magazines
Latest
Restructuring and redundancies at Future
Future, known for game magazines and websites such as OXM, PC Gamer, CVG and Edge, is undergoing further global restructuring, which will result in layoffs across the company. "No part of the business will be unaffected," according to CEO Zillah Byng-Maddick. That includes the management board, which will be "streamlined" as part of the process. MediaWeek reports that Future will "no longer be structured around content types like technology but instead a single content and marketing team will produce all content." Strategically, Byng-Maddick says Future plans to "refocus and simplify," leveraging its ability to "attract large communities of highly engaged customers who want to buy things." Byng-Maddick's new plan seems to be at odds with former CEO Mark Wood's plan to transition Future to digital publishing. Attempting to move to digital "diluted [Future's] focus and distracted our talent," she said. Future currently owns dozens of brands across nine different categories, ranging from cars to tech, music, sports and, of course, video games. Exactly how these brands will be affected remains to be seen, as the number of redundancies will be decided after a 45-day consulting process.
How to cancel App Store magazine subscriptions
The subscriptions to a few digital magazine apps started innocently enough -- you knew the editors and contributors, some of the articles you read were really good, and that US$1.99 monthly or bi-monthly charge gave you something to do other than play games on your iPad. But after a while you started to find more than half of the articles in every issue to be either irrelevant to your interests or just downright annoying. So how do you cancel your subscription so you don't keep getting charged $1.99 or more every two or four weeks for something you're not reading? Mac or PC It's actually pretty easy. From a Mac or PC running iTunes, simply launch the iTunes app, sign in, then click on your Apple ID (email address) in the toolbar of the app and select Account to view your account information. You'll see a lot of information on the screen -- scroll to the bottom where you see the heading "Settings". Under that heading are things like the nickname you use for doing iTunes reviews, settings for Genius recommendations, and the ever-important Subscriptions. To the right of Subscriptions you'll see a Manage link -- click it, and that takes you to a list of the subscriptions you currently have or have had at some point in time. Click the Edit link to turn auto-renew on or, in this case, off, and click Done. With that, your subscriptions will automatically stop -- or start again if that's what you chose to do. iOS Devices On iOS devices, launch the iTunes app. Looking at the Featured page, scroll down to the bottom until you see a button marked Apple ID, followed by your Apple ID email address. Tap on that, and a pop-up appears. Tap View Apple ID to see your account settings. Partway down the Account Settings screen you'll see a listing for Subscriptions, along with a link marked Manage -- tap that to see your subscriptions and either turn off auto-renewal or turn it back on. So there you have it -- how to actually stop spending money on magazine subscriptions you're not reading. Enjoy spending that hard-earned cash on something else, like a copy of my latest book (just kidding...).
Iconic US magazine Saturday Evening Post comes to Newsstand
The Saturday Evening Post, one of America's most iconic magazines, thanks in part to cover artist Norman Rockwell, is finally on Apple's Newsstand. Apparently many people don't know the magazine is still in publication (I didn't, and even the magazine's technology director Steve Harman admits to TechCrunch that many people don't think so either), yet it still has a subscription base of 300,000 annually. And now it's ready to enter the digital age on iOS. The magazine will keep its general-interest focus while attempting to appeal to younger readers with articles on technology and movies. Considering the magazine's history (publishing some of the best short stories by America's most famous writers) and beautiful artwork, I'd love to see the Post begin selling digitized back issues starting with ones that featured F. Scott Fitzgerald's short stories. Sadly right now there are no signs of any plans to do that. The Saturday Evening Post is a free download on the app store. Single issues are available for US$3.99, a single issue subscription costs $1.99 per issue until canceled, and a one year (six issues) subscription costs $9.99.
