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The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » MAGIC - The Magazine For Magicians » » Magic's digital issue? Printer Friendly Version
bugjack

Inner circle
New York, New York
1496 Posts
Posted: Aug 25, 2010 4:41am    Reply with quote   View Profile of bugjack  

I remember a Stan Allen interview on the Magic Newswire in which he said he'd be doing a digital issue of Magic starting with, as I remembered, September. Now, I could be off about this — maybe he just said the Fall, and that might be October. In any case, I didn't see it mentioned on the new September home page. Anybody know the magazine's plans for this?
Scott Cram

Inner circle

2458 Posts
Posted: Aug 28, 2010 10:11pm    Reply with quote   View Profile of Scott Cram  

Seeing as September is the first issue of their 20th year, I'd bet that would be the place to start doing a digital issue.

Grey Matters:Blog|Videos|Mental Gym|Presentation|Store
bugjack

Inner circle
New York, New York
1496 Posts
Posted: Aug 30, 2010 7:13am    Reply with quote   View Profile of bugjack  

Yep, I thought so too, but September has already gone online with no digital issue info posted.
emyers99

Inner circle
Columbus, Ohio
2090 Posts
Posted: Aug 31, 2010 12:08am    Reply with quote   View Profile of emyers99  

Digital magic books and magazines would be great. I'm surprised no one has tapped this market yet.

Eric
www.ericmyersmagic.com
Lawrence O

Inner circle
Paris France
6269 Posts
Posted: Oct 31, 2010 12:48pm    Reply with quote   View Profile of Lawrence O  

Emyers99,

Several publisher did tap this market and a very good one is LYBRARY.COM
Go there and enjoy yourself

Magic is not a performing art where people don't know how situations are reached, it's the art of showing parallel dimensions that can't be reached
Andrew Zuber

Inner circle
Manhattan Beach, CA
2406 Posts
Posted: Nov 7, 2010 5:28pm    Reply with quote   View Profile of Andrew Zuber  

Lybrary.com is indeed an excellent source. I just picked up the Dai Vernon Book of Magic and now have it in .pdf form and it's not taking up space on my cramped book shelf. I wasn't aware magazines would be available on there as well!

"I'm sorry - if you were right, I would agree with you." -Robin Williams, Awakenings
michaangelo

Regular user

174 Posts
Posted: Dec 30, 2010 5:28pm    Reply with quote   View Profile of michaangelo  

Just heard that there will be a digital issue of the upcoming issue available through iTunes... Excellent news!
Al Leach

New user

58 Posts
Posted: Dec 30, 2010 9:21pm    Reply with quote   View Profile of Al Leach  

I *love* books and enjoy handling them and reading them but I also want to be able to take my Library with me on the laptop.... I wish that everything was available in book & pdf formats.
emyers99

Inner circle
Columbus, Ohio
2090 Posts
Posted: Jan 6, 2011 10:59am    Reply with quote   View Profile of emyers99  

Any news on this? Isn't today the date the digital issue is supposed to be available?

Eric
www.ericmyersmagic.com
emyers99

Inner circle
Columbus, Ohio
2090 Posts
Posted: Jan 7, 2011 10:17am    Reply with quote   View Profile of emyers99  

...apparently not

Eric
www.ericmyersmagic.com
atkinsod

Regular user
VA
125 Posts
Posted: Jan 12, 2011 2:27pm    Reply with quote   View Profile of atkinsod  

The Digital edition of Magic Magazine is now available on iTunes. It is REALLY well done. Good use of the iPad's features for scrolling, viewing photos, and embedded videos. The navigation is really good. The price of the Jan 2011 issue is just $3.99, which is great. I'm not so sure I'm crazy about it being released to the general public, but I suppose only the dedicated will continue purchasing each issue and it will hopefully increase the number of people interested in the Art as they are exposed through this excellent material. Most of the other iPad/iPhone magic apps out there are of the "learn all the secrets the magician's don't want you to know" variety. One exception I noted recently is Joshua Jay has a 10 Card Trick app available. I should have jumped on it when it was $4.99 at initial release, because the price quickly moved to $6.99! (still a bargain). The only down-side is that this is currently only available to Apple users...

