The NextStep system on my desk has been doing this since at least 1991, which is before Interval Research was even founded. The Mail app icon changes whenever there's new mail available, in "an unobtrusive manner that does not distract the user from his primary interaction".

Oh, wait, I've got it configured so that it also plays a barking dog sound when the mail arrives - not quite unobtrusive.

I bet that's probably patented as well...

and don't call me Shirley...

Give 'em time, they'll come around.

Followed the link, and what pops up? ... wait for it ... a full page HP printer ad.

Classic.

My car doesn't require me to create a new key every 30 days.

It's also the only way to figure out where to drop the magazine.

Because they're not in my Congressional district?

First heard this one way back when Sun flirted with OpenStep:

"All the Wood Behind One Arrow"

Or one of these

... I've done this several times.

Weather names (tornado, hurricane, etc.)

The Rugrats (angelica, tommy, chuckie, etc.)

Doctor Who companions (zoe, romana, etc.)
I almost had one project up to sv7, but the bean counters only bought six servers.

My latest project had the workstations named after muscle cars of the '60s (Mustang, Camaro, Chevelle, etc) and the servers named after land-yachts (Fleetwood, Continental, etc).

Or Druid. Don't know if I've got the room for one of their clocks, though.

If they were smart, they'd make it smell like coconut suntan lotion.

Mmmmm...