15 Awesome Free Icon Sets

We all love free things, especially if they're really nice or worth something. Here's a list of our 15 favorite free icon sets that you designers and developers will love.

Please pay attention to the licenses for eat set!

Extreme Grunge Icons

A set of unique, grunge-style icons.

 

Sidebar Replacements

A Mac-esqe set of icons that resemble those found in the OS X operating systems.

Feedicons 2

A set of 69 tasteful, gloss-free RSS based icons.

Wheat Icons

A group of simple, white icons that resemble those found in the OS X menu bar.

Milky

A professional set of icons with a rounded style.

GLYPHISH

This is an incredibly popular resource that is designed and optimized for use on toolbars and tab bars in iPhone/Android apps, websites, and more.

Token Icon Set

128 unique and minimal icons available in both light and dark variants.

OpenPhone

A fun and elegant set of icons that mimic iPhone applications.

Social Network Icon Pack

Potentially the nicest set of social media icons. Includes icons to 40 social applications.

Android Icons

Vector-built icons built according to the Android UI guidelines.

Ruby on Rails

A small set of icons that are perfect for any Rails project.

Sushi

A wonderful set of hand-drawn icons.

Developper's Icons

A set of icons that are free to use for personal and commercial purposes.

Sketchy Icons

Another set of hand-drawn icons with a unique style.

Social Media Icons

A fun, colorful set of 20 icons for popular (and not so popular) websites.

The End.

RAGE comes to the Mac

On Thursday, Aspyr Media announced the release of RAGE: Campaign Edition, the Mac version of the popular RAGE videogame. This game costs $39.99 and can be bought through the Mac App Store as well as other 3rd parties, including Aspyr's GameAgent.

RAGE®: Campaign Edition™ features the full, unaltered RAGE single-player campaign, bonus equipment formerly exclusive to the Anarchy Edition, including Double Barrel Shotgun, Rat Rod Buggy, Fists of RAGE, and Crimson Elite Armor, and access to the bonus Wasteland Sewers Missions which feature additional mutant blasting gameplay and looting opportunities. 

 [Aspyr]

Steve Jobs Resigns

As of today, Steve Jobs resigned as CEO of Apple. He's been onleave since this January because of medical complications, although he still was the CEO. Interim CEO Tim Cook is in charge now that Jobs resigned. Steve Jobs said he wasn't leaving Apple though, he plans staying as the Chairman of the Board of Apple, Inc. from the looks of his letter.

CUPERTINO, Calif., Aug 24, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Apple’s Board of Directors today announced that Steve Jobs has resigned as Chief Executive Officer, and the Board has named Tim Cook, previously Apple’s Chief Operating Officer, as the company’s new CEO. Jobs has been elected Chairman of the Board and Cook will join the Board, effective immediately.

“Steve’s extraordinary vision and leadership saved Apple and guided it to its position as the world’s most innovative and valuable technology company,” said Art Levinson, Chairman of Genentech, on behalf of Apple’s Board. “Steve has made countless contributions to Apple’s success, and he has attracted and inspired Apple’s immensely creative employees and world class executive team. In his new role as Chairman of the Board, Steve will continue to serve Apple with his unique insights, creativity and inspiration.”

“The Board has complete confidence that Tim is the right person to be our next CEO,” added Levinson. “Tim’s 13 years of service to Apple have been marked by outstanding performance, and he has demonstrated remarkable talent and sound judgment in everything he does.”

Jobs submitted his resignation to the Board today and strongly recommended that the Board implement its succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO.

[Update] - Here's a copy of Steve's letter addressed to his employees and the public:

To the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community:

I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.

I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.

As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.

I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.

I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.

Steve

Black Macbook Air?

According to various tipsters, Apple may start offering black MacBook Airs with the coming refresh. Up until the transition to a unibody design, Apple offered black polycarbonate MacBooks, but has since discontinued the option. After Apple bought out Liquidmetal, many users speculated that future products would be a darker shade of grey (Liquidmetal’s natural color), but today’s rumors suggest that the MacBooks would be anodized black. The black option would be available only on the top-end Air model, similar to the original MacBook. 

The date of the MacBooks Air refresh has been all over the place, but the most recent reports indicate that Apple is holding off until the release of OS X Lion sometime next month. Obviously, this would reduce the hassle for early adopters, and could be an additional selling point in advertisements and promotions. In addition to the possible new color, the updated Airs will supposedly feature a more powerful Intel Sandy Bridge processor and the Thunderbolt I/O seen on the latest Macs.