Doug A.
mormonyoyoman

Inner circle
I dug 5,000 postholes, but I have only
2317 Posts
Posted: Jan 12, 2011 3:06pm    Reply with quote   View Profile of mormonyoyoman  

Sadly, it seems to be available only for the iPad -- not for the iPhone, not for the Android, and not even for the home computer. *sigh* There are still a few steps to go.

*jeep! and God Bless!
--Grandpa Chet

This font is so tiny that no one can read these things.
boinko

Veteran user
Illinois
312 Posts
Posted: Jan 12, 2011 3:07pm    Reply with quote   View Profile of boinko  

Do subscribers get the digital issue free?
JosephKerr

Loyal user
NYC
259 Posts
Posted: Jan 12, 2011 4:10pm    Reply with quote   View Profile of JosephKerr  

I wanted to sing some praise of this
Magic Magazine app. I bought the January
issue and was very impressed.

I've read quite a
few magazines on the ipad and
many of them suffer from navigation
issues and I was quite surprised to
see that a lot of thought went into
this issue. Navigation was seamless and
intuitive.

The table of contents is easily accessible
from any page to allow you to quickly jump
to a section.

The embedded multimedia in the Talk About
Tricks section was wonderful. The option
to have each effect demonstrated is a welcome
addition.

The price point is great as My subscription
just ran out

All in all I am very impressed and hope that
they receive enough positive feedback
to continue to produce these digital editions.

"Challenge Your Reality"
-MagicalElite.com
emyers99

Inner circle
Columbus, Ohio
2090 Posts
Posted: Jan 12, 2011 4:20pm    Reply with quote   View Profile of emyers99  

Subscribers will have to get free access. If not, that's ridiculous. Genii gives everything away for subscribers including 70 years of archives and the current digital issue. So if Magic expects to compete, it better be free to subscribers

Eric
www.ericmyersmagic.com
JR Russell

New user

38 Posts
Posted: Jan 13, 2011 12:23pm    Reply with quote   View Profile of JR Russell  

I also hope that it will be free to subscribers...if not, then is $3.99 for the digital version a better option than the printed one? I feel strongly both ways!
atkinsod

Regular user
VA
125 Posts
Posted: Jan 13, 2011 12:28pm    Reply with quote   View Profile of atkinsod  

Magic Magazine must have struggled with this. The Apple App store somewhat limits what vendors can do, and I don't think there is any clear way that Magic Magazine can offer the magazines free to some users, but not to all. Since it is an "in app" purchase, perhaps there could be a way, but is isn't straightforward. I know some magazines offer a two-tiered rate: one for paper only, and a small addition if you also want to access the digital version.

Also, we should keep in mind that the iPad version of Magic Magazine is not just a simple saving of the document to the PDF format. Rather, lots of NEW design and work has to go into developing this advanced e-book with the embedded videos and so forth. Giving these editions away doesn't pay for all the additional work that had to be performed. Given that it is currently iPad only, I wonder if they'll make enough to keep it worth-while?

For archival purposes, I actually prefer a simple PDF that I can store and view on almost any platform. However, the way of interactive media is here...
SmittyWitty

Regular user
Fairhaven, MA
183 Posts
Posted: Jan 13, 2011 12:57pm    Reply with quote   View Profile of SmittyWitty  

I received an e-mail from Magic Magazine today that it is now available in the Apple AppStore. The e-mail message is as follows:

"Presenting MAGIC Magazine
on the Apple iPad!

The world's largest-selling print magazine for magicians is now available in the most reader-friendly digital format.

