You should feel more free to announce publicly that Internet Explorer sucks.
I do, at least once a day.

Yeah, I see what you mean. Though most users will just click the thing to make it go away.
I can’t get it to show up on Safari. The css just works.

I’ve been paying very close attention to HTML5. The only way to get it to degrade gracefully is to either not use the new tags, or nest HTML4 friendly tags inside the new ones (I’ve tested this). Both methods defeat the purpose of HTML5.

Also, there is another method that’s been tossed around. It came to my attention via Jeffery Zeldman that David Berlow proposed that a simple method would be to embed a permissions table into the fonts (http://www.fontbureau.com/otpermtable/). The real only issue with it, I think, is getting it supported in browsers (especially a certain browser from Redmond…).

Until then, FontFont has announced that their typefaces will be appearing in Typekit (especially one of my favorites, the Meta family).

The prompt can be seen in Firefox, if you setup your @font-face correctly (not using javascript) and the font is not already on your system – Firefox will prompt and ask you if you’d like the font to access or system.

I believe Safari does the same, I am also Apple based. I’ve seen it on other sites as well, it’s pretty obtrusive if you ask me.

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I agree with you on HTML5 and CSS3, in fact, I think it’s pretty humorous that newbs’ all over the internet are trying to use it and even go so far to post it on their resumes or list of services! ~ Uhhhh it’s not done yet, nor does it even work for many people! So funny to me, these individuals more than likely also, probably do not have stats on their users browsers either!

BUT – if they can set up their site using HTML and CSS3 and still have it degrade nicely, then kudos to them.

I also agree about Javascript. More than likely it will be Javascript based – however I would not be surprised if another method was implemented. Maybe a font is a allowed to access the browser via a temp folder, rather than downloading it and accessing your system?

Thanks for the feedback and thoughts.
AG

I unfortunately wouldn’t count on HTML5 and CSS3 any time soon. The “design by committee” method employed by the W3C will make sure of that. The wide spread use of Javascript on almost every major site makes it so that most people have it enabled. This means that the type services will be the most feasible in the next 5 years (minimum). We as designers need to really push and support them to show foundries that we want to work with them to protect their rights and make the web a more beautiful place.

Also, I wouldn’t worry about non-designers abusing typography because they already do. Terrible designs are everywhere. That’s why people pay designers (or not in the case of some businesses of NWI).

The questions at hand…

* Will Graphic Designers and Web Designers be careful when selecting fonts?
The good ones will, there is always going to be that group of people that muck it for everyone.

* Will they choose the right combos wisely?
The good ones will.

* Will they use too many typefaces, just because they can now?
The good ones won’t.

* Will “creativity” over-ride the fundamentals of readability on-screen?
The good ones will have self-control.

* Will Graphic Designers think differently when selecting type?
They should as much as they are now.

My point is that the good web cats out there will know how to swing the axe and the bad ones will just chop their fingers off.

Good and bad design will always be around. Just because a designer will have the ability to use any font – will not make bad designers, good, and vice versa.

wow.

Overall, I love the progression that we are seeing in the technology. But just like anything else in life, moderation is the key. At the same time, I am truly in awe of someone who has the ability to create beautiful design with such limited resources such as 5 typefaces. To me, that is where you separate yourself from the group.

A college once told me, just because you can do it, does not mean you should.