sherry-sherry's comments

Sorry. I really meant that there's nothing people are reading or viewing that has higher contrast in the natural world. I should've been clearer (and less forthright).

Your points about day/shade contrast and eyes adjusting are correct, as are screen brightness levels people use.

> Look up at a bright cloud and then glance into a shaded doorway.

Yes, and that causes strain on the eyes. Our eyes very are good at adapting (as you said), but it is not pleasant to do rapidly or while trying to concentrate and interpret text.

Bleached white paper and black ink is (pretty generously) ~15:1 contrast ratio in a well lit room, which any half decent screen in the past 20 years surpass.

Pure black/white text is harder to read on screens since they are producing and pushing light at you (as opposed bouncing back ambient light like on paper). We have never seen text printed on paper at the contrast ratios a modern screen can produce, since there is no paper white enough or ink dark enough.

There are many things with typography that are finicky and sometimes counter-intuitive. Making text bigger and all-caps won't always make something more readable (see here: https://www.mentalfloss.com/transportation/roads/why-road-si...), likewise more contrast doesn't always make it more readable for everyone.

Of course there are people who require more contrast and larger type sizes and the great part about reading stuff on screens is we can often accommodate that better. Some websites/apps/etc handle accessibility options well and some really don't.

So I kind of went on a much longer thing than I wanted to... oh well. Sorry if I was too forthright in my initial comment, I guess clarity in intent/meaning can be just as important as readability.

Paper and ink have at best, a ~15:1 contrast ratio (bleached white paper and black ink).

> The majority of screens have crappy contrasts (100:1).

No idea where you're pulling this from. A MacBook Air display from 2010, a very average non-retina screen, has about 300:1. A modern MBA is over 1000:1 real-world contrast performance. A very average quality budget TN display from 2010s is 500:1.

I could not find a phone or desktop display at my local retailer with stated a contrast ratio lower than 1200:1 (stated vs real world will of course be different, but not hugely).

I agree apps/websites should take into account user preferences (with things like 'prefers-contrast' in CSS). I saw a great example recently where a website had a light/dark/hi-contrast toggle... but on first visit it defaulted to the one based on current system light/dark mode and 'prefers-contrast' indicators.

We can have both text that's easier for most people eyes and higher contrast and/or larger text for those who need it.

No.

There's pretty much nothing in the natural world that has the contrast ratio a modern screen can produce. It is easier on the eyes to not have blindingly high contrast.

No printed page in any book or magazine you've seen has ever had contrast ratio a screen can show. It's just not possible to do.

Legibility can be an issue, and is good to discuss. I agree that when something like "@media (prefers-contrast: more)" is set, text should be at a higher contrast level for those with lower vision. But don't blind everyone else in the process.

>... the amount of times per day I ask myself if I’m literally going blind, only to find out the “designer” decided for me how I should best read their website.

Yes? That's what the designers of literally everything do, decide how it will be presented to you. The magic part of HTML/CSS is you can change that to suit your needs.

Have you ever seen a book?

They have huge gutters and margins, and not-quite-black text on creme/off-white/never-actually-white backgrounds... why? Because it's easier of the eyes for long blocks of text.

I know what you’re complaining about, I just think it’s silly at this point.

Old versions work still, you can create your own. The app has had lengthy and good support — which you can extend if you choose.

You create a backport just for yourself for your own device without needing the store, no distribution/App Store is needed.

You don't like some of the Liquid Glass stuff... fine, make something else. The old versions still work, I don't really know what you are complaining about. This level of support and polish in a free app is amazing.

It makes sense. Like you said, previous versions used the macOS design language at the time, and the current version does the same. The developer has chosen to no longer support older versions of macOS, they aren't required to. The old app still works, and anyone else can work on it if they want.

> you forgot about iOS, even though it's mentioned in the original comment, where you can't freely backport anything due to distribution being locked down

Yes you can. You can create an app today that is compatible with iOS 15.

The app has always followed the masOS design language, because the app is built using the native macOS tools. It makes sense for it to match the OS it's on, apps built with stand UI components migrated to 'Liquid glass' much easier.

The app is open source (https://github.com/Ranchero-Software/NetNewsWire), feel free to back-port any features or bug-fixes you would like to spend your time on.

Or using ‘tabular figures’ for the numbers. It keeps just the number widths the same. I believe it’s ‘font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums;’ in CSS.

I often see it on sports broadcasts, or anything with a counter where the number changes and makes the rest of the line ‘jiggle’.

Good.

When ICE are targeting people without valid warrants and without providing due process, ICE should be met with resistance.

People should not be kidnapped, even if by an officer. I’m not sure why you aren’t understanding this.

If they can do so within the rules of the constitution then ok.

But they have been shown to blatantly ignore those, often forcefully kidnapping innocent people and entering homes without warrants.

But they do have a right to due process, which many aren’t getting. That is unconstitutional.

There are also people who are citizens or are allowed to be there but are taken away regardless (you know, without due process).

Just to be clear, you are cool with and believe it’s constitutional for an entire building of residents to be forced to leave and have their homes searched?

They need a warrant for each place of residence (each apartment), they did not have that.

It’s unconstitutional to raid an entire apartment building and force everyone out as they search for potential “illegals” to take away without due process.

We are far beyond a couple an individual cases, it’s become the norm.

Stay at home orders for health reasons are constitutional. Also, in countries that had stricter rules far fewer people died.

When bringing comparisons to a discussion… check if you’re right, and maybe check if it’s even a good comparison.

Apple makes huge claims about their involvement in advancing things like inclusion and diversity, workers rights, privacy rights, equity and justice. They literally sell pride merch which they make a profit from.

Apple market themselves as being an ethical choice of companies regarding human rights, when they throw that out the window with shit like this, people get pissed.

Which is why all of them should, every single one. Ones who don't should be called out by others.

Same thing at White House press conferences, push push push them relentlessly with questions that make them uncomfortable... make them squirm.

Press who always allow the other side to control the narrative deserve to die out. I know this is all easier said than done, but holy crap we are making it so easy for them to walk over us right now, we could at least do something.

Being arrested is fine if due process is followed. ICE isn't following due process because they are pieces of shit.

Multiple times now they've been found to have removed innocent people with little chance of recourse. Only after huge public outcry have ICE been shamed into returning a select few.

So 100% people should be avoiding potential removal without due process.

ICE puts people in danger and disregards their due process.

When a group is performing unconstitutional activities they should be tracked and stopped where possible.

Federal law enforcement officers who swore an oath to the country… not the president. They can and should push back against this shit.

The app doesn’t block them in any way, it just lets people see where they are active. There is no issue or law against that.

He actively disregards laws and standards to push his own agenda. He’s been indicted multiple times, and is a felon. It’s not hysteria, some people can simply see what’s happening in front of them.

He openly admires dictators and desperately seeks what they have, with varying success.

You don’t make me laugh, you make me sad.

I'd love for all tech reviewers at future product launches to go: "Yeah cool new iPads thanks... why did you guys block and remove an app that wasn't illegal? One that helped people know if armed forces that could search them and tear apart their homes were in the area?".

Just refuse to report on or post about new product launches without mentioning it.

Press is an large thing for Apple. Multiple times now they've only sprung into action when the press got on their arse about something (faulty HDD cables/video cards in Macbook Pros, faulty keyboards, etc). Press getting on them could push them to take an actual stance, or at least explain why (bowing to the dictator in this case).