Apple’s iCloud platform has certainly gained some attention in the past few months, ever more so since the Cupertino-based company launched the service with its new iOS 5 firmware. Despite having one of the most recognisable ‘Cloud’ icons, Apple may not have actually created the design, in fact was could have been in circulation way before Apple utilised it,Scott Hanselman suggests.
As the Microsoft employee demonstrates in his post, the iCloud icon, a design that borrows heavily from MobileMe, and has received a fair bit of publicity for its design and its apparent use of theGolden Ratio– leading Apple fans tocreate Photoshop tutorialsdemonstrating how to make their own version of the design.
Hanselman further explains the origin of the icon and how he came to find it:
Funny thing about the Golden Ratio, if you look for it, you’ll find it everywhere. It’s intuitive. Cool, also that they attribute this icon and it’s “brilliance” to the Apple Designers, except the icon isn’t from Apple, it’s straight fromPictos 1. I know, because we bought it from them foroursite. Plus Pictos 1 has been around for years. It includes a regular cloud, clouds with arrows up and down and a lightening bolt cloud.
As he notes, there are only so many ways to draw a cloud.
However, after a quick bit of searching, it becomes apparent just how widespread the Cloud design has become, it’s almost like it has been accepted as the standard Cloud design without ever being given the official title.
The 💜 of EU tech
The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It’s free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!
Two apps on the Windows Phone Marketplace:
If you expected the design would be copied on the App Store, you’d be right:
Those four circles? They’re everywhere, and that’s not a bad thing.
It’s become so ubiquitous, I admit I hadn’t even noticed how widespread it had become. Apple might be credited with helping to bring it into the public consciousness (or creating it, if the two designs were created independently) they design may have been around for a number of years, maybe even before Cloud services even made their mark on the Internet.
Catch all the latest Apple news and discussion every day atTNW Apple.
Story byMatt Brian
Matt is the former News Editor for The Next Web. You can follow him on Twitter, subscribe to his updates on Facebook and catch up with him(show all)Matt is the former News Editor for The Next Web. You can follow him onTwitter, subscribe to his updates onFacebookand catch up with him onGoogle+.
Get the TNW newsletter
Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.
