> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.chrismessina.me/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Apple "Show Fonts" Doesn't
- URL: https://www.chrismessina.me/blog/apple-show-fonts-doesnt/
- Published: 2006-02-08T12:42:31.000Z
- Updated: 2026-03-25T03:44:08.000Z
- Author: Chris Messina
- Tags: Technology

[](http://www.flickr.com/photos/factoryjoe/97250173/?ref=chrismessina.me)So I realized that Apple really dropped the ball going for mega-control over font output in Apple apps... ["Show Fonts"](http://developer.apple.com/documentation/UserExperience/Conceptual/OSXHIGuidelines/XHIGMenus/chapter%5F16%5Fsection%5F4.html?ref=chrismessina.me#//apple%5Fref/doc/uid/TP30000356-TPXREF156) does anything but. I mean, yeah, there's a lot of options in there to tweak -- but I think the problem is made worse by the number of things going on. How about this? Ditch 90% of that UI (and I'm an amateur type snob, so this would represent a big loss of control for me here!). Try this: offer a selector for "Voice". As in, y'know, "what *voice* do you want to convey this thought with?" So you're writing up a document and man, that sans-serif just ain't conveying the *emotion* of what you're trying to say... Maybe you need a little more *snark*? Maybe **anger**? How about awhimper. Those are things that you can achieve in type. It's not hard -- there are [new styles being released](http://www.myfonts.com/starlets.html?ref=chrismessina.me) all the time. It's like a Photoshoppian "Layer Style" for your thoughts. Now here's one more UI brainstorm: start out with the voice option and in step 2, toss up the recommended voice style [encircled by similar but slightly different type styles...](http://www.flickr.com/photos/factoryjoe/97265944/?ref=chrismessina.me) to "hone your voice". Click on one of the other styles and the "voice cloud" [rotates and now uses that new style as its central axis](http://www.flickr.com/photos/factoryjoe/97265926/?ref=chrismessina.me). Actually, this is very much like how Quicksilver's eye-gooey Constellation UI works. Eh? Eh? Whaddya think?