• Vertical and Horizontal Views
• Story to Story with a Swipe of Your Finger
• Footnotes in Pop-up Windows
• Additional Photos in Slideshows
• Embedded Videos"

I'll check this out later tonight on my wife's iPad.
davidleiper

Regular user

122 Posts
Posted: Jan 13, 2011 1:06pm    Reply with quote   View Profile of davidleiper  

I'm really impressed with this. Work beautifully on the iPad.

Living in the UK my paper copyntakes forever to arrive (still waiting on December actually!) so for me the iPad version is perfect.

Only wish is that they include this in the subscription fee.
emyers99

Inner circle
Columbus, Ohio
2090 Posts
Posted: Jan 13, 2011 4:00pm    Reply with quote   View Profile of emyers99  

The additional active links, audio and video features are also included in the iGenii issues and Genii still gives the iGenii issue away for free to subscribers. So additional features in the app version do not justify charging subscribers an additional fee IMO. As for how to make it available for free to some and not to others, I have a few apps that do that through login/password access. People without that info can pay a per use fee.

Hopefully someone from MAGIC will address these issues soon. I love my iGenii and I would love to read Magic on my ipad as well, but I'm not double paying.

Eric
www.ericmyersmagic.com
atkinsod

Regular user
VA
125 Posts
Posted: Jan 13, 2011 9:35pm    Reply with quote   View Profile of atkinsod  

Eric, that's good to know (about iGenii). I only just subscribed and haven't gotten my first issue yet,so haven't seen an iGenie issue yet. I'm not trying to be an apologist for Magic Magazine; just wanted to point out some considerations. I've seen some iMags out there that are charging almost $5 per issue, and yet you can subscribe to them for less than $20 per year...those are the ones I can't figure out!
emyers99

Inner circle
Columbus, Ohio
2090 Posts
Posted: Jan 13, 2011 11:15pm    Reply with quote   View Profile of emyers99  

You'll like I genii. It was a bit of a pain activating the account but I love it now. Active links are a great touch. I don't even want the hard copy anymore.

Eric
www.ericmyersmagic.com
videoman

Elite user

482 Posts
Posted: Jan 14, 2011 1:05am    Reply with quote   View Profile of videoman  

Quote:

On 2011-01-12 14:27, atkinsod wrote:
I'm not so sure I'm crazy about it being released to the general public, but I suppose only the dedicated will continue purchasing each issue and it will hopefully increase the number of people interested in the Art as they are exposed through this excellent material.
Doug A.



I'm not sure what you mean when you say you're not crazy about it being released to the general public, MAGIC has been available to the general public since it's inception nearly 30 years ago. Did you ever have to flash an IBM card or something in order to purchase an issue?
Besides, you're not going to buy the magazine unless you have a genuine interest in magic. Anybody just trolling for secrets would be very disappointed I think.
Richard Kaufman

Inner circle

1007 Posts
Posted: Jan 14, 2011 4:53pm    Reply with quote   View Profile of Richard Kaufman  

Subscribe to Genii for $56 for one year and you get:
1. 12 printed monthly copies
2. 12 digital copies of the monthly issues FREE
3. Access to 74 years of back issues online FREE.

Subscribe to MAGIC for $54 for one year and you get:
12 paper copies ... and that's all.

If you want the digital copy, assuming you have an iPad, you'll pay an extra $4 a month. No iPad, you're out of luck.

So, one year of Genii (paper AND digital) = $56
One year of MAGIC (paper AND digital, if you have an iPad) = $102!!!

The math should make the choice for you! You're paying almost double for MAGIC and you don't even get any back issues.

All online features of Genii are free to all subscribers and viewable on any desktop, laptop, iPad, iPhone, Droid, tablet, and so on.
Magiguy

Inner circle
Seattle, WA
4555 Posts
Posted: Jan 14, 2011 7:01pm    Reply with quote   View Profile of Magiguy  

Richard makes a great point. I subscribe to both magazines, but I'm really put off by the way that Magic has handled this digital transition, especially since they originally made it seem like this would be an actual benefit to subscribers. Richard, on the other hand, has far exceeded my expectations as a subscriber, leading me to consider saving my money on Magic and investing it in a lifetime subscription to Genii.

