fonts

AMP Font Viewer helps you install, organize, and manage your system's fonts

Windows is so full of fonts that they'd fill a warehouse if they were cast-metal typesets, but it doesn't go out of its way to make them easy to manage. That's where tools like AMPsoft's AMP Font Viewer come in. Font Viewer can install and uninstall fonts, sample them, and organize them into categories. This lightweight freeware is compatible with nearly every version of Windows still in use, even 9x releases from the 1990s. Regular updates are logged on the program's Web site. We tried Font Viewer in 64-bit Windows 7 Home Premium SP1.

Font … Read more

Google Type uses image search to generate fonts

Despite the name, Google Type isn't a real Google product. The site generates fonts based on Google image search, hence the name. You type in words, the site digs through image search and regenerates your text using image versions of each letter.

This is all based on an interesting quirk of Google's image search. If you type in a single letter and search images, Google gives you a lovely collection of image representations for that letter. For example, plug in "Y," and you may see the "Y" from "Yahoo," an illustration of a guy with his arms up in a "Y" shape, and a hand making the hang-loose sign. Any of these could pop up in Google Type.… Read more

Making use of the Character Viewer in OS X

The OS X Character Viewer is a system-wide text entry service that allows for quick access to numerous special characters from fonts in your system. While the use of keyboard modifier keys (Shift, Control, and so forth) allow for quick access to some common alternative characters, there are numerous Greek, currency, math, and emoticon symbols that can be accessed through the Character Viewer panel in OS X.

This panel can be accessed from the Edit menu in most applications, but can also be opened using keyboard shortcuts or the input menu, as outlined in this previous article.

The basics of … Read more

Q&A: MacFixIt Answers

MacFixIt Answers is a feature in which I answer questions e-mailed in by our readers.

This week, readers wrote in with questions about MacBook systems not booting on battery power, how to deal with advertisements in Safari, how to restrict printing with an administrator password in OS X, and fonts not displaying properly in Apple's Font Book utility. I welcome views from readers, so if you have any suggestions or alternative approaches to these problems, please post them in the comments!

Question: Laptops not booting when on battery power MacFixIt reader Robin asks:

I have two MacBooks, but they … Read more

How to increase the font size in iOS

The iPhone 5 may have a bigger screen, but text still looks pretty small to my aging eyes. In fact, it looks that way on all my iDevices.

That's because iOS relies on a fixed font size, and while a smattering of apps let you increase that size, there's no "font" option to be found in iOS settings.

Actually, there is, kind of, if you know where to look. It turns out you can enlarge the default iOS font a little bit or quite a bit, depending on your eyesight needs. Here's how:

1. Tap … Read more

How to create reference charts for Google Web Fonts

If you've spent any time customizing the appearance of a document in Google Drive, you've probably noticed the vast selection of fonts. Additionally, if you downloaded the fonts to your computer, in addition to the ones that came preinstalled, you might have trouble finding exactly what you're looking for without knowing the name of the font.

For times like this, a reference chart is a superhandy way to save time when looking for a particular font. Luckily, you can make a couple of these charts with just a few steps, as pointed out by the Digital Inspiration blog.… Read more

The 404 1,116: Where we keep up the good work (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- Microsoft squares off with new logo.

- Scientists discover that music memories are stored in a different part of the brain than the rest.

- Buzzfeed interviews a Google employee whose job required vetting thousands of terrible images a day.

Bathroom break video: Ghostbusters theme on eight floppy drives.

Video voice mail: Matt from Colorado Springs deserves a trucker hat.

Episode 1,116 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video  

Switch the font on your Samsung Galaxy Android device

Customization is a major perk offered by Android devices. From widgets to menus to live wallpaper, you can make the device feel like your own. For some, going the extra mile of rooting their device for ultimate customization is no big deal. However, if you're not ready to root your Android but want to learn about another feature you can customize, you're in luck. Samsung's Galaxy Android devices will let you change the system font with just a few simple steps.

Note: Depending on your device, you may have preinstalled fonts to choose from; if … Read more

Monotype releases font suite for mobile developers

Monotype Imaging today announced a new mobile font suite designed for Android Ice Cream Sandwich devices. The suite, which offers a slew of tools and services for developers and manufacturers, is called "Type Enhancements for Android."

Though some of the tools in the suite have been previously available to developers, it is the first time they have all been offered in an all-in-one package.

One such module, known as the iType font engine with Edge Tuning, promises OEMs better and cleaner text rendering.

In addition to that, the suite offers a greater breadth of language support than within … Read more