November 5, 2009
Overmatter
Augmented reality augments magazines: the current Colors and upcoming US Esquire (above) are both experimenting with this. A gimmick with plenty of associated problems (see Andrew’s recent post), but an interesting beginning to linking print and online content.
American GQ to publish entire issue as an iPhone app.
At the opposite end of technology, a new issue of the previously posted experimental music publication Journal of Popular Noise is here. Complete with seven inch vinyl discs.
Condé Nast are closing titles, Borders UK are closing stores, but Mr Magazine records 99 US magazine launches last month.
OK Periodical offer a preview of the crowd-sourced cover of their next issue.
Scott King, one-time art director of Sleazenation and creator of several of my most favourite magazine covers, is blogging for Spex magazine.
6 Comments
Comment on November 7, 2009 by Andrew says:
Scott’s posting some great stuff – but the blog is frustratingly free of permalinks, making entries impossible to archive or link to. Grrr.
Comment on November 8, 2009 by Smith+Fritzy says:
The problem with Mr. Magazine’s launch numbers is that it doesn’t include how many of them are one-offs (which was what happened this year when we had two major events: Barak elected and MJ dying). Secondly, we don’t know if any of these made it to a second or third issue. So yeah, there can be plenty of magazine starting, but most of them are on shoe-string budgets and their own credit cards or vanity projects that last an issue or two.
Comment on November 9, 2009 by Samir Husni says:
To Smith+Fritzy
If you do read my blog you will find out that I do indeed count the one-offs and the other 4X frequency or higher… and I put the numbers on my web for each one of the categories: total, annuals, specials and four or more frequency publishing. Amazing how many people do issue judgments without reading the copy. If we read more, maybe more magazines will survive. Best to you.
Samir
Comment on November 10, 2009 by Roshan Warjavand says:
Nice concept. During my time as crossmedia manager at Veronica Publishing we already had a test with an AR edition of Totaal TV. In our case with a webcam and PC. I think the mobile phone application will make it more accessible for a broader audience.
For the video see:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4WW9u29At8
Comment on November 10, 2009 by James Kelleher says:
Esquire’s clutching at any passing gimmick is still endlessly amusing. I’m guessing these specials do reliably lead to some kind of readership spike, or they wouldn’t be doing them in the first place.
I’m curious though – have there been any serious studies done on reader retention? I’d like to know how many people buy for the gimmick, or as a result of the extra publicity, and stick around because they find they like the magazine. My hunch is: not many – but then my hunches aren’t known for their statistical rigour.
Comment on November 10, 2009 by Andrew says:
James: I think Esquire feels that if they can do at least two a year that make you want to buy it, they’ve done their job – because a year’s subscription in the USA still costs less than the price of twice issues.
