Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

stevebez · 03:00 AM

I just whipped up a little web page that makes it easy to add "blank" icons to your home screen. I hope you all like it!

Edit for New link:http://blankspace.zendfree.com/
The icons are truly blank now!

New edit: The title is blank again now! Total blankness has been achieved!

Big Mac · Oct 20, 2008, 04:45 AM

Why would anyone want to do that?

stevebez · Oct 20, 2008, 05:27 AM

To create spacers between icons of different "function group". For example: on one screen on my iPhone I have apps that would fit into the two catagories of entertainment (YouTube, showtimes) and games. In order for games to start at the beginning of a row I used two spacer icons. It is also useful for filling that awkward one or two icon hole at the end of the home screen the App Store is on so you can force the new app on to the next screen. I'm sure there are other uses too.

stevebez · Oct 20, 2008, 07:40 PM

Hmmm... I thought there would be more interest in this. Is anybody using it?

::maroma:: · Oct 20, 2008, 07:49 PM

This thread needs some pics!

stevebez · Oct 21, 2008, 04:54 AM

Eureka! Truly blank icons!

The only real downside is to make it work I had to switch servers, and under the new one I can't get the "&nbsp" in the title to transmit properly. I therefore did the next best thing and used a period for the title. I think you will find it almost un-noticeable. I hope you all like it!

New link:http://blankspace.zendfree.com/

Originally Posted by ::maroma::

This thread needs some pics!

If you are asking for a screenshot I will happily provide one to be uploaded somewhere, but I do not have a photo account anywhere.

xclusive · Oct 21, 2008, 07:25 AM

found no justifications as yet..

gradient · Oct 22, 2008, 02:33 AM

I find the idea useful, but tried it and discovered that this idea doesn't have the ability to create true blank spaces, they're just black icons with a border and glare effect like all the other iPhone icons. They add more distraction and clutter to my home screen then anything else.

Sorry.

stevebez · Oct 22, 2008, 02:58 AM

Originally Posted by gradient

I find the idea useful, but tried it and discovered that this idea doesn't have the ability to create true blank spaces, they're just black icons with a border and glare effect like all the other iPhone icons. They add more distraction and clutter to my home screen then anything else.

Sorry.

When did you last try it? In the last few days i've switched to a new server that allows an icon file without the glare effect, and it also simplified the process. Are you using this site?. Also which version of the OS are you running? The non-glossy icon is only supported under 2.0 and up.

on a separate note the blank name is working again! Everything is blank now!

gradient · Oct 22, 2008, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by stevebez

When did you last try it? In the last few days i've switched to a new server that allows an icon file without the glare effect, and it also simplified the process. Are you using this site?. Also which version of the OS are you running? The non-glossy icon is only supported under 2.0 and up.

on a separate note the blank name is working again! Everything is blank now!

I tried it a couple days ago, but the link has changed. I'll give the new one a shot.

gradient · Oct 22, 2008, 11:23 AM

Ah, the new one works much much better - cool!

stevebez · Oct 27, 2008, 04:39 AM

I just wanted to let everybody know I updated the site with a link to an example photograph.

QSilver · Oct 27, 2008, 10:53 AM

Well, the screenshot looks neat. I'll have to give it a try and report back.

stevebez · Nov 13, 2008, 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by QSilver

Well, the screenshot looks neat. I'll have to give it a try and report back.

How did it work for you?

kelchm · Nov 13, 2008, 08:40 PM

This works great. Thanks!

aaanorton · 02:19 PM

I added one of your blank icons some time ago and now I can't remove it under OS 2.2. The blank icons have no close (x) badge in the upper left corner when they should.
I don't see any way to fix this other than full restore and starting from scratch. Any ideas?

Screen Shot

kman42 · Dec 3, 2008, 02:26 PM

Great idea. I've wanted Apple to allow freeform rearrangement of icons for exactly this reason.

kelchm · Dec 3, 2008, 03:53 PM

Originally Posted by aaanorton

I added one of your blank icons some time ago and now I can't remove it under OS 2.2. The blank icons have no close (x) badge in the upper left corner when they should.
I don't see any way to fix this other than full restore and starting from scratch. Any ideas?

Screen Shot

I think you must be mistaken somehow. Showing a blank space in the lower right really doesn't prove anything.

aaanorton · Dec 3, 2008, 05:30 PM

Originally Posted by kelchm

I think you must be mistaken somehow. Showing a blank space in the lower right really doesn't prove anything.

What a curious reply to a simple trouble report.

I actually have 2 of these blank icons from the OP's site. The 2nd one is on an otherwise blank (empty) Springboard page. It got stranded there because I ended up removing some apps and needed fewer pages. Another odd thing is that the blank page does not show up in normal use. When I'm using the iPhone, I see 5 pages. But when I enter the Springboard edit mode, a 6th (empty) page shows up. Neither of these blank icon slots are usable by another app and neither of them can be deleted.

Updated Screen Shots

kelchm · Dec 3, 2008, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by aaanorton

What a curious reply to a simple trouble report.

I actually have 2 of these blank icons from the OP's site. The 2nd one is on an otherwise blank (empty) Springboard page. It got stranded there because I ended up removing some apps and needed fewer pages. Another odd thing is that the blank page does not show up in normal use. When I'm using the iPhone, I see 5 pages. But when I enter the Springboard edit mode, a 6th (empty) page shows up. Neither of these blank icon slots are usable by another app and neither of them can be deleted.

Updated Screen Shots

The extra page showing up in editing mode is entirely normal.

When you click the blank icon that you can't seem to remove, what happens?

aaanorton · Dec 3, 2008, 05:37 PM

Nothing happens.

kelchm · Dec 3, 2008, 05:48 PM

Originally Posted by aaanorton

Nothing happens.

Then I think you are somehow imagining this problem.

aaanorton · Dec 3, 2008, 06:02 PM

Yes, you've already mentioned that. Thank you for that input.
It took me a while to get the icon(s) at the end of the page(s). Before that they were in the middle of the page. I had to keep moving apps around to force it to the bottom/end. They're less distracting now than then, but I'd still like to remove them.