Comments on: Pop Quiz: Apple/Mac strange icon overlay

By: Steve

Steve — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 19:50:25 +0000

I’m getting this overlay on apps that work without a problem on my new mbp so have no idea where the problem is!
The apps that show the overlay are textmate, svnx and slingplayer. Anybody else able to shed light on this?

By: Marco

Marco — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 21:07:07 +0000

Anything that is an executable application that your mac can’t actually run, gets that icon:

- Intel-only Apps on PPC
- Classic apps on Intel
- ARM apps on anything that isn’t an iPhone or iPod touch.

By: Gijs

Gijs — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 07:51:55 +0000

Everyone, thanks for the comments so far. I suppose I’m in a similar boat as Chris - I’d like to know how Mac OS X determines when to show the icon overlay, because it is used for other things than Intel/PPC build differences.

Recently, a XULRunner app I installed using a non-libxul XULRunner debug build (non-libxul is unfortunately the default debug build configuration at the moment) got this icon and wouldn’t start. So while the icon was ‘right’ in a way (the app couldn’t start unless you set the DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH environment variable), it was also quite annoying not to have any explanation as to how Mac OS X determined this, and what was actually wrong (as starting the app from Finder just “did nothing”.

Like Smokey and Chris, though, I’ve been unable to find anything on Apple’s site :-(.

By: John Silvestri

John Silvestri — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 23:48:24 +0000

And further on Eric’s comment - for non-Universal Binary OS X applications. The other day, I downloaded an application (I forget which one) that came with both Intel & PPC versions in a .zip file. I was quite curious to see that icon, as I was using my MacBook, and that was overlayed on the PPC build. Now, I guess that magic is better explained to me, as I initially thought it was the clever work of the programmer, but now it seems clear that it’s an OS X feature.

By: Screwtape

Screwtape — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 23:41:12 +0000

It’s also used for Intel-only applications on PPC systems.

By: David Smith

David Smith — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 23:13:37 +0000

Eric is correct. It’ll also show up for Intel-only apps on PPC, etc…

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 21:19:29 +0000

I’d be interested in knowing what circumstances might cause this icon to be displayed in error. I suspect something to do with LaunchServices, but I’m not entirely sure. I was recently having problems where this overlay would be placed on just about EVERY app — all native — on my PPC Mac.

Smokey and I talked a bit about it on IRC but like him, I can’t find anything about it on Apple’s site either.

By: Eric Shepherd

Eric Shepherd — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 16:39:42 +0000

This icon overlay is used when an application is not compatible with your computer. In particular, it’s used for Classic applications on Intel systems.

By: Smokey Ardisson

Smokey Ardisson — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 15:53:26 +0000

I believe that is the “No Access” overlay, for when you don’t have permissions to access a folder/application. I can’t find any information on it, either, though