Skip to Content

Free TUAW iPhone app -- try it now!
AOL Tech

typefaces posts

Filed under: Utilities, Web services, Time-Wasters

Time-Waster: So you think you know Helvetica?

Earlier in the month we covered Cheese or Font - a fantastic perpetually-running time-waster that challenges you to choose whether the name displayed refers to a cheese or a font. However, the web is buzzing (at least, in some circles) about a far more nerdy variant: Helvetica vs Arial in Ironic Sans' "So you think you can tell Arial from Helvetica?" quiz.

You're shown 20 logos, each rendered in both Arial and Helvetica. All you have to do is correctly select the logo that was originally rendered in Helvetica. Of course, you shouldn't be referencing any materials during the test - though you'll have to fight temptation as there's some incredibly tricky logos in there, particularly later on when the test throws in a couple of full-capital logos that hide some of Helvetica's easily-identifiable characteristics.

If you're feeling brave, take the quiz and be sure to let us know your score in the comments!

Filed under: Design, Developer, Web services

Is TypeKit the future of fonts on the web?

Typography on the web has always been a delicate topic, and the source of a lot of tension between web designers, type designers, and standards gurus. Websites should have quality type choices available for all of their readers, but type designers deserve to be compensated for their hard work. The appropriate standard and the appropriate license have been debated for years. Typekit, launching this summer, is one possible resolution to the situation.

Billing itself as "the easiest way to use real fonts on your website," Typekit is a cross-browser platform that will offer a consistent license for fonts, without DRM. A group of type foundries is already supposed to be on board, although it's not yet clear which ones they are. For web designers, using Typekit will apparently be as easy as adding a little bit of Javascript to the site. It will be interesting to see whether it catches on, or whether it's too good to be true.

Filed under: Design, Text, Freeware, Open Source

Font Squirrel offers 300+ quality, free, commercial-friendly fonts


Finding free fonts on the net isn't really all that hard - the list of sites offering gratis typefaces is a pretty one. Good quality fonts? That's a slightly shorter list.

Good quality free fonts that can be used commercially? That list is even smaller.

Thankfully, the good folks behind Font Squirrel have worked their tails off putting together a large collection (currently 338) hand-selected typefaces that may be used in all your projects, both personal and professional.

Fonts are broken down into the usual families like hand-drawn, grunge, serif, and typewriter. There's a search box as well, helpful for quickly checking whether or not the Squirrel has a specific font.

I was pleased to find Mirisch, one of my favorite Ren and Stimpy-esque fonts.

Filed under: Internet

The Periodic Table of Typefaces

Periodict Table of Typefaces
OK, look. I can think of a thousand better ways to organize fonts than by creating a spoof of the Periodic Table of Elements. But none of them are quite as cool.

The Periodic Table of Typefaces covers a number of major fonts and includes information about the family and classification of each, the designer, the year the font was designed, and a ranking as cribbed from a number of internet sources.

The table might not be quite as entertaining as College Humor's Font Conference. But if you're a font wh... enthusiast, it's still pretty fun to look at. Click the image to see the full sized table.

Filed under: Design, Fun, Text, iPhone

Quickly identify fonts using your iPhone, with FontShuffle

If you're a big typography nerd, FontShop's FontShuffle app for iPhone will be right up your alley. FontShuffle lets you carry samples of the typefaces in FontShop's extensive catalog around in your pocket, ready for those on-the-go font identification situations. If you ever need to settle an argument about what font the restaurant used for the dinner menu, just whip out your iPhone or iPod Touch and figure it out with FontShuffle.

The fonts are impeccably organized, not just by serif or sans serif, but also into more specific (and useful) categories. You can put in your own text to sample, too, in case there's one particular letter you just can't figure out. Also, if you're shopping for new typefaces this holiday season, this is a quick, portable way to dream about all the ones you'd like to add to your library.

[via The FontFeed]

Filed under: Design, Freeware, web 2.0

Fontspace Offers Free Social Font Downloads

We love free fonts, but sometimes the process of finding half-decent ones can be pretty annoying. Fontspace.com tries to smooth out the rough spots for free font junkies.

Instead of simply categorizing fonts, Fontspace uses the good ol' tagging system - which provides easier access to similar fonts. The broad categories on some other sites (sorry DaFont) often lead to large, tiresome lists that require a boatload of time to sift through.

Registered users can also add fonts to their favorites ; thi can be extremely useful in the event that someone - your husband , for example - accidentally forgets to back up your fonts before a reformat.

Featured Time Waster

The World's Hardest Game 2.0 - Time Waster

So, just how good at time waster games are you? Think you've got the stuff? Well, The World's Hardest Game 2.0 doesn't think you do. Yes, amazingly, it's possible to have a sequel to a game called "The World's Hardest Game". It doesn't seem logically possible, since if the first one was actually the world's hardest, how could another one come along and share the moniker? It made me doubt the name in the first place. That is, until I tried the game. The mechanics of the game are very simple. You are a small red square, ...

View more Time Wasters

Featured Galleries

Defective by Design, London: Protest Pictures
Microsoft Security Essentials
Chromium Pre-Alpha on CrunchBang Linux
Safari 4 Beta
10 Firefox themes that don't suck
IE8 RC1
Download Squad at the Crunchies After-Party
Download Squad at the Crunchies
WordPress 2.7
Cooking Mama: Mama Kills Animals
Windows 7 Hands On
Comodo Internet Security
Android First-look: Amazon.com MP3 Store
Android First-look: Twitroid
Google Reader Android
Android Hands-On
Twine 1.0
Photoshop Express Beta
Mozilla Birthday Cake
Palm stuff
Adobe Lightroom 1.1

 


Follow us on Twitter!

Flickr Pool

www.flickr.com

More Tech Coverage

AOL Radio