1. I would like to know how I can type the symbol for BTC instead of always having to associate it with the $. ...
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There is no official symbol exactly. While the b'at (i'm using with as my av here) doesn't get added to the Unicode standard, i like the idea of using the Ƀ ( Capital B with stroke ) as the symbol. There has been quite a bit of discussion about which symbol to use officially, there is even a wiki page on the topic showing some of the proposals (with varied levels of completeness regarding pros and cons and things like that)
Once a swarm decision has been made about that, one thing (as a potential retailer) that concerns me is the unprofessional, computer-gamey/wild-westish Bitcoin logo. A bit of a modern corporate makeover would go a long way.
First impressions in an image and brand conscious world etc etc.
I'm graphically inept, but the lowercase ƀ could be implemented in a logo so that the "itcoin" could get dropped once it gets around. I've done a finger-painting to show what it shouldn't look like
...http://stashbox.org/1130923/bitcoin.png
.... I'm sure somebody with an artistic bone in their body could make that concept look good, but do you guys see what I am getting at?