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Why Do Google Maps’s City Labels Seem So Readable?

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Re: Why Do Google Maps’s City Labels Seem So Readable?

#91

Post by drivebyacct2 »

allenp wrote: post #90
drivebyacct2 wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Couldn't agree more. The tabs and buttons fit perfectly into my operating system ( http://i.imgur.com/DO5SQ.png reusing this image from a few threads back). I don't even use the "Use GTK+ Theme" option (though I do use system titlebar because it looks hot).

What OS and theme/toolbar/etc is this? It looks great.

This is stock Ubuntu 10.10 Ambiance theme:

Unstable Docky from PPA (The stable version is basically identical). Docky is pure butter. It is a few features down from AWN but it's MUCH more consistent (had problems with clicks registering in AWN in weird places) and is gorgeous. It really takes advantage of the SVG icons from Faenza.

* ppa:docky-core/ppa

The toolbar at the top is standard gnome-panel with Cardapio replacing the standard GNOME Main Menu. Cardapio is easily my favorite main menu of any OS. I have the ability to change the identifier for it, search the menu, see everything grouped nicely, AND resize the menu itself. Awesome stuff.

* ppa:cardapio-team/unstable

* screenshot of Cardapio: http://i.min.us/i9sRs.png

I'm using Faenza icons:

* http://tiheum.deviantart.com/art/Faenza-Icons-173323228

* ppa:tiheum/equinox

Note, there is a conflict caused by Faenza's author overwriting PNGs in /usr/share/dockmanager which is used by the Docky DEB. I used DPKG and --force-overwrite to get them to install properly. A bit of a pain when there are updates, but really it's only one command and it's well worth it.

(The only other thing I could add is, I use dockbarx when I remote in because it doesn't require compositing where Docky does. When I do that, my setup looks like this: http://i.min.us/iErSa.png)

Re: Why Do Google Maps’s City Labels Seem So Readable?

#93

Post by aisi »

newyorker wrote: post #59

I've gotten so addicted to Google Maps, its very hard for me to use a Garmin or Nuvi GPS. I appreciate the clean UI of Google Maps, hope they make standalone GPS device (will save battery drain from your phone).

Garmin makes Nuvi. Try looking at some of the competition; TomTom are good for maps with just the right amount of visual complexity, and clean UIs.

Re: Why Do Google Maps’s City Labels Seem So Readable?

#94

Post by willchang »

peter_l_downs wrote: post #38

Am I the only one who thought the Bing maps were more "readable" than the Google maps? I do agree that the Yahoo maps were by far the worst, but to me the Bing maps were better designed (other than the color scheme) than the Google maps. Maybe it's just me?

I agree. Until someone runs subjects on a bunch of use scenarios, it's hard to say which is better, and I happen to prefer Bing. Conjecturally speaking, one-pixel outlines come at a cost -- if you don't need them, as when the map colors are low-contrast, you can actually have somewhat bigger text.

Re: Why Do Google Maps’s City Labels Seem So Readable?

#96

Post by ugh »

willchang wrote: post #94
peter_l_downs wrote: post #38

Am I the only one who thought the Bing maps were more "readable" than the Google maps? I do agree that the Yahoo maps were by far the worst, but to me the Bing maps were better designed (other than the color scheme) than the Google maps. Maybe it's just me?

I agree. Until someone runs subjects on a bunch of use scenarios, it's hard to say which is better, and I happen to prefer Bing. Conjecturally speaking, one-pixel outlines come at a cost -- if you don't need them, as when the map colors are low-contrast, you can actually have somewhat bigger text.

My hypothesis is that people with poor eyesight or cheap monitors might have problems with Bing. The low contrast is very beautiful, especially if you have a great screen, but maybe not optimal in all situations. I would love to see that tested.

Re: Why Do Google Maps’s City Labels Seem So Readable?

#97

Post by mgedmin »

drivebyacct2 wrote: post #91
allenp wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What OS and theme/toolbar/etc is this? It looks great.

This is stock Ubuntu 10.10 Ambiance theme: Unstable Docky from PPA (The stable version is basically identical). Docky is pure butter. It is a few features down from AWN but it's MUCH more consistent (had problems with clicks registering in AWN in weird places) and is gorgeous. It really takes advantage of the SVG icons from Faenza. * ppa:docky-core/ppa The toolbar at the top is standard gnome-panel with Cardapio repl…

The deb conflict could be solved rather neatly by using dpkg diversions: http://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/ap-pkg-diversions.ht...

Re: Why Do Google Maps’s City Labels Seem So Readable?

#99

Post by mkramlich »

great article.

several of the qualities he pointed out were already obvious to me. but while not officially a "designer" i've been creating software/graphical/print interfaces for almost 30 years in one form or another. i do notice tricks with fonts and entity positioning.

Re: Why Do Google Maps’s City Labels Seem So Readable?

#100

Post by Luyt »

nostrademons wrote: post #65
boucher wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google does an above average, and often good job, at actual usability challenges. But they are pretty universally bad at making things that people would consider beautiful. Chrome gets usability issues right. Things like their tab closing behavior, the almost total lack of dialogues, one click bookmarking, etc. are all really great. But Chrome is not a beautiful app. Its toolbar icons are fairly childish, its tabs ju…

Most people would rather use their software than admire it.

Yes, and I severy dislike software where the 'UI bling' gets in the way of usability, or where the application author disregards my user preferences (like system colors and fonts) and tries to force his taste on me. So-called 'skinned' apps often have this problem. What's wrong with native controls? That's what I expect and am used to.
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