Author Topic: What was that "@" icon for?  (Read 4958 times)

Offline Hellen Bach

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What was that "@" icon for?
« on: March 04, 2003, 12:05:00 PM »
Ok... if there is no such thing as a stupid question I'm going to go ahead and ask this one.  

What does the "@ on a spring" icon represent? This is the one that is beside/above the trash can icon in OS X.  What is it, and more importantly do I need it??

My 22 month old was having a grand time "poofing" the icons off my dock this morning    .  I managed to restore all of them except the "@".  I can't find the original on my computer anywhere, nor can I figure out what it was.  All the websites I've found show a lovely picture of it but don't say what it is, same goes for the books I have.

Normally I wouldn't worry about it, but I'm one of those pack-rat types and now I fear I might need it one day and not be able to use it!    I doubt that will happen since I haven't used it once since I got this computer... but you never know!

Now back to the more intelligent questions!!

Hellen

Offline CyberPet

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What was that "@" icon for?
« Reply #1 on: March 04, 2003, 12:19:00 PM »
That's just "latest news" from Apple when you buy a new Mac. You defineatly don't need it (I think it links to Apple's website).
/Petra

Offline RobW

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What was that "@" icon for?
« Reply #2 on: March 04, 2003, 01:21:00 PM »
I'll give you a slightly different explanation. I trashed that off of my dock when I moved to OSX. Later, I wanted a work related website I go to frequently to be on the dock. (I'd already filled my IE "favorites" toolbar.) When I dragged it down from my IE address window, it had the same icon you describe. So, my guess is that while Apple put their own page on the dock, any page you choose to put there will have that icon.

I've learned to like that feature and use it when I'm writing an email and need some information from the site I have down there. Even while I'm using my email program, I just click on the icon in the dock and IE jumps to the front and goes directly there.    

I must save a good 45 seconds a day with that feature.    
 
 [ 03-04-2003, 02:23 PM: Message edited by: RobW ]
-Rob
A couple of IMacs, an iPad, a bunch of iPhones...two of which don’t live here, but I still pay for. Oh yeah, wife, daughters, and yes—a grandson!

Offline taliesin

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What was that "@" icon for?
« Reply #3 on: March 04, 2003, 01:35:00 PM »
That gave me a thought, Rob.
These "favicon" things we're seeing more and more. I wondered if dragging one of those to the dock would now keep its "identity", so you'd instantly know which icon was which site.
Doesn't work.
But maybe it could?
"Be like water" - become music.

Offline RobW

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What was that "@" icon for?
« Reply #4 on: March 04, 2003, 02:43:00 PM »
That was my thought when I first put the site down on the dock. I was disappointed that it didn't do it, but the benefit of having it there outweighed the negative of not seeing what it was. So for now, because it's the only one I have on there, I can remember what it is. (For at least another few months.   ) If I have to add a second one, I could be in trouble.
-Rob
A couple of IMacs, an iPad, a bunch of iPhones...two of which don’t live here, but I still pay for. Oh yeah, wife, daughters, and yes—a grandson!

Offline neokm

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What was that "@" icon for?
« Reply #5 on: March 04, 2003, 05:16:00 PM »
You did say 'poofing' - - - or was that @ typo???
 
 [ 03-04-2003, 06:18 PM: Message edited by: neokm ]

Offline Bruce_F

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What was that "@" icon for?
« Reply #6 on: March 04, 2003, 07:55:00 PM »
quote:
My 22 month old was having a grand time "poofing" the icons off my dock this morning.
I laughed outload when I read that!       I have accidentally done it myself!

I wonder why Apple didn't design it so you had to hold down at least one key to "Poof" icons out of the Dock?    
 
 [ 03-04-2003, 08:56 PM: Message edited by: Bruce_F ]
-Bruce-

Offline Bill

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What was that "@" icon for?
« Reply #7 on: March 04, 2003, 08:17:00 PM »
http://www.freerangemac.com/

TransparentDock has a feature to lock the dock icons.

----
A few new options were added!
*   Fully adjustable transparency with 7 transparency levels
*   Set the color & transparency of the dock background & borders
*   Set the color of the triangles under open (running) applications (more colors)
*   TD Themes palette allows saving & switching among custom dock themes
*   Customize the dock poof effect
*   Control the icon name font size
*   Control the floating state of the dock
*   Lock icons in the dock (disables icon dragging)
*   Allow Finder icon dragging
*   Enable single application mode when switching applications from the dock
*   Show or hide background-only applications
*   Place Hide & Hide Others commands in the docked application popup menus
*   Show or hide package contents in the docked directory popup menus
*   Show or hide invisible & system files in the docked directory popup menus
*   Control the depth of hierarchical menus from the docked directory popup menus
*   & more...!
*   All features can be selected & applied independently
Two cans and a string powered by a big mouth

Offline Hellen Bach

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What was that "@" icon for?
« Reply #8 on: March 04, 2003, 09:09:00 PM »
posted 03-04-2003 06:16 PM                                

 
quote:
You did say 'poofing' - - - or was that @ typo???
No typo.  I said "poofing".  You know if you drag the icons off the dock they disappear in a little puff of smoke and make a sound that sounds like "poof".  

It's really quite amusing (if you are *really* bored), but not when your 22 month old removes every single one, while laughing hysterically at the sound.        

Hellen

Offline Jay

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What was that "@" icon for?
« Reply #9 on: March 04, 2003, 09:52:00 PM »
your poofing makes a sound?  Mine doesn't! haha.  I want a poofing sound.

Offline bil207

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What was that "@" icon for?
« Reply #10 on: March 05, 2003, 08:07:00 AM »
quote:
your poofing makes a sound? Mine doesn't! haha. I want a poofing sound.
Go to System Preferences/Sound/Sound Effects and check Play user interface sound effects.
Bill

Offline Jay

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What was that "@" icon for?
« Reply #11 on: March 05, 2003, 09:55:00 AM »
quote:
 Go to System Preferences/Sound/Sound Effects and check Play user interface sound effects.    

It always has been checked.  No poof sound.  Now that I think of it...  My trash doesn't make a sound anymore either when I empty it.  I specifically remember it making a sound when emptied.