[MacRumors]

via iFans

iOS 5 Key Features

Key Points:

• To be released this fall as a free update
• Available for iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPod touch 4G, iPod touch 3G, iPad, and iPad 2
• Contains over 200 new features, most notably being: all-new and improved notifications, iMessage text messaging between iOS devices, Twitter integration, and new camera and Safari features

This major update to Apple’s mobile operating system will be available in the fall as a free update for the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPod touch 4G, iPod touch 3G, iPad, and iPad 2. There doesn’t seem to be any notion towards limited features for older-generation devices, but we’ll work on confirming this. If you want, you can enter your email address and Apple will notify you when it is released. iOS 5 contains over 200 new features, the following being the most notable: all-new and improved notifications, iMessage text messaging, a newsstand illustrating all of your App Store subscriptions, an official creative to-do application called Reminders, in-app Twitter integration, new camera features such as grids, photo editing and enhancing abilities, new Safari features included tabbed browsing on iPad, and the ability to setup and use your iOS device without a Mac or PC. Here’s a breakdown of some of these and other features:

Revamped Notifications

Currently, notifications can easily become a nuisance when you’re playing games or using other applications. They pop up, they’re obtrusive. In iOS 5, notifications are all-new and improved. There’s a new drop-down menu called Notification Center, which allows you to keep track of all of your notifications in one convenient location. Perhaps Apple took a lesson or two from the notification system on Android–they now have striking similarities. To reveal Notification Center, you simply swipe down and you can then choose which notifications you would like to see. If you want to delete the notification, you can simply tap the “x” button located next to it. Unfortunately, there doesn’t appear to be a “clear all” option for deleting your entire queue of notifications. This is something, however, that could be seen in a future update. New notifications also appear briefly at the top of your screen, without interrupting what you’re doing. Furthermore, they appear on your lock screen for quick access.

iMessage

This is an official application designed by Apple that allows you to send text messages to other iOS devices over Wi-Fi or 3G. It’s compatible with any iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad that is able to be upgraded to iOS 5. This is another new iOS feature that his strikingly resemblance to another company’s features, this time it being RIM’s BlackBerry Messenger (BBM).

Newstand

Another application designed by Apple. This one adopts the iBooks bookshelf design as a convenient place to show you all of your App Store subscriptions. This includes newspapers and magazines, which the app will alert you about when there is new issues available. There is also a new section on the App Store that is specifically dedicated to subscriptions.

Reminders

You can create reminders for yourself in a neat and clear to-do list. There’s also integrated calendars for your convenience. Reminders also works with iCal, Outlook, and iCloud, so changes you make update automatically on all your devices and calendars.

Twitter

Twitter integration is another prominent feature of iOS 5. Of course, Twitter is already available on iOS devices in a variety of different formats—through Safari, the official Twitter app, or other apps on the App Store—but this is different. You sign in once in the settings, and you can then tweet directly from Safari, Photos, Camera, YouTube, or Maps. You’ll be able to tweet text, photos, videos, and more. It would be nice if this functionality was able to be added to third-party apps from the App Store, but we can’t confirm this functionality just yet. You can add a location to your tweets based on your iOS device’s location tracking ability.

Safari

There’s a variety of new features in this mobile browser from tabbed browsing on iPad to the Safari Reader. The latter allows you to display web articles without any ads or any other distractions. There’s also Reading List, which saves webpages offline for later viewing. These webpages can be synced with iCloud.

“PC Free”

This is perhaps the most creative feature of iOS 5. Thanks to a combination of Apple’s iCloud service, on-device software updates, and on-device setup, you’ll be able to use your iOS device without ever connecting or configuring it with a Mac or PC. You can do everything wirelessly and backup and restore your iOS device through iCloud.

Other Noteworthy Features:

• Wi-Fi Sync: You’ll be able to sync your iOS device with iTunes wirelessly, and automatic syncing is also available.
• Mail: You can now use text properties such as underline, italics, and bold. Your iCloud account is also connected to Mail.
• New Multitasking Gestures (using four or five fingers):
• Swipe up to reveal the multitasking bar
• Pinch to return to the home screen
• Swipe left or right to switch between apps

[via iFans]

UPDATE: Microsoft to buy Skype for 7+ Billion

The rumors are true, Microsoft is purchasing Skype for a whopping 8.5 billion US dollars. Microsoft states that the iOS and Mac Skype clients will continue to be updated and supported as usual. Microsoft has made no comments on what they're actually planning, though.

iOS 4.3 Launching Next Month?

According to a source for MacStories, the next release of iOS, 4.3, will be released on December 13th. This is surprisingly close to the release of the current version, 4.2.1, which just went public this week. Of course, the current release had a few delays due to bugs, so Apple may have been thrown off schedule by quite a bit.

