Filed under: Software, Universal Binary
Linotype FontExplorer X is out of beta
The good news
is that Linotype FontExplorer X is out of beta, the bad news
is...there is no bad news! Dubbed "iTunes for your fonts," FontExplorer makes organizing and using the fonts
in your collection extremely easy. You can even shop for fonts from within FontExplorer, iTMS-style. Changes in version
1.0 include:- An optional WYSIWYG font list
- The ability to launch from a network volume (cool)
- TrueType Collection (TTC) font format recognition
- Universal goodness
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
DSJ said 1:23PM on 3-16-2006
The most awesome thing to come out for MacOS X!!! Long live FontExplorer. May Suitcase (and all other font management programs) die a quick and painful death.
Our systems are MUCH more stable without Suitcase mucking up the works.
Everyone should get this. NOW!!
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Robert said 1:25PM on 3-16-2006
I wonder how long it will be free. My guess is just long enough to build up a user base.
I tried it in Beta and went back to the venerable Suitcase X because FX had an annoying habit of not activating the fonts I told it to because it "saw" similar fonts elsewhere in the database. This is not the behaviour one needs in a prepress environment where we must use customer-supplied fonts, dozens of times a day.
I also found the main window much too big to be practical when working with multiple windows.
Maybe all these problems I had have been fixed in the release version so I'll give it another go when I have some spare time to let another font manager take over from Suitcase, but it had better be WAY better or it will simply hit the trash.
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Don said 2:02PM on 3-16-2006
Just one word: "SWEET" !
Just tried it out and I love it. Who knows, I may even buy an occasional font or two sometime.
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arno said 2:15PM on 3-16-2006
oh and it's not available for PC yet. "PC users, we haven't forgotten about you! A Windows version of FontExplorer X is coming soon."
hell froze over? :)
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The Wildman said 2:48PM on 3-16-2006
The latest update for this program adds WYSIWYG font previews in its interface. This is a huge piece of functionality that's been included. I've yet to have it fail on me. It activates fonts on command as needed. I was a Suitcase user before and must agree Linotype has created a very elegant "iTunes like" solution for managing and buying fonts. I fail to see a single negative about FontExplorer X...how many programs can you say that about!?
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Steve C said 3:01PM on 3-16-2006
It's great but after installing the 1.0 version it broke the database link.
No there's a bug I can't get rid of. Click on library and it crashes.
They sent a database fix applet which didn't seem to solve the problem.
Hopefully they'll figure it out and let me know what to do.
As a free application it's great. This is the first problem I've had with it.
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bt said 3:14PM on 3-16-2006
I've had great luck with FontExplorer X. The price tag makes it even more appealing. Their website says they have no intention of charging for it. Why should they, when it's tied in to their store? It's main goal is for you to buy fonts through them. They provide us with a good font manager, we provide them our typeface-purchasing power.
I wish it looked a little more like the newer versions of iTunes, though. The chunky brushed metal seems a little antiquated now.
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Alexandre Roche said 4:41PM on 3-16-2006
This is awesome. Goodbye Suitcase!
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Dan Pritchard said 7:52PM on 3-16-2006
Avoid this program like the plague!
I tried it the last time it showed up on TUAW. It removes all your freaking fonts from /Library/Fonts and ~/Library/Fonts claiming they "don't belong there" but in a magical folder FontExplorer creates in some bizarre location. It took forever for me to repair the damage. Basically this program forces you to ONLY use it to manage your fonts, you can't use any other program to do it or else it screws everything up.
Font Book does everything I need WITHOUT mucking up my font library, thank you very much!
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Tony Ward said 12:54PM on 3-17-2006
UPDATE, everybody: version 1.0.1 was released today, which provides new CS plugins.
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Jeff said 8:46PM on 3-18-2006
Re Dan's warning: The latest version askes you if you would like to move or copy your fonts to a FontExplorer managed folder. You can leave the font files be if you wish, although not sure you would really want to. The program seems to organize everythin nicely by font name within alaphabatized sub folders. Thumbs up from me.
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