Magic of Japan
atkinsod

Regular user
VA
125 Posts
Posted: Jan 14, 2011 7:37pm    Reply with quote   View Profile of atkinsod  

Quote:

On 2011-01-14 01:05, videoman wrote:

I'm not sure what you mean when you say you're not crazy about it being released to the general public, MAGIC has been available to the general public since it's inception nearly 30 years ago. Did you ever have to flash an IBM card or something in order to purchase an issue?



Well, I've purchased many Magic and Genii magazines at Denny & Lee's and other magic shops, but I've never seen one at the local magazine rack. So while technically it is available to the public, I don't think many are that aware of it. As you said, though, It's probable no big deal...
jprace

Inner circle
Chicago, IL
1986 Posts
Posted: Jan 15, 2011 1:18am    jprace is on-line  Reply with quote   View Profile of jprace  

I think it's a great idea, but needs some work. I don't have an iPad, but would love to be able to download the magazine as a PDF and put it on my iPod.

Chiclephobia is here!
Watch the Trailer!
www.JeffPrace.com

Catch me on YouTube
Rizzo

Inner circle
East Coast
2321 Posts
Posted: Jan 15, 2011 9:36am    Reply with quote   View Profile of Rizzo  

The benefit of this not just being a PDF is that it is interactive. You are able to scroll through photos as well as see videos playing. This 1st issue was done well and all who see it will be happy. Most would be disappoinpted with just a PDF compared this current layout. The way this issue is done has various ways to read it,unlike a PDF.Watch the Mac King video on this and you will see how slick it is. I only question the cost,otherwise it shouldl be successful for Magic Magazine

Why call it common sense when it's so rare ?
Tony Miller

New user

86 Posts
Posted: Jan 16, 2011 5:37pm    Reply with quote   View Profile of Tony Miller  

I currently use an iPad, an iTouch, a nook, a PC, a laptop and a HTC EVO for my various reading needs. The bulk of my reading is done with the nook. I love the format of Magic Magazine on my iPad and wouldn't want to try it on the phones, the iTouch or the nook. I would like to see it on the PC though.

My review is here: http://anthonyrmiller.com/?p=438

Excerpt follows:
If you subscribe to the print edition you will not receive the digital edition for free. I e-mailed Stan Allen about this pointing out that if I didn’t subscribe to the print edition I would save $6.12 over the course of a year by going digital only. Even if you don’t subscribe to the print edition it is cheaper to go the digital route than to buy a copy at your local magic store each month. Stan wrote back explaining that he hopes to see Adobe and Apple but together a subscription model he can use within the next few months (I expect no promise of an ETA as that is out of his control). Once this is in place you will be able to get a digital only subscription, print only subscription or the option to add the digital subscrption to your print edition subscritption for a nominal rate.

When wondering why there will be an additional charge for the digital edition keep in mind that there are also the production costs to consider. While you can do a magazine layout in PDF format it is not a bit for bit translation to the iPad. Additional modifications need to be made and additional applications are used to accomplish this. This means an additional expense to the magazine in the form of software licenses and man hours.

For now I will continue with my print subscription and buy the digital eidtion until I can get both for one package price.

I think this is giant leap forward for both Magic Magazine and the magic community. Going digital will mean a wider distribtuion for the magazine. A wider distribution for the magazine means more interest in magic. More interest in magic benefits all of us.

My only worry is advertisers wanting to embed video in their advertisements. Yes it would be nice to see video of the item for sale but I worry about how much space that will add to the download.

__
"If you want magic in your life, start thinking like a magician." - Scott Grossberg
emyers99

Inner circle
Columbus, Ohio
2090 Posts
Posted: Jan 16, 2011 7:47pm    Reply with quote   View Profile of emyers99  

This stinks because I just renewed but wouldn't have had I known the digital version would come at a cost. I don't even want the hard copy.

Eric
www.ericmyersmagic.com
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