Free VIEW Magazine is filled with intriguing photography
View Magazine is a nicely put-together coffee table ebook for the iPad or iPhone that contains photos that are interesting and certainly not run-of-the-mill sunsets and flowers. A variety of photographers have combined to submit some of their favorite work, and they offer some commentary about the images. There are shots of urban landscapes, people, and nature images, but none are what I would call the standard 'pretty pictures'. That said, the images are striking, and the thoughts behind the images are often illuminating. You won't like everything you see, but there is plenty to choose from. VIEW Magazine used to require a paid subscription, but it has just gone free, and you can manually download an issue or set it up for automatic downloading to Apple's Newsstand app. I found the content stimulating and interesting. Any image can be shared to Facebook or via email. You scroll horizontally to move form article to article, and scroll vertically to explore the content within an article. Bookmarks are available if you find something you want to refer to again. %Gallery-188869% VIEW Magazine is a pretty hefty download; the current issue is about 250 megabytes. The app allows you to save or discard issues, so if you start filling your iOS device you can always dump past issues. VIEW Magazine is universal, but really isn't as effective on an iPhone as it is on the iPad. The newest version supports the Retina display on newer iPads, and the app requires iOS 5 or later. VIEW Magazine is a worthy download, and I think you may find it enjoyable and thought provoking.
Flipboard brings magazine curation to Android, gains web tools
If you're a Flipboard user, you'll recall that the app was recently updated to let you create your own magazines. Unfortunately, this functionality was limited to the iOS version. This changes today, as Flipboard brings magazine curation to Android. Creating a magazine is simple: just tap the plus button visible on each article inside the app or use the bookmarklet when surfing the web. This gives you a personalized way to collect posts, images and videos and share your ideas on Flipboard and beyond. The new Android version introduces some unique features. You're able to "flip" content into your magazines using the share button built into many Android apps. In addition to the existing social network integration, Flipboard now includes a share button of its own on magazine covers -- this allows you to share magazines via SMS, email or Pinterest. The app also makes it easier to create a new Flipboard account by supporting Facebook's Single Sign-on. Along with the updated Android version, Flipboard's rolling out a web-based Editor to help users manage magazines. This collection of web tools lets you reorder and delete content, rearrange magazines and check how often others have shared items in your magazines. Finally, the Financial Times is now available on Flipboard -- you'll even be able to read premium content by logging into your Financial Times account right within the app. Take a look at the gallery below and hit the break for the PR.
Flipboard launches user-created magazines, partners with Etsy (video)
Everybody loves Flipboard, right? If you're a fan like us, rejoice -- your favorite social magazine just got a whole lot better. Today Flipboard for iOS is receiving a major update that will let you create and curate your very own magazines. It also brings a boatload of other improvements to the table including a content partnership with Etsy. An update to the Android version will follow shortly. We were able to take the new version of Flipboard for a spin and get a demo from CTO Eric Feng. Hit the break to dive into the details and watch our hands-on video. %Gallery-183818% %Gallery-183819%
Next Issue Media reaches Windows 8, puts subscriptions on your Surface (video)
Next Issue Media's unlimited magazine subscriptions have had a solid footing on Android tablets and iPads, but Windows tablet owners have faced the prospect of subscribing to one magazine at a time -- the horror. They can rest a little easier knowing that Next Issue's reader app is now available for Windows 8 in the US. The software makes the expected leap to the modern Windows UI, and goes the extra mile to use native tricks such as the optimized multitasking view and pinning favorite magazines to the Start screen. Readers will still need to pay a monthly rate of either $10 (for slower publications) or $15 (including weekly titles) to get full access; when the app itself is free to try for a month, though, it won't hurt to give Next Issue a spin on that Surface Pro.
Google Play Magazines offers free digital versions to print subscribers
Google Play's magazine subscriptions have always, sadly, existed separate from a publications print offerings. Meaning, even if you already had the paper edition of Beer Advocate delivered to your home, you still had to cough up for the digital version. That's finally changed, however, which should make many magazine hounds quite happy. Now when you select a new periodical, you'll be offered the standard monthly and yearly subscription options, along with the new "free for print subscribers." You'll need to verify your subscription before Google will allow you to download issues, but that's one less barrier to entry for those looking to dip their toes in the digital magazine pool. For a bit more info check out the source link.
Newsweek ends its print run with a hashtagged cover
December 31st will mark the end of one of the biggest names in the world of printed news. As noted back in October, however, Newsweek isn't saying die, it's just jumping head first into the warm embrace of digital media. And as the publication revealed via its Twitter account, it will be doing so with a wink and a nod, thanks to a giant #lastprintissue hashtag smack dab in the middle of a classy black and white cover. #godspeed, Newsweek, #godspeed.
