Firefox 3.6 Learns WOFF
Mozilla has made itself into the draft horse for a new font format for the Web that some of its developers and independent font designers are currently hatching. Firefox 3.6 should be the first to support the new Web Open Font Format (WOFF).
The new Web Open Font Format (.woff) should repackage the existing TrueType (.ttf) and OpenType (.otf) font formats. Two things benefit from it: compatibility with the existing formats and metadata whereby a font designer can communicate to the world about the font's usage. A few font designers have already announced that they're jumping aboard WOFF. A discussion participant already lists Adobe among the supporting foundries, although Mozilla itself does not yet include the font veteran on their list.
The proposal for the new format came from font designers Erik van Blokland and Tal Leming beginning of July on their w3.org mailing list. Mozilla developers have since chimed in. Together with the aforementioned, Jonathan Kew drafted the first WOFF design specification and John Daggett describes the new format in a Mozilla hacks blog.
Kew and Daggett also present the realm of possibilities due in Firefox 3.7 for the new font format.
Issue 163/2014
Buy this issue as a PDF
Digital Issue: Price $9.99
(incl. VAT)
Tag Cloud
News
-
An Even Smaller Raspberry Pi
The Raspberry Pi Foundation has announced an even smaller version of the tiny computer that will fit into a DIMM slot.
-
Newly Discovered Android Vulnerability Causes Privilege Escalation
A new class of problems lets a malicious app pre-configure an invisible privilege update.
-
Facebook Rolls Out New PHP-like Programming Language
New Hack language adds static typing and other conveniences.
-
Fedora Announces Innovative Crytography Policy System
New crypto policy system will offer easier configuration and more uniform security.
-
Shuttleworth Calls for Declarative Firmware
Ubuntu founder denounces insecurity in proprietary, close-source software blobs.
-
New TLS Attack Takes the S out of HTTPS
Vulnerability affects many Linux web servers
-
Munich Adopts Kolab
The Bavarian capital shuns Microsoft, Google, and other alternatives to implement an open source groupware solution.
-
Canonical Announces Ubuntu Smartphones
Phone vendor partnerships bring Mark Shuttleworth's dream of Ubuntu on a phone a step closer to reality.
-
Piviti Seeks Funding
Donors will get to vote on new features for the free video editor.
-
Debian Tech Committee Votes for systemd
Debian project puts init out to pasture and says no to Ubuntu's Upstart.