The Iconfactory

The Iconfactory is a small software and graphic design company that specializes in creating icons and software for creating and using icons. The company was founded in April 1996 by Corey Marion, Talos Tsui, and Gedeon Maheux. Lead Engineer Craig Hockenberry joined the company in 1997 and Artist Dave Brasgalla joined in January 1999. The company incorporated in January 2000. The Iconfactory gained popularity through the creation of packages of free icons for download, but quickly grew to become one of the leading studios in commercial icon design. The Iconfactory also publishes software for creating, organizing and using icons as well as general GUI applications.

The Iconfactory
Homepage of the Iconfactory. (Version 6.0)
Type of site
Icon and GUI customization database
OwnerCorey Marion, Talos Tsui, and Gedeon Maheux
URLwww.iconfactory.com
Commercialfreeware icons, shareware software
LaunchedApril 1996 (1996-04)

From 1997 until 2004, the Iconfactory held an annual icon design contest for the Macintosh icon community called Pixelpalooza. The competition was a chance for aspiring artists from all over the world to design and produce original icon creations for the chance of winning software and hardware prizes. Pixelpalooza was discontinued in 2005, although the company says it may make a return in the future.

The Iconfactory's most notable client project to date was creating over 100 icons for Microsoft to be included in the Windows XP[1] operating system as well as creating the base icons in Windows Vista's Aero interface.[2] They have also created over 100 icons for the Xbox 360 UI and website.[3]

Software
  • iPulse - mac OS Utility to visualize system activity.
  • xScope - macOS Tools for developers and designers to measure elements on screen.
  • xScope Mirror - iOS Tool to mirror Photoshop image onto iOS screen.
  • DownloadCheck — Simple utility inspired by the MP3Concept trojan horse
  • Linea Sketch - Sketching app for iPad Pro and Apple Pencil
  • Linea Go - Sketching app for iPhone on the go.
  • Linea Link - Get sketches drawn on iPad and iPhone over to your macOS desktop.
  • Twitterrific - macOS version - Third-party client for the social networking site Twitter.
  • Twitterrific - iOS version of Twitterrific, which won an Apple Design Award in 2008.[4]
  • Flare - Photo editing program for adding effects to and editing pictures.
  • BitCam - an app that turns an iOS camera into a low res camera.
  • Exify - an app that can provide a lot of information on the pictures in your camera roll.
  • Clicker - an Apple Watch app that help you count things.

Discontinued:

  • CandyBar — Tool to organize and change system icons.
  • Dine-O-Matic — Dashboard widget to help decide where to eat.
  • Pixadex — Icon management tool similar to iPhoto. Replaced by CandyBar.
  • IconBuilder — Adobe Photoshop Plugin for creating icons.
  • IconDropper — Icon management utility for System 7, Mac OS 8 and Mac OS 9. Replaced by Pixadex.
  • iControl — Utility to change any system icon in Mac OS 8 & 9. Replaced by CandyBar.
  • Frenzic — Puzzle game that "takes minutes to learn and months to master" - macOS, iPhone, iPod Touch Android, and Nintendo version of Frenzic.
  • Take Five - Program that fades paused music back in after being forgotten after a distraction.
  • Ramp Champ — A new twist on classic boardwalk/carnival games such as Skee ball for the iPhone and iPod Touch, developed with DS Media Labs

CandyBar and Pixadex were maintained with Panic. xScope and Frenzic are maintained with ARTIS Software.

Sales

In 2010 the total sales for the Iconfactory was $US 370,000 [5]

Alleged patent infringement

On May 31, 2011, Lodsys asserted two of its four patents: U.S. Patent No. 7,620,565 ("the '565 patent") on a "customer-based design module" and U.S. Patent No. 7,222,078 ("the '078 patent") on "Methods and Systems for Gathering Information from Units of a Commodity Across a Network." against Iconfactory and 6 other developers for using Apple, Inc.'s API for In-app purchase.[6]

See also

References
  1. The Iconfactory. "Iconfactory : Design : Windows XP". Archived from the original on August 21, 2006. Retrieved 2006-01-18.
  2. Softpedia. "Windows Vista Icons - The Prototypes". Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  3. The Iconfactory. "Iconfactory : Design : XBOX 360". Archived from the original on January 15, 2007. Retrieved 2007-01-19.
  4. "App icon Maker". Yahoo!. 2008-07-10. Archived from the original on April 21, 2013. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
  5. Hoovers profile for Iconfactory, last viewed 6/1/2011
  6. "Lodsys sues 7 app developers in Eastern Texas, disagrees with Apple; Android also targeted", FOSS Patents blog, May 31, 2011
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