The update will supposedly include needed bug-fixes and code maintenance, along with support for News Corp’s tablet-only publication, “The Daily”.

News Corp. has spent the last three months assembling a newsroom that will soon be about 100 staffers strong. The Daily will launch in beta mode sometime around Christmas, and will be introduced to the public on the iPad and other tablet devices in early 2011. It is expected to cost 99 cents a week, or about $4.25 a month. It will come out — as the name suggests — seven days a week.

An update to iOS would be necessary due to a possible change to iTunes’ back-end, in order to support a new recurring subscription model, which could also affect App Store application. (Changes in code would need to be made to add the necessary API.)

Optimistically, Apple may also be using this release to introduce the long-awaited iTunes cloud music service, though there are no additional rumors of this happening at this point.

[MacStories]

iPod Touch 4g Specs

iPod Touch 4th Generation Hardware Technical Specifications

• 960x640 Retina Display at 326 ppi
• Apple’s A4 Processor
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• HD Video Recording (720p) 30fps max
• VGA Quality Photos (960x720) Back Camera 
• 40 Hours Audio Playback, 7 Hours Video
• Thinner Design

(We’ll have comparative photos of the iPod Touch 4g, iPhone 4, and a standard DSLR camera as soon as we can get our hands on an iPod Touch 4g)

iTunes 10 Tweak

Relocate Window Controls (Mac only)

The traffic light controls on iTunes 10 have been flipped vertically in order to save space and make the program more streamlined, but many users don’t like this change. Luckily, there is a quick fix to put them back to where they belong.

Just type the following into the Terminal and hit enter.

defaults write com.apple.iTunes full-window -boolean YES

If you want to change it back, trade “YES” for “NO”.

via CNET

Apple Makes Giant Multi-Touch Trackpad

Apple has just released a multitouch trackpad for desktop computers, and it has full multitouch support for quickly navigating through windows. If you’ve always wanted the Macbook’s glorious multitouch trackpad on your desktop, then this is the accessory for you.

The largest Multi-Touch trackpad ever.

Magic Trackpad is just like the trackpad on the MacBook Pro — but bigger. It’s made with the same advanced touch-friendly and wear-resistant glass surface. But with nearly 80 percent more area, it’s the largest Multi-Touch trackpad made by Apple. So there’s even more room for you to scroll, swipe, pinch, and rotate to your fingers’ content. And since the entire surface is a button that clicks, you can use it in place of a mouse.

I absolutely love my Macbook’s trackpad, and would drop $69 for one of these in an instant if I had a desktop. It’s available now for Macs running the lastest version of Snow Leopard. There is no word on Windows support yet.

[Apple]

Windows 7 on iPad

Imagine you’ve traveled to another universe for a moment where Apple and Windows have switched roles entirely. The result? Windows 7 on the iPad. Using the same methods we showed you for running Mac OSx on the iPad, this user utilized a VNC desktop-sharing client which allows him to control a Windows 7 computer using the iPad. A neat trick for now, but perhaps we’ll see it for real when the iPad is hacked.

USB Memory Support for the Xbox 360 coming April 6th

On April 6th, Microsoft will be releasing a system update over Xbox LIVE for your Xbox 360 that will allow USB flash drives to be used for storing profiles, game saves, demos and more. I’ve been testing this feature out for a few weeks, and I have to say it’s really great. Once you take the system update on April 6th, you’ll be able to connect your USB flash drives to your console and head over to the memory section to configure your new storage device. Once you do that, the system will conduct a one time performance and integrity check to confirm the drive is working properly. You will then be able to configure how much storage to use on the device, up to 16 GB. The remaining space on the flash drive will be accessible by your PC or Mac. USB Hard drives may work, but like flash memory, you’ll only be able to use up to 16GB of space. Since performance on flash based USB storage is usually better, I highly recommend using flash based instead of spinning media like a hard drive… It’s just going to give you a much better experience.

Microsoft has also enhanced the memory management functions, so you’ll be able to have better control on what you want to copy or move between storage devices.

A couple of points:

• You can have 2 devices connected to the console at a time, enabling up to 32GB of simultaneous storage.
• The system won’t just configure the device once it is connected to the console. You’ll need to head to the memory area in system settings, select your USB Device, and choose from Configure Now (Format and Configure the Full Device), or Customize (you can choose how much memory you want configured for Xbox360 from the free space on the device.)

While any flash drive can be used, Microsoft is partnering with SanDisk to release an Xbox 360 branded USB flash drive in May that comes pre-configured out of the box and ready to go.

