More distinct icons, please...

[Talroth]

Rather than just changing the colour of the Icon, why not add something like a gold star in the upper left for new posts, and a red X in the bottom right for no new posts? As they are now it is annoyingly hard to tell the two apart at a quick glance. Personally I would go so far as to add completely different icons.

[jwbjerk]

Rather than just changing the colour of the Icon, why not add something like a gold star in the upper left for

Or a prominent gleam, with rays that extend beyond and thus alter the silouette, something like this hasty example:

[Talroth]

Or a prominent gleam, with rays that extend beyond and thus alter the silouette, something like this hasty example:

I would go with making the orb even smaller, and extend the rays more. The point of an icon is that you should be able to understand it without thinking.

[tilt]

yep the gleam works much better