Font Hipsters

#1

Post by Vexenon » Thu, Oct 20, 2011, 2:30 AM UTC

Re: Font Hipsters

#2

Post by Kylekramer » Thu, Oct 20, 2011, 3:06 AM UTC

I am trying to figure out how it went from decent looking typeface that kind of steals from Helvetica (http://daringfireball.net/linked/2011/10/18/robotica) to a Helvetica ripoff (http://daringfireball.net/linked/2011/10/19/roboto-v-helveti...) to a ripoff of four different fonts (http://daringfireball.net/linked/2011/10/19/roboto-typograph...) [1] to an "ungainly, homely, unharmonious" system font that makes Daring Fireball look bad on Android (original article). I know Gruber claims he wants Android to have an attractive font, but it certainly doesn't feel like he does.

1: Once you are apparently incorporating four difference fonts as influences, aren't we in the realm of originality?

Re: Font Hipsters

#3

Post by Stratego » Thu, Oct 20, 2011, 3:11 AM UTC

Kylekramer wrote: post #2

I am trying to figure out how it went from decent looking typeface that kind of steals from Helvetica ( http://daringfireball.net/linked/2011/10/18/robotica ) to a Helvetica ripoff ( http://daringfireball.net/linked/2011/10/19/roboto-v-helveti... ) to a ripoff of four different fonts ( http://daringfireball.net/linked/2011/10/19/roboto-typograph... ) [1] to an "ungainly, homely, unharmonious" system font that makes D…

If you define originality as a clumsy patchwork of existing pieces.

Re: Font Hipsters

#4

Post by hexix » Thu, Oct 20, 2011, 3:12 AM UTC

Can someone please explain daring fireball to me? Every single post appears to be about how great Apple is. That can't seriously be the blog, can it? Why would people read this?

Re: Font Hipsters

#5

Post by mcantelon » Thu, Oct 20, 2011, 3:14 AM UTC

Kylekramer wrote: post #2

I am trying to figure out how it went from decent looking typeface that kind of steals from Helvetica ( http://daringfireball.net/linked/2011/10/18/robotica ) to a Helvetica ripoff ( http://daringfireball.net/linked/2011/10/19/roboto-v-helveti... ) to a ripoff of four different fonts ( http://daringfireball.net/linked/2011/10/19/roboto-typograph... ) [1] to an "ungainly, homely, unharmonious" system font that makes D…

One has to wonder just how much Apple stock Gruber owns.

Re: Font Hipsters

#6

Post by NinetyNine » Thu, Oct 20, 2011, 3:18 AM UTC

Kylekramer wrote: post #2

I am trying to figure out how it went from decent looking typeface that kind of steals from Helvetica ( http://daringfireball.net/linked/2011/10/18/robotica ) to a Helvetica ripoff ( http://daringfireball.net/linked/2011/10/19/roboto-v-helveti... ) to a ripoff of four different fonts ( http://daringfireball.net/linked/2011/10/19/roboto-typograph... ) [1] to an "ungainly, homely, unharmonious" system font that makes D…

I'm an engineer with a pretty keen eye for design, but I've never understood these font wars. At a certain point, whether your serif is 3% longer, or the loop in the letter a is downwards or upwards, none of that helps or hurts readability. What companies really need to start working on is their rendering technology. The Segoe family was designed for clear type, one of the most readable and cross-screen technologies available today. Mac OSX suffers horribly from a blurriness on non-Apple displays, and as unfamiliar as I am with the tech that underlies Linux distros like Ubuntu, they haven't seem to hit any screen right yet. ClearType handles bleed, leakage, contrasts, all seamlessly. Apple has only designed for their devices, so yes, it tends to look very good on their tech. Android gets the worst of both worlds: no good algorithm, and no control of hardware.

Re: Font Hipsters

#7

Post by Yhippa » Thu, Oct 20, 2011, 3:21 AM UTC

hexix wrote: post #4

Can someone please explain daring fireball to me? Every single post appears to be about how great Apple is. That can't seriously be the blog, can it? Why would people read this?

I think Gruber seems to be a smart guy but all of his posts seem to praise Apple and hate on non-Apple especially Google. I think he says some interesting things but I just can't take the guy seriously. He's like the RMS for Apple.

Re: Font Hipsters

#8

Post by nextparadigms » Thu, Oct 20, 2011, 3:24 AM UTC

I find the Roboto font looks great.

http://androidspin.com/2011/10/19/miui-theme-itching-for-the...

Does Gruber have an urge to pick on everything Android does to make himself feel better about iOS? I think Android 4.0 brought a lot more improvements than iOS 5 did, but I guess he just has to find something to pick on.

Re: Font Hipsters

#9

Post by Gigablah » Thu, Oct 20, 2011, 3:26 AM UTC

Kylekramer wrote: post #2

I am trying to figure out how it went from decent looking typeface that kind of steals from Helvetica ( http://daringfireball.net/linked/2011/10/18/robotica ) to a Helvetica ripoff ( http://daringfireball.net/linked/2011/10/19/roboto-v-helveti... ) to a ripoff of four different fonts ( http://daringfireball.net/linked/2011/10/19/roboto-typograph... ) [1] to an "ungainly, homely, unharmonious" system font that makes D…

Going through those entries, it looks like he read all the posts bashing Roboto and gradually convinced himself that it sucks.

Re: Font Hipsters

#10

Post by bradleyland » Thu, Oct 20, 2011, 3:28 AM UTC

hexix wrote: post #4

Can someone please explain daring fireball to me? Every single post appears to be about how great Apple is. That can't seriously be the blog, can it? Why would people read this?

What makes DF interesting (or at least relevant) is that John Gruber tends to think like Apple does (as a collective). Steve Jobs even went so far as to use Gruber's rationalization during the iOS vs Flash debacle as an example of a well reasoned argument.

The short version is: Gruber is a good read if you want to know what Apple is thinking.