On Tue, 16 Jul 2002, Thomas Dodd wrote: >Date: Tue, 16 Jul 2002 12:27:48 -0500 >From: Thomas Dodd <ted@cypress.com> >To: xfree86-list@redhat.com >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed >List-Id: Red Hat XFree86 list <xfree86-list.redhat.com> >Subject: Re: Update Management > > > >Mike A. Harris wrote: > >>On Tue, 16 Jul 2002, Thomas Dodd wrote: >> >>>Mike A. Harris wrote: >>> >>>>On Wed, 10 Jul 2002, Thomas Dodd wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>>>I wonder which fonts? >>>>> >>>>> >>>>ulT1mo Type1 fonts >>>> >>>Aren't they part of XFree86, and X11R6? >>> >>> >> >>No, and no. They never have been part of XFree86, however in >>Red Hat Linux 7.1 and 7.2 the fonts were merged into our XFree86 >>packaging. They were split back out for 7.3 for my own reasons. >>They are now removed permanently. >> >Were they replaced by something else then? No. If something else existed, then it most likely would have been also included in the distribution already. >Are we loosing popular fonts, or are we loosing fonts >that were seldom used? If you don't notice, then the latter. If you do, then the former. Either way, it is completely irrelevant. We didn't just wake up and say "lets remove fonts and piss everyone off". We removed fonts that we had to remove. It was not something that was an option to decide. >We really need a new font type. One with the look >of TrueType but without patent restrictions. I really can't see how that can be accomplished. Truetype is not the problem. The specific method of hinting truetype fonts and using a bytecode interpreter is what is patented. You could do the same thing with any font type, and it would still potentially be impacted by Apple's patents (assuming they are actually valid). >Some topagraphy shop need to come up with the format, >and a nice set of free fonts to get every one to switch. Again, it isn't a font file format that is the problem. Read the exact patents apple has. >Havoc mentioned some work on better free fonts, >but they will have the same old TrueType problems. Indeed. The solution for now at least, is to recompile freetype with the interpreter enabled (convenient %define in the spec file). -- Mike A. Harris Shipping/mailing address: OS Systems Engineer 190 Pittsburgh Ave., Sault Ste. Marie, XFree86 maintainer Ontario, Canada, P6C 5B3 Red Hat Inc. http://www.redhat.com ftp://people.redhat.com/mharris
