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I just signed up for "Digital Stereophile" at $15.97 for 12 issues ... cheaper than a subscription with delivery to Australia. I downloaded and read the May issue in bed last night on my PowerBook (ignore the comments on Stereophile's web site ... the Zinio Reader for Mac OS X is now available).After some initial reservations I have to say that it looks and works great! On my 15" 1280x854 screen it's just possible to read the two-page spread but I prefer to zoom in and use the up/down keys to move from one column to another. Definitely different to having the print version but there's real pluses in having a library of back issues always available on your hard-disk. And you can do keyword searches. The software needs work (a bit slow and the prints, if you need them, don't look that great) but very promising technology. These Zinio guys are going to make squillions.
Whether you agree with Stereophile's editorial policy or not ... even if they just bagged your fave equipment ... at this price it's a no-brainer.
Stephen
Follow Ups:
I just assumed this was a complete no brainer. Not that it matters though; your cable or satellite company or isp (some isp's only) has a lot more interesting information about you from your viewing/surfing habits."The Benefits for Advertisers
"Today, marketers are always searching for innovative ways to reach customers and prospects. Zinio gives advertisers direct communication with potential customers by allowing a direct web link to advertisers' websites, creating an interactive experience between advertisers and their target audiences. Digital formats also make it easier to track sales leads electronically."http://www.networkworld.com/press/2002_releases/pr061002.htm
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See link below. I skimmed this but didn't see anything to get too excited about. Anyway, if they do anything that gets up my nose, I simply won't renew.
Stephen
Just looked in on the zinio web site. What's with this blurb, touting the advantages of the digital mags:Easy to share.
Send a free copy instantly to a friend or colleague.That's permitted? Hell, put us all on your mailing list and the whole Asylum can split the $1.33/month subscription charges with you. :)
because Zinio has added capabilities to track your clicksthis benefits advertisers and makes your reading habits a commodity
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I thought he said he downloaded the mag and read it in bed while offline? How's it going to track your activity if you're able to do that?
"I thought he said he downloaded the mag and read it in bed while offline? How's it going to track your activity if you're able to do that?"Who said I was offline? With wireless I'm always online! As for tracking activity, you do need to establish a link each month to get the next issue so I suppose it's possible. Vendors are going to have to be real keen to send stuff to my postal address in Australia. And any more spam and I wouldn't notice :-).
Stephen
No, musta been where you said you "downloaded" the mag. If you download it, it's no longer interactive, so cookies don't come into play, though I suppose the zinio reader could transmit what you're reading if you were still online. So, _can_ you download the entire issue and read it offline? You mentioned having back issues on your drive.
One cannot exclude that this Zinio reader tracks your reading habits and transmits the data when the computer goes online (how many PCs are never online?).The fact that they chose their own reader software must have a reason. Obviously it's not about copy protection, as Zinio allows you to make copies of the magazines.
Anyway, it's a great offer.
You have to download it first to read it. The May issue is about 13MB. After this you can go offline and read it, same as you would a .pdf on your hard-disk.The only thing wireless adds it that you can download it (in bed if you like) and stay online. I'm not aware of any transfers whilst reading and it definitely doesn't require you to remain online.
Maybe JA can step in and tell us how it works ...
Stephen
However the Zinio Reader gives a lot better magazine feel. Easier to navigate and more readable. Stereophile should put one of its issues up as a free trial. Before I signed up I downloaded the free issue of MacWorld to see how it worked. I probably wouldn't have made the jump otherwise."because Zinio has added capabilities to track your clicks"
I hope you've got cookies turned off and your IP address masked.
Stephen
> I hope you've got cookies turned off and your IP address masked.Except my isp doesn't know who I am or where I live. However, my phone line _is_ in my name...guess we all have to take our chances.
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Don't post on Audio Asylum ;-) (NT)
If you're using a standard dial-up modem connection into your ISP, your IP address is dynamically assigned (DHCP) each time your login so it's different every time.If you have a high-speed constant connection into the internet, you can use Network Address Translation (NAT) via your DSL or Cable router or go even further with a separate firewall (hardware or software).
"If you have a high-speed constant connection into the internet, you can use Network Address Translation (NAT) via your DSL or Cable router or go even further with a separate firewall (hardware or software)."Yes, but the site still gets to use the IP address for the connection itself as an identifer and this remains unique and constant until you drop the connection. I run a wireless router with built-in firewall (mandatory for DSL). If you look just under my subject line above you'll see 203.51.26.48 which is what my router reports as the IP address for the current connection.
Stephen
Well, you could try releasing and renewing your IP for each session. Unless your ISP assigns you a static IP, your IP address is still assigned via DHCP so you could get a new one by taking the manual steps above. Not sure if it's worth the trouble though.
I drop my DSL connection about once a week though. I also delete all my cookies every few months.The point I was making is that just moving around the 'net feeds a lot of information back to whoever. You buy stuff from one place and someone else gets a kickback. Quite a few sites wouldn't exist without such mechanisms ... somebody has to pay the bills. Now you can either be blissfully unaware or totally paranoid. I tend to fall somewhere in the middle.
Stephen
As i can't figure out how it costs them more money NOT to go to print and to NOT have the added expense of mailing the magazine out. Now i can see increased cost if one received special "perks" i.e. an added review here and there, coupons from manufacturers or dealers, or if you were in an area that you had a hard time getting the mag on a regular basis or subscription prices were very high, etc... but as far as being situated in an American residence with daily mail delivery, paying more and getting the same thing sounds "too audiophile" to me. Sean
>
with the digital version, you actually get the damn thing.My experience -- delivered to my office -- is that the mailed version arrives about 40% of the time.
The problem is that the mailing label is not visible, scannable, because it's inside the plastic bag that holds the magazine.
I've given up, calling, e-mailing etc. The money is now a "sunk cost" and I'll probably not even notice when the subscription expires, since the magazine usually doesn't come anyway.
Maybe I should ask them to convert me to the digital version?
in your situation, but the fact remains, it should be CHEAPER for them to produce a web based zine. All of the material is already prepped for the print version and the costs due to lack of printing / mailing are reduced.Like i said, my thoughts are that this is comparable to "snake oil". Less to show for your investment, reduced operating expenses and a price increase. They obviously know their market and are playing "audiophile" all the way to the bank. Sean
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Of course your're right -- no postage and no printing costs should equal a lower price. On a cost basis, a .pdf should be hands down cheaper than a paper mag sent throught he mails.BUT , let's look at the revenue side. Most of a magazines' income is from ad sales, not subscriptions. Advertisers pay for eyeballs, based on audited, verified circulation. I suspect that, at the moment, the "ABC" (audit bureau of circulation) doesn't count Internet-distributed .pdfs in the magazine's "reach."
Then there's the question of whether an ad in an Internet-distributed magazine gets the same attention from a reader as it does in the paper version. Maybe it doesn't -- or maybe the advertiser thinks it doesn't and won't pay as much for it.
So this might not be quite the ripoff that it appears to be to you and me.
Can't beat the price and it's really cool and alot faster reading electronically I wish TAS did the same thing
I just signed up for "Digital Stereophile",
how do I downloaded and read the May issue?Tomer
There should be a red Download button somewhere on the screen after payment, also instructions via email.Alternatively, you can download the Reader from Zinio (below), install it then start the Zinio Delivery Manager. This will find mags you've subscribed to and download them automatically.
I'll have to put myself on Zinio's payroll if I'm going to do tech support as well.
Stephen
n/t
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