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Web fonts, boy, I don't know

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Re: Web fonts, boy, I don't know

#51

Post by Spivak »

prodigal_erik wrote: post #36
5350-uiop-1130 wrote: post #7

I have had the exact experience in the last month. Being on a slow connection, I've come to loath web fonts. There is nothing wrong with them in general but it's just that they've come to symbolise over-indulgence and a myopia towards the users actual task-focused needs as opposed to aesthetics. Part of the issue is dealing with progressive enhancement as far as slow internet connections go. How do you solve that pro…

> Would love an attribute on script and link tags that could be conditional based on connection speeds. I can't help but think of Android's "battery saver" toggle, which leaves me wondering why there's a battery waster feature and why it's on by default.

Same with the "data saver" toggle, I turned it on when I first got my phone and haven't turned it off since.

Re: Web fonts, boy, I don't know

#53

Post by hypertexthero »

thebouv wrote: post #30
elcapitan wrote: post #27

Are there actually font blockers like ad blockers? That would solve the problem pretty easily for everybody who's annoyed. Although they probably won't be available for mobile browsers, where it's the most painful.

On my iPhone I use Fusion by Firefox as an app that gives me the option to block ads AND web fonts. Love it.

It's called Focus https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/focus

Re: Web fonts, boy, I don't know

#54

Post by cm3 »

rocky1138 wrote: post #47

This is one of the reasons I browse with all web fonts disabled.

My primary reason is that I don't view a page on the same display and machine as the author, so more often than not the presentation is sub-optimal or entirely unreadable locally. Custom fonts are similarly abused like low-contrast text (grey on white).

Also loading via JavaScript and changing the fonts of an already rendered page disrupts my reading. If you want remote fonts, load them from the beginning, or if this isn't possible, just don't, please.

Another justification for disabling remote fonts is that it's one security critical interpreter of complex data which, when disabled, doesn't adversely affect the presentation, whereas on most pages disabling images does and cannot reasonably be disabled. The latter justification may go away with Mozilla's Oxidation efforts with time, leaving just loading time and readability as arguments.

Re: Web fonts, boy, I don't know

#56

Post by gcb0 »

elcapitan wrote: post #27

Are there actually font blockers like ad blockers? That would solve the problem pretty easily for everybody who's annoyed. Although they probably won't be available for mobile browsers, where it's the most painful.

about:config

search for webfonts.enabled. change to false.

alternatively, install noscript extension to have a UI with whitelist.

if you are not using Firefox, then i have no sympaty. wait until google cares about you.

Re: Web fonts, boy, I don't know

#57

Post by Mahn »

cperciva wrote: post #49
Declanomous wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As much as I believe font matters, I really think people should just use system fonts in general. No content is definitely more annoying than ugly content, but I have a seething hatred for webpages who jump around as content loads. "Let's click on this link... ah, not that link, let's go back. Yes, this link... NO! STOP MOVING!" Besides, I'm used to my fonts. I know your fonts are a deliberate design choice, but I'm…

"Let's click on this link... ah, not that link, let's go back. Yes, this link... NO! STOP MOVING!" This is my #1 complaint about reddit. Not due to fonts; but rather when I load reddit on my phone, a "get the reddit app" banner appears... timed perfectly so that my attempt to view my messages sends me off to the app store.

Heck, this is my #1 complaint of almost anything on a mobile browser. It's easily the worst offender when it comes to mobile in general; I wish browser vendors put a bigger focus on fixing this, somehow.

Re: Web fonts, boy, I don't know

#58

Post by lomnakkus »

smacktoward wrote: post #48
Declanomous wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As much as I believe font matters, I really think people should just use system fonts in general. No content is definitely more annoying than ugly content, but I have a seething hatred for webpages who jump around as content loads. "Let's click on this link... ah, not that link, let's go back. Yes, this link... NO! STOP MOVING!" Besides, I'm used to my fonts. I know your fonts are a deliberate design choice, but I'm…

> I know your fonts are a deliberate design choice, but I'm here for content. Categorizing type as "a design choice" dismisses it as fashion rather than function, which I don't think is the case. Type can put fashion over function, but it can also enhance function by making text more readable, or perform a mix of both functions by expressing a point visually that reinforces the point the page is making textually. It…

> Categorizing type as "a design choice" dismisses it as fashion rather than function, which I don't think is the case.

I think it's a question of how often it's one vs. the other. There are precious few good examples of web font usage -- so few, in fact, that I can't even think of one off the top of my head.

> Type can put fashion over function, but it can also enhance function by making text more readable,

How so? I mean, I've literally chosen my system fonts based on readability (to me, on my screen, with my eyesight, with my lighting conditions, etc!). I'm also used to those fonts.

> [...] by expressing a point visually that reinforces the point the page is making textually

Do you have any good examples of this? I don't think I've ever seen it "in the wild", so to speak.

Disclosure: I'm so annoyed by web fonts that I use a browser plugin which actually overrides fonts chosen by web pages, so I may not have been experiencing a representative sample of "what's out there". I had to have a quick-toggle for that plugin because suddenly it became fashionable to use goddamn fonts for icons. Ugh. Don't get me started :).

Re: Web fonts, boy, I don't know

#59

Post by icebraining »

prodigal_erik wrote: post #36
5350-uiop-1130 wrote: post #7

I have had the exact experience in the last month. Being on a slow connection, I've come to loath web fonts. There is nothing wrong with them in general but it's just that they've come to symbolise over-indulgence and a myopia towards the users actual task-focused needs as opposed to aesthetics. Part of the issue is dealing with progressive enhancement as far as slow internet connections go. How do you solve that pro…

> Would love an attribute on script and link tags that could be conditional based on connection speeds. I can't help but think of Android's "battery saver" toggle, which leaves me wondering why there's a battery waster feature and why it's on by default.

The opposite of saving is not wasting, it's spending. It's only a waste if you spend it badly.

Re: Web fonts, boy, I don't know

#60

Post by forrestthewoods »

All web developers should be forced to spend a full week using their site on each of LTE, 3g, and 2g. If your website takes more than 10 seconds to load on an ad-block free LTE device you're fired.

Relevant: Page Weight Matters (2012) http://blog.chriszacharias.com/page-weight-matters

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