Content-Aware Fill Sneak Peek

iPad Keyboard Dock

The iPad keyboard dock comes in real handy as a home base for your iPad. It has a nice smooth aluminum finish and it can be used for charging,syncing,etc. It is also compatible with other accessories like the camera kit for the iPad.

There are several ways the iPad keyboard dock can enhance your life:

• Use it to charge the battery by connecting to a computer with USB cable
• You can also charge the battery by plugging the dock into a regular electrical outlet
• Its great for holding the iPad at just the right angle when you want to write emails or watch a movie
• What I really love is that that dock can be connected to a video projector, television, stereo, or speakers

Apple Confirms January 27th Event

Apple has finally confirmed their next event, by sending out invitations, to be held on January 27th 2010. That’s not too far ahead, so hold on to your hats, because they’re going to show off their ‘latest creation’. If you’ve been following the latest buzz, then you’ll know that their expected iSlate is to be shown.

More info on Apple's Tablet Device

The speculative madness surrounding Apple's rumored tablet computer has finally reached its frothy peak.

Tech's chattering classes are obsessed with the unconfirmed product, which Apple (AAPL) may announce at an event in January, or February, or March, depending on which set of reports you adhere to. Apple, not surprisingly, is mum.

The hunger for information—and misguided speculation—reminds me of the mistaken prognosticating about the iPhone before its introduction three years ago. It may be time to step back and realize that Apple may uncork a product so surprising that the company again leaves the tech industry scrambling to catch up to its products' smooth operation and sleek design.

Documented facts about the tablet are few. This much we do know: In November 2008, Apple took control of the trademark name TabletMac from a company called Axiotron, which converts MacBook laptops into tablet computers running Apple's Mac OS X.

Wild Imaginings

In April, BusinessWeek talked with people who had seen prototypes of a device they called a media pad as well as a small iPhone, described as "iPhone lite" by the person who saw it.

Then there's outside speculation. In November the Taiwanese Web site Digitimes, often regarded as a solid source of information regarding the plans of Taiwan's electronic manufacturing sector, reported that the Apple tablet had been delayed until the second half of 2010 because of the price to build its display.

On Dec. 24, New York Times blogger Nick Bilton quoted two people—one an unnamed source, the other a former Apple employee—dropping tantalizing clues. Jobs is "very happy" with the machine, and users will be "very surprised at how you interact with the new tablet," the Times wrote. About the same time, the Financial Times reported that Apple plans to reveal the new device at an event at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco on Jan. 26.

Missing the Mark on the iPhone

It's important to take reports like these with an appropriate helping of salt. Apple holds numerous trademarks it doesn't actively use; ever hear of MacTel, Vingle, or Drypod? In addition, Apple's top-secret labs in Cupertino, Calif., have probably developed numerous tablet prototypes, some of which may be used to show potential partners but that don't represent a finished product. And leakers have a tendency to exaggerate what they know, or invent from whole cloth.

A similar speculative frenzy surrounded the January 2007 iPhone launch. Looking back at Apple rumor site postings in the months leading up to its debut, I noticed how far off the mark many were about the iPhone's looks, Apple's partners, and who the carrier would be who could resell it. For example, enthusiasts' home-made design drawings that emerged on rumor sites showed a phone that sported a navigation wheel similar to the iPod's. Others imagined the iPhone would have a slide-out keyboard.

Few saw the potential for a touch-sensitive display, which eventually became the signature design element of the iPhone and iPod touch.

Consider the fevered imaginings endemic to Apple. The company engenders such strong reactions from its customers that users tend to "project the known upon the unknown," says Michael Gartenberg, an analyst at market researcher Interpret. That's why so many observers took the well-understood iPod and grafted a phone onto it when imagining Apple's iPhone plans.

A Larger Screen?

Apple's tablet may revolve around a larger touch-sensitive screen than the iPhone's, which could be central to its design and control. I've speculated about it myself in a past column. The iPod touch is so useful an Internet device that I keep one handy on my bedside table. It would make a lot of sense for Apple to market a device with a larger screen—say, 7 in. to 10 in. diagonally—that runs applications downloaded from the iTunes app store, wouldn't it?

Writers and tech pundits think so. But we're not Apple engineers and designers. What seems from the outside to be a logical progression may seem merely simplistic to the folks at Apple's 1 Infinite Loop headquarters. Their job isn't so much to think about the next logical step on a path as to set a divergent course for what people are likely to want for years to come.

Apple may throw everyone a curve ball here. Imagine an Apple tablet about the size of a 11-in. spiral notebook with an iPhone-like touch screen. How about the ability for the machine to recognize voice commands and dictation of text? A built-in video camera and maybe a mini-projector for meetings would be nice. And if the reports of Apple's discussion to land print media content in the iTunes store are true, how about an easy-on-the-eyes display for reading electronic magazines and books?

