It's probably Myriad-Web, part of Adobe's short foray into TT fonts. But I don't think it's a good choice for a mobile device.

hhp

Yeah, but I would still like to see an image or two. Just to know�

This page has what looks like a screen grab ...

http://www.apple.com/ipodphoto/autosyncmusic.html

but the pixel dimensions don't match the spec. Let's hope the type on the device renders better - unless the orientation of the RGB stripes is in the 'wrong' direction I don't see why Apple won't be using their ClearType clone.

I don't get how that's "a special screen optimised Myriad".
It's certainly not Myriad-Web, more like Myriad-Mud.

hhp

Perhaps Apple will be dropping Lucida and going 100% Myriad in future products - it would makes sense to tie branding font and UI font in this way. Additional evidence in the Wiki...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_typography#Apple_Myriad

"Apple changed the name of their licensed version of the typeface when they had the format of the fonts converted to TrueType for their internal use."

Why convert to TrueType if you're only using the fonts in print and Photoshop'd graphics?

Si

> It's certainly not Myriad-Web, more like Myriad-Mud.

I'm sure it's a mock up - the straight apostrophe is a trick to make you think it's real - "no Apple designer would use straight quote intentionally" ;-)

This one - http://images.apple.com/ipod/images/autosyncsource_20040719.gif

Photo from the apple PR section[1] shows myriad, though the screen is faked.



[1] http://www.apple.com/pr/

Typefaces aside, cool product but it is a shame they can pack 15 hours of battery life into this with colour and only 12 into the colour less one

> I think that's iTunes on OS X, not the iPod, and the font shown is
the OS X standard Lucida Grande.

True. I was fooled by the dimensions of the gif being close to the dimensions of the color screen.

I think Apple should re-focus its efforts on something that costs less than half a grand.

I work near an Apple store, so I'll check out the Myriad in action.

They seem to be doing well... more power to them.

If some of the profits end up financing new and cool font production, which seems to be the case here, then that's good. Looking forward to seeing the real type on the real device.

http://gallery.ipodlounge.com/ipod/displayimage.php?album=15&pos=15

Apple lost on the side of system fonts, from far compared to the wonderful job do MS. After the fabulous Mac 7 and GX and the bunch of new creative fonts, nothing appeared. Sound S Jobs who have some qualities on many aspects don't SEE the value of a font.
Glad that the MS type group is active and do right things :-)

I remember when I got my 2g ipod with real buttons (gosh, is it really now 4g?) being delighted that there was a little bit of typographic history on it's baby black and white screen.

Am I alone in lamenting Chicago's demise? I still think its a great bitmap font.

Looks like bi-level, with single pixel stems at the smaller sizes...

http://gallery.ipodlounge.com/ipod/displayimage.php?album=15&pos=22

http://gallery.ipodlounge.com/ipod/displayimage.php?album=15&pos=14

Can't tell from the pictures if it's ClearType or regular anti-aliasing at the larger sizes.

In the ipodlounge photos, the small font is Espy Sans, the font currently used in the iPod mini and the larger bolder font is the venerable Chicago, which like David I was way jazzed to see on the original iPod though I admit, being an eWorld user for a time that I was equally excited to see Espy Sans on the mini.

So what you're saying is that in this pic

http://gallery.ipodlounge.com/ipod/displayimage.php?album=15&pos=14

The top line (antialiased) 'contact' is the 'new' font Myriad. The second line 'Sample' is Chicago, and the third line 'Accountant' is Espy?

If so the claim "its easier to read than ever. That�s thanks in part to the clarity of the display � it offers 220x176-pixel resolution � and in part to the new Myriad typeface." would seem a bit odd as the reading text isn't Myriad at all.

Si

� The top line (antialiased) 'contact' is the 'new' font Myriad. The second line 'Sample' is Chicago, and the third line 'Accountant' is Espy?

That's right. It's worth noting that the 4G iPods also use Espy Sans in the notes (and I believe contacts) sections to be able to fit more text in, so a multiplicity of fonts on the same screen is nothing new.

� If so the claim "its easier to read than ever...

I think they're refering to the text of the navigation screens (list of choices with arrows to drill down, see image on my previous post) which does use Myriad. I'd call this a reasonable claim since most time spent using an iPod is spent on these navigation screens and not in the notes and contacts sections.

Thanks Aaron, that all seems to make sense.

Cheers, Si

Nice sleuthing.

BTW, my wife has an iPod mini, which we haven't even fired up yet - it's about 4 months old. Is there anything useful I can do with it here, like slap it on my scanner?

Chicago: The messed up vertical proportions piss me off. But the darkness is great.

hhp

hrant -- want to sell that mini as it sounds like you don't need it?

All a bit chirographic
"Chicago: The messed up vertical proportions piss me off. But the darkness is great."
http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B00006HI6B.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B0000A0C4U.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
What else are you going to put on your iPod?
Sorry, couldn't resist it.

> want to sell that mini

What, you want the wedding ring too?! ;->
It was an anniversary gift. We've just been busy.

Tim, funny.

hhp

<quote>
What, you want the wedding ring too?! ;->
It was an anniversary gift. We've just been busy.
</quote>

So, i posted some bad images about that thing with comments. Thanks to Tiffany to re-open the thread for me, and thanks iChat too.

http://www.porchez.com/article/256/my-new-ipod-photo