Here's an off the wall idea...TLD icons.

[AdoptableDomains]

A company is now trying to sell logo icons for the TLD's and claims it's standardizing them. I guess the idea is that you put this standardized symbol on your logo instead of the actual ".com" or ".net". The idea is sort of unique, but the implementation is pretty bad. The symbol they've picked to represent .org looks like the hurricane evacuation route symbol. The symbol they picked for .com looks like a Nike swoosh on it's side and will probably get some attention from Nike at some point. The one they picked for .net is just plain wierd. I think maybe it's supposed to look like an "N".

http://www.tldicons.com/about.php

It is a novel idea, but until keyboards have the symbols, pretty meaningless. Take a look and have a laugh.

:lol:

 

[Mr. Cole]

nice to read your comments...

I hope it's alright to stop in and read your comments about the tldicons. I created them.
A phone call about this discussion has brought me here.

Adoptable Domains has pointed out the .org one looking like a hurricane symbol. Nice to know it looks good. I've not seen that symbol. Thanks for the info. But, actually the large circle is the "dot" the small one is the "o" for org, The fin at the top is a stylized top of the "r" and the bottom one a stylized tail of the "g". .org, but that's only my opinion...
The .com one was likened to the nike "swoosh"? The "swoosh" is simply the Japanese letter N. N for Nike. I know a lot of people think it's a design. So I don't expect any flak from them. And I suppose if one flips it or inverts it, it could be close...to a C. Mine is a dot with a "C" no N in .com
And the .net one...is weird? Yes, it is, it's a very wide "n" I had a very good looking uppercase N that I like a LOT better, but .net isn't spelled with an uppercase N.
So yes, they are...basic...and somewhat...ugly - as shell icons.
But with graphics in them, they're pretty creative.
The hundreds of drawings preceding these range from basic, to complicated, to slick. But the overall focus was to make them customizable, and to do that there needs to be ample interior space to insert color or graphics. So yes jroy, you could probably have made nicer looking graphics too. I did, but practicality prevailed, and like not pleasing some of you, I couldn't please people here, myself included on some of them.

And Midano's comment about the keywords – Good point. This is primarily a marketing tool for print, products, stationary etc. You are not alone in your forward thinking. Almost from the beginning the tech side has been theorized, right down to keyboard keys ( which I highly doubt will happen ). but to make them individually customized icons in your favorites list like the NP web Design Talk icon....possible.

The TLDicons were created for ONE purpose. To make logo's look good while illustrating online presence. Period. I am developing a product, and when it came to labelling and packaging, I did not want to have to put www and .com around my very nice new logo, then put it on everything from the packaging to my stationary, skip that! Some logos look good with .com with them, and lucky them, but the majority of logos need a TLDicon.
I see it like this. The TLDicon beats the current www and .com any day. It’s new work for web designers and ad companies creating the fill in the TLDicon not to mention the printers. Work for Domain registries when people actually use TLD's like .aero .pro .name and if it goes .job and .mobi. The $52.00 I'll make pales to what others like you will make on this. How much would you charge to create a fill for a TLDicon. More than 50 bucks I'll bet.
But techies see it in another angle - keywords, linking icons, active icons, keys on keyboards. You guys will ensure it goes in as many directions as you can find.
TLDicons not going to go? 'fraid not, it's off and running... read your own doubtful comments to see. You have expressed hope in the midst of your doubts. You are pointing out deficiencies and offering suggestions as well as speculating direction. It's your voices that will drive and evolve this, because you will want it to serve you.
So what do you want...

So seriously then:
Adoptable Domains. How do see making keywords have the symbols?
knarfmusic. Icann and Verisign? What do you suggest?
HellFear. What can you do to get the majors on board and get this noticed. Can you help?
ftech. You obviously get this bigtime. You see the big picture. So, can you garner support?
Rj. Don't worry about Nike. We're talking apples and oranges. As a matter of fact, perhaps they need the .com TLDicon. If you think it’s close, perhaps they will too and get one.
sunken. You're forward thinking there. I'm a long way from search engine readability ( or are we) How about you tell me how to achieve that.
dgridley. $52.00? I've had suggestions from $9.95 a year, to 3% of gross profits of registrants to $10,000.00 flat fee. A buck a month seemed...equitable.

suggestions other than discussion here?
I've set up a [email protected] account.
enter in subject line : Mr. Cole

 

[sunken]

It's interesting that you came here to defend your concept because people found it to be odd. You say it's doing quite well, then why worry about what we think? You can't force people to like a product because you hope it will be a standard. Standards on the net come after a long time, with much debate and cynicism and compromise. If you are planning on your designs being the standard, prepare to hear a lot of dissent as time goes on. Do you think .net was just decided on because some company thought it was cool? It is false advertising to say that your icons are THE new standard unless some standards committee from w3 or ICANN says so. The standard could change, other companies could chime in with their versions, and companies would then spend a fortune changing their logos, letterheads, etc. Not only that, but the worldwide educational program it would take to teach people what these signs mean would be huge. Much more than one company could afford that isn't well connected...

If you can sell them to people and convince them it will be a standard, all the power to you, but to get the net to accept them as a standard is a whole other issue. The net is littered with ideas that had great visions and big capital and now are dead in the water. Good luck to you and don't take all this so personally. It's strictly opinion based on the product seen, which is what every company endures.

 

[Midano]

Mr. Cole dude.... Bottom line: I won't use your icons if they were free, not to mention paying $52 a pop. Don't flatter yourself.

 

[AdoptableDomains]

$52.00? I've had suggestions from $9.95 a year, to 3% of gross profits of registrants to $10,000.00 flat fee. A buck a month seemed...equitable.

If a buck a month seemed equitable, then then why charge $52? ..."A buck a month" is $12.00.

Adoptable Domains. How do see making keywords have the symbols?

I didn't say anything about keyWORDS having the symbols, I said KeyBOARDS, as in the Windows key or a Key combination.

Don't be so defensive. I said the idea was "unique" and "off the wall". That isn't necessarily bad if you can pull it off and market it. Probably no more off the wall than new.net selling non-sanctioned TLD's, and somehow they've survived for a while. People do pay for some pretty wierd stuff if it isn't overpriced. I don't understand kids paying $2 a month for an IM icon, or a celphone ringtone, but it happens.

Can I get a Chia pet shaped like those icons? :lol: (Hey, someone is making a lot of money on chia pets, even though they get no respect)

Best of luck Mr. Cole.

 

[equity78]

Not worth one penny IMO would not use if they were free. ANd DG is right people can't even differentiate exts.

 

[AdoptableDomains]

Hurricane/Tropical Storm Symbol
http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/news/guides/hurricane/images/symbols.gif

.org Icon
http://www.tldicons.com/images/icons/dotORG_5x8.png