Google Play Magazines arrives in UK for light reading 'on the couch or on the go'
If you're across the pond and have been warming up a spot on your Android tablet or smartphone for Google Play Magazines, there's good news -- it's now in the UK Play Store. You'll be able to buy new or back issues from over a hundred UK publications like Hello!, Glamour and Total Film, either individually or by subscription. Categories include cooking, travel, sports and photography, and you can also grab free 14 or 30 day trials to peruse as well. If that sounds like your cup of Earl Grey, hit the source to grab it. [Thanks, @Rage06]
Nintendo Power's nostalgic final cover
The final issue of Nintendo Power will be hitting newsstands in a few days, and it looks to pay nostalgic tribute to the magazine's very first issue, which was published over two decades ago. The cover image has been making the rounds on the internet, featuring a sculpted clay scene from New Super Mario Bros. U, an homage to the clay Super Mario Bros. 2 cover that debuted in 1988. Old-school Nintendo fans may want to pick one up for old time's sake.The magazine is expected to arrive by December 11. We recently compiled some of the Joystiq staff's fond Nintendo Power memories, which you can read here.See a larger version of the image after the break.
Next Issue grows iPad library with addition of eight new magazine titles
Next Issue -- the service unofficially billed as the Netflix of digital magazines -- has just announced an expansion of its catalog, adding eight additional titles to its tablet-based offering. This recent inclusion of big names brings the company's impressive library to a total of 80 even, letting iPad users now peruse the likes of New York Magazine, Food & Wine and Men's Fitness, just to name a few. Pricing for both Unlimited subscription tiers remains unchanged, with $10/mo still netting users access to 73 monthly and bi-weekly titles, while the more premium $15/mo service opens up the entire archive. As of now, these new additions won't work on Android slates, but the company promises "work is underway" to make them available across the board. Hit up the break to check out the official release.
This iPad mini ad in Time is pretty fantastic
With its Newsstand initiative, it would seem that Apple is seeking to speed the decline of traditional print publications. In the case of its latest print ad, however, the company partnered with one of the industry's biggest names with results that can only be called perfect. We're talking about the iPad mini ad Apple ran on the back cover of Time Magazine's latest issue, which you can see above (larger version here). A similar cover-clone ad appears on this week's New Yorker. Posted on Reddit by redditor Royale-w-Cheese, the ad features an actual-size iPad mini on a white background. On its screen is the cover of the same Time issue, just as it would appear on the real device. The only text is the official iPad mini logo. It's a great example of minimalist design sometimes being best, and gets across the point that iPad mini is capable of delivering magazine content -- even showing what it will look like. It's worth noting that historically, such tight alignment between advertising and editorial probably would have fallen afoul of Time Inc.'s legendary church and state separation, but in this case it appears that Apple (a major Time advertiser) managed to overcome any objections. In a way, it's a win-win for Apple and Time, as the cover is technically promoting Time's own presence on the iPad Newsstand. What do you think of the ad? Share your thoughts in the comments!
PlayStation: The Official Magazine being shuttered, will say farewell with holiday issue
The publisher of PlayStation: The Official Magazine has confirmed to Game Informer that the Sony-minded periodical will board up its doors by year's end. This isn't the first gaming zine that publisher Future US has called it quits on this year -- news of Nintendo Power's closure broke this August. Just like the Nintendo-centric themed publication, the PlayStation mag's last issue will be its holiday edition. However, unlike Newsweek's leap to a purely digital existence, there's no indication that the magazine could see life online.
Newsweek to drop print edition after December 31st, gives the digital future a warm hug
It's no secret that print media is on its way out, as many regional and niche publications have had to either find a path through the digital wilderness or fold completely. We're still not used to national publications facing that ultimatum, though, which makes Newsweek's fresh decision to drop its print edition after December 31st both unusual and a bellwether. Anyone still yearning for the magazine's content after the presses stop will have to turn to the purely digital Newsweek Global or its The Daily Beast sibling, no matter how attached they are to the outlet's 80-year history with paper. The explanation for the cutoff remains a familiar story: print readership is dying on the vine and expensive to maintain, while web and tablet adoption is growing quickly enough that Newsweek believes it can make the switch without taking a long-term financial hit. Whether or not the transition works, it's evident the periodical knows its identity must be wrapped around an online presence -- figuratively, not literally.
