the sweet, happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

Pixelpalooza Under Way

February 10, 2003

By Webmaster

Our annual icon design contest has already garnered over a dozen entries, and we’re only one week into the contest. Be sure to stop by the contest entry pages often over the course of Pixelpalooza for the latest iconic creations from around the world. Also, several artists have submitted their sets with incorrect email addresses, and without the right address, we can’t process your entry correctly (and we can’t get in touch with you). So when you go to sign up for the contest, be sure to double-check your email address. Thanks!

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