“Eric: Yeah, that “rising sun” aspect is definitely a problem. I couldn’t think of a way around it.”

There’s a much better gear icon in the last two screen shots. Why wouldn’t you just use that one? The icon you made says “ms paint”, not “settings”.

I think settings that change very seldom (like the account setup for an app that talks to a web service) can start in the app, then if they need to be changed, the user can do it in the settings app. This is the thinking behind settings app vs in-app settings in the documentation too.

I also think the “i” button is a good choice for in-app-settings. Not only does dashboard use it (and dashboard starts out in your dock as a default app), but the default apps on the iPhone that has in-app settings use it (Weather, Stock).

The gear is a bit ambiguous since many Mac apps use it as an action, iTunes uses it for smart playlists and finder for searches, but I do think the biggest problem is if there are ambiguities between icons in the app itself (gear, “i” and wrench all used at the same time for example). Adding a label to the icon would solve that though.

Try doing a google image search for “preferences” or “settings” and you’ll notice that the hammer and wrench icon(called customize in most mac app toolbars) keeps popping up. I think that might the best choice of all.

Remember Control Panels? Remember how the icons had a little slider symbol attached to them? Maybe we can bring that back.

For those who don’t remember, here’s what those looked like. That’s from System 7.

(I didn’t want to deep-link from the post itself.)

Or even with the gear theme, maybe stagger them a bit similar to: http://www.iworkfortheinternet.com/pictures/settings.png
(pretend those are monochrome with no gradient… [I threw it together quickly!])

***Disclaimer: IANAGD (I am not a graphic designer!)***

I would like to move away from wrenches and gears entirely, although common usage is definitely pushing us in that direction. But implying what kind of interface you can expect to see behind an icon is a good way to make its meaning clear – think of it as a window to the next screen.

Maybe something like http://ahalsall.googlepages.com/sliders.png?

As for Dashboard, I don’t use it. That’s probably why I have a problem with using the button for settings—I’m not used to it like a Dashboard user would be. That raises the question of whether an inexpert user would be a Dashboard user. Considering it’s behind a hotkey, I doubt it.

Saying that you’re “simply following Apple’s own usage” isn’t always wise in design. Remember brushed metal? Apple was entirely inconsistent with their own HIG, but it became a matter of them using it when their own designers or Steve Jobs subjectively felt that it was right to use.

However, there were other developers who were trying to use brushed metal, but didn’t realize it didn’t fit their app’s design. They can be forgiven, as they weren’t designers (though even some designers fell prey).

Sure, if Apple is consistent, then it’s fine. But if they’re playing Calvin-ball with the design choices, then we as a dev community should talk it out and come up with a logical, consistent UI standard that we can all agree on and use.

I might also point out, to play a bit of Devil’s Advocate, that the info button is what is used to change the settings of a widget on the dashboard. Aside from initially finding the button on some widgets, I don’t think there has been much of a usiblity outcry against its use there. Therefore it could be argued that the developers using it are simply following Apple’s own usage.