Apple's Newsstand generates big profits for publisher Future
Magazine publishing company Future has had some closures lately, as its traditional magazine business isn't doing so well. But it turns out the iPad publishing business is rocketing right up: The company reports that Apple's Newsstand app has earned it over $8 million in the last year since the service began in October of 2011. As of last March, the company had over 12 million of the "container" app downloads (which are the free trial apps you download before actually purchasing magazine issues), and had seen over a half million sales. At this point, those numbers are even higher, and with more and more iPads out there in the wild, they're likely still growing. Future's planning a lot more with this market as well, working on a brand new platform for putting these digital magazines together, announcing plans for new digital editions around the world, and new and better ways to monetize all of this digital content that it's creating. Hopefully Future can find a way for digital sales to help shore up its recent losses in print sales, and keep some of these much-beloved tech publications running.
New Yorker iPhone app gets quirky Lena Dunham promo clip
Filmmaker, actress and comedienne Lena Dunham teamed up with Alex Karpovsky and Mad Men's Jon Hamm in an advertisement for The New Yorker magazine's new iPhone app. It's a quirky short that introduces the salient features of the app. You can watch the promo clip in the YouTube video below and let us know what you think in the comments. [Via Deadline] #next_pages_container { width: 5px; hight: 5px; position: absolute; top: -100px; left: -100px; z-index: 2147483647 !important; }
The New Yorker now available on iPhone
If you MUST have The New Yorker available at all times, and you own an iPhone, the now universal app is for you. Subscribers will get the magazine for free after activating a digital subscription. Others will find the August 13 and August 20 issues available as a free preview. In addition to looking great on the iPhone, The New Yorker app offers sharing via Twitter, Facebook and email, a slideshow of the current cartoons, video and audio features, plus infographics that are obviously not part of the printed edition. A one month subscription to the New Yorker is US$5.99 or $59.99 per year. The New Yorker has a great mix of writing on the arts, politics, and life as its writers see it. I know lots of New Yorker fans who will be just thrilled to have this magazine in their pockets.
Next Issue brings its all-you-can-read magazine store to the iPad, plans start at $10 a month
The last time we heard about Next Issue, the all-you-can-read magazine store was launching on Android, with an iOS version said to be coming soon. Three months later, the startup's made good on its promise: the storefront is now up and running on iOS, with an iPad app live in the US App Store. If you're not familiar with the way Next Issue works, it's angling to be the Netflix of digital magazines, with a monthly subscription getting you unfettered access to a library of 39 titles. In brief, the fees break down to $10 per month for all the monthly and bi-weekly mags, and $15 if you want all that plus access to tabloids and other weeklies. One last thing: the free app is just the magazine reader; you'll need to download the apps through Next Issue's browser-based store. Now, if you're wondering what sorts of magazines will be represented in that list of 40-some-odd titles, know that every bigwig in magazine publishing is on board: Conde Nast, Time, Hearst, Meredith and News Corp. That means the The New Yorker is included, as are Esquire, GQ, Vanity Fair, Sports Illustrated and Popular Mechanics. In an interview, a company rep told us that Next Issue Media hopes to double the catalog by year's end, as well as ink deals with additional publishers. The biggest caveat, it seems, is that content providers have the prerogative to make a title available on one platform but not the other, so don't count on the iOS and Android apps offering identical selections. Feeling a bit tentative? The company is offering new customers a 30-day free trial, and we've also got not one, but four (yes, four) demo videos after the break.%Gallery-160005%
Google Play starts selling movies, TV shows (single episode or full season) and magazines today
The Android Market became Google Play to focus on how it pushes media, and now it's adding a few new options. On stage at Google I/O 2012 the company just announced it's adding support for the purchase of movies, as well as TV shows by episode or by season, and even magazines all available today. That's in addition to the existing apps, movie rentals, music and books. Oh, and look, Google just introduced a new tablet that you can use to access all of that content. We'll keep an eye out for an exact list of all the new media partners, although mentioned on stage were magazines including Hearst, Conde Nast and Meredith long with TV networks Disney / ABC, NBC Universal, Sony Pictures and Paramount . Check out our Google I/O live blog for even more details as they're announced, and look after the break for video introductions. Check out our full coverage of Google I/O 2012's opening keynote at our event hub!
