Tech Tip Tuesday: Change your icons

Mashable.com has a wealth of trivia and minutia and who knows what else available for the taking, but a few days ago a really useful hint came across the feeds from the site.

Changing your iTunes icon.  Apparently it isn't pretty enough.  Ok, so I guess I am not a total technogeek junkie because frankly it didn't really matter to me and I would have been happy to leave to archaic Compact Disc as part of the icon (BTW what are they going to replace the save icon with when someone realizes the little 3.5" floppy disk icon is not only archaic but arcane?)

Well despite the fact that changing the icons for iTunes ranks about as low on my list of things to do as disinfecting my mouse (computer pointing device not the furry little rodent) The fact that you can change your icons is pretty nifty and all the instructions are right there in this one post. I republish them here for your benefit:

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For Mac users, Apple.com actually has a help document that outlines the steps needed to change an application or folder icon.

From that document:

To change an item’s icon to another one:

• Select the volume, application, folder, or file whose icon you want to stamp onto another, just click the icon to select it.


• From the File menu, choose Get Info or press Command-I to open the Info window.


• Click the icon in the upper-left corner of the Info window to select it.


• From the Edit menu, choose Copy or press Command-C.


• Select the volume, application, folder, or file whose icon you want to replace.


• From the File menu, choose Get Info or press Command-I.


• Click the icon in the upper-left corner.


• From the Edit menu, choose Paste or press Command-V to replace the icon.

Note: Mac users want to use the *.icns file type for icons. You can also use third-party programs like the fantastic CandyBar if you want more control over your icons and organizing sets of icons.

Windows

For Windows users, you want to use the *.ICO file type.

In Windows XP:

To change the icon to a shortcut for iTunes (assuming it is on your desktop)

• Right click the shortcut


• Select Properties


• Click on the “Customize” tab


• Press the “change icon button”


• In the selection window that opens up, select “browse”


• Find the location of your icon and open that folder or select the *.ICO file


• Press “OK” once you have chosen the icon you want to use

In Windows Vista and Windows 7:

• Right click on the desktop and select “Personalize”


• Click on the “Change Desktop Icons” item on the left hand side of that window


• Select your iTunes icon (this assumes it is on your desktop)


• Click the “Change Icon” button


• Select the icon your want to use in its place and press OK.

Visit the full post here: http://mashable.com/2010/09/06/itunes-10-icons/