Embracing Two Worlds

A more fundamental question is whether Apple's tablet will more closely resemble an iPhone or a Mac. It will be fascinating to see how whatever emerges straddles those two worlds.

We use PCs and laptops to get things done when we're stationary; we use mobile devices to stay informed and complete small tasks when we're out and about. This device, it seems, will either have to incorporate both paradigms or have to create one of its own.

My bet? There will be a product from Apple reasonably described as a tablet, and Apple will reveal it during the first quarter of 2010. That's not going too far out on a limb. As the iPhone enters its third year, Apple needs something new to sell to keep delighting its customers, inspiring envy among its competitors, and increasing its sales.

Check your expectations about this product at the door, though. We're probably all in for a very big surprise.

Arik Hesseldahl is a reporter for BusinessWeek.com.

Nvidia CEO Reveals new tablet device & Love for Apple

In an interview yesterday, Nvidia CEO revealed two things: First, their sleek tablet prototype, which looks just like my wet dream Apple Tablet concept: Simple, thin, and omgIwantone. Then, he declared his enraptured love for all things Apple:

"[In my home we are] all Apple. Apple uses the best technology for their [computers]. Apple says to their customers: if you buy a computer from us you can be sure we have selected the best technology inside for you. That is their promise to consumers. Their promise to consumers isn't we've selected the best technology for you with the exception of what Intel allows us to use. That's not their promise. And that's why Apple uses the best technology where they want whenever they want. And that's why I'm all Apple! At home it's just Macs everywhere. It's Nvidia's technology in all of them but I use Macs. My son has two Macs, my daughter has a Mac, there's an extra Mac just in case and my wife has a Mac. It's just Mac, Mac, Mac! Because I know it's got the best stuff inside."

Updated Apple Store

Apple has brought back the store, and with it, they bring some new, unannounced additions:

• White plastic MacBook. Redesigned, starting at $999
• iMac with an incredible new display
• Mac Mini with more memory and a faster processor
• Magic Mouse – “The world’s first multi-touch mouse”

Pictures and link are after the break.

UPDATE: There is also a new redesigned Apple Remote, and updated Time Capsule and Airport Extreme stations. (As predicted – Also after the break!)

Click the images for a link to the website.

Macbook:

iMac:

Mac Mini:

Magic Mouse:

New Apple Remote:

Links for:

Updated Time Capsule (Faster Auto backup, and simultaneous Dual Band)

Updated Airport Extreme

iTunes Security Flaw

Apple has shipped iTunes 9.0.1to fix a critical security hole that puts Mac and Windows users at risk of computer takeover attacks.

The vulnerability could be used by hackers to launch code execution attacks via booby-trapped “.pls” files, Apple warned in an advisory.

• Impact: Opening a maliciously crafted .pls file may lead to an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution
• Description: A buffer overflow exists in the handling of .pls files. Opening a maliciously crafted .pls file may lead to an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution. This update addresses the issue through improved bounds checking.

The update is available for Mac OS X v10.4.11 or later, Mac OS X Server v10.4.11 or later, Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7.

iPhone 3.0 software review

The new 3.0 iPhone OS is a very nice upgrade, well worth the $10 for iPod touch users. It has updated push capabilities, enabling apps to display notofications on your iPod. I have found that this feature is very nice. I really like the new feel of the 3.0 OS, it's landscape email & notes makes it much more bearable to type on the iPod. The updated tilting sensitivity is also nice for some of the apps that require you to tilt your device. Video recording and editing has been added for iPhones only, video has surprisingly good quality for a cell phone, and editing couldn't be any easier. Voice memos have also been added for both iPod & iPhone, but is somewhat useless for the older iPods since thier headphones don't have mics built in, if you want a mic headset for voice memos it will cost you another $25, slightly annoying, but useful nonetheless. Spotlight search has also been added as well, spotlight is useful because it allows you to search your entire ipod/iphone. You can search for apps, notes, emails, songs, videos, and other. Apple has also enabled bluetooth in all iPod touches, cool but slightly annoying as well because that means that iPods were bluetooth capable the entire time but we just had to pay more to activate it.

These are just some of the many features that Apple has included, along with many bug fixes.

Pros - Landscape email & notes, updated tilt, better push notifications, Bluetooth, video recording/editing (iPhone only), voice memos, updated music player, spotlight search, compass (iPhone only), MMS (iPhone only), wireless syncing

Cons - can't doubletap the home button and have the iPod turn on with volume controls

[Posted from my iPod]