Google releases disco ball app icons for Pixel devices
The update, part of the March Pixel Drop, allows users to apply a sparkly, disco-ball aesthetic across their entire home screen, marking a shift from previous colour-matching customisation options.
Google has released a custom set of disco ball-themed Android app icons for Pixel users, following a viral trend sparked by Spotify’s temporary anniversary icon. The icons are available via the Pixel custom icons feature, introduced in the March Pixel Drop, which allows users to apply AI-generated styles to their home screens. Android ecosystem head Sameer Samat announced the release on X with a humorous query regarding user demand.
The new icons are accessible through the Pixel custom icons feature, which utilises AI-generated styles. This feature was introduced in the March Pixel Drop, alongside other templates such as “Scribbles,” “Treasure,” and “Easel.” Prior to this update, users could only customise icons by changing their colours to match the phone’s wallpaper and theme.
Sameer Samat had previously teased the possibility of the icon pack on X earlier in the week. He announced the availability on X, posting a screenshot of the icons and asking, “Are y’all sure you still want this?” His post included a screenshot of a Pixel phone fully decked out with sparkly, disco-ball-inspired icons.
The release follows a viral trend initiated by Spotify’s temporary disco ball app icon, created to celebrate the company’s 20th anniversary. Spotify later clarified that the icon was temporary, stating, “Alright, we know glitter is not for everyone.” The New York Times has reported on a trend among “Zillennials” embracing whimsy as a playful response to a difficult world.
The long-term availability of the disco ball icons is not explicitly stated, though they are presented as a current feature rather than a limited-time event like Spotify’s. The specific AI model or technical mechanism used to generate the disco ball aesthetic is not detailed in the source material.
