Beginning of new Mac based magazine

[Mudbug]

I'm currently seeking ideas and interests from other people like myself on what they would be interested in reading about in a new mac-centric magazine. Hopefully staying on the pro end of things, away from the adolescent feel of MacAddict, and more professional equipment & reviews than MacWorld. Both are fine, but don't offer what I want.

I want reviews of things that people actually use. I want tips and tricks for software that are actually helpful in a long-term sense, instead of obscure and useful once.

Topics are welcome
Format ideas are welcome
Layout ideas are welcome
NAME ideas are welcome, and if it's picked, a free subscription for you if I make it...
even story submissions are welcome - review your own software and hardware if you want... I'll take anything at this point.

Developers: here's an open invitation to get your new software noticed

Please either post in this thread, or mail me at macmag@sport.rr.com

Thx, and here's hoping
Mudbug

[Frozone]

Haha...I'm bored so i'll give just some thoughts off the top of my head for fun...

www.macroots.com (my favorite)
www.macmag.com
www.earthmac.com
www.macintoshmag.com
www.applereview.com
www.macoogle.com
www.applegalaxy.com
www.appleware.com
www.macland.com

And do a section that brings together material and links from all over the web so that I can send my friends there to convince there parents into getting a Mac and I won't have to do any digging. :D
And for the layout do something with tabs but make them like the new tabs in Panther.

EDIT: Ohh and for the review section try to make it sorta how Epinion.com does. I like there Review system.

[Mudbug]

must have not been clear...
this is a _print_ magazine, on paper, distributed to magazine and booksellers like MacWorld and MacAddict, not a web based 'zine.

but thanks for the ideas anyway, I'm sure in time there will be an online version too...

[Frozone]

Ohh...OPPS...My mistake...hahahahahahha....Umm...I still like
Mac Roots

[rt_brained]

How about:

1. It's A Mac, Mac, Mac, Mac World

2. WinBlows

3. Applause

4. Mmm, ð¸

5. BILL!

[Mudbug]

I'm presently bending towards

macpro

or just simply X

[MrMacMan]

Look at the ones currently, MacAddict, MacWorld.

They have in-depth articles, what I want is more interviews with apple.

Fun stuff, good how to articles.

Gotta also talk about things others don't want to touch.

P2P -- No Mag I have ever said anything about it, nada nothing.

And Make it user friendly. :)

[hugemullens]

I just don't see enough technical article's. Upgrading the Flat-panel iMac is the most technical thing i have ever seen in macworld. I would want more hardware, more hardware how-to's, like how to install a processor upgrade. MacWorld did a small review of them, but it was a page and nothing more than numbers. I want how-to's, LOTS of pictures, and a article that is easy to understand without it explaining it to me like i am 3.

[arn]

I think a higher-tech Mac magazine might be nice...

especially with the influx of PC and Linux users... they might like a more technical magazine.

arn

[P-Worm]

Higher tech would be nice, but remember that we at MacRumors are not the general public.

P-Worm

[Mudbug]

Originally posted by P-Worm
Higher tech would be nice, but remember that we at MacRumors are not the general public.

P-Worm

But I'm not really shooting for the "general public" - I realize my market is already somewhat of a niche, but there are readers there.

Keep up the suggestions... I appreciate all of this.

[jessefoxperry]

Originally posted by Mudbug
I'm presently bending towards

macpro

or just simply X

I like the sound of macpro a lot better than X....especially if ur planning on a more technical mag. I think people would really apreciate a mac technical magazine since they already have MacAddict and MacWorld.

[tpjunkie]

I'd like to see something on overclocking older machines with voided warrantees, with more pictures and explanations than xlr8yourmac.com

[eyelikeart]

I'd be interested in helping out with the design/layout of it maybe.

What kind of business plan do u have so far? What money is involved?

[Mudbug]

Originally posted by eyelikeart
I'd be interested in helping out with the design/layout of it maybe.

What kind of business plan do u have so far? What money is involved?

heh... well, so far my business plan is to narrow down the field of content for the magazine, then figure out how to make it.

As for $$, i have officially none at the moment, but i'm thinking more along the lines of an advertising-based mag, instead of a high subscription cost. I think there's plenty of high-end equipment and software manufacturers and resellers that could truly benefit from a high-end magazine that caters to their specific niche market.

I do, however, like the idea of the older warranty-voided machine stories, or at least a section like slowmac or something, with ideas on what to do with older equipment.

[eyelikeart]

From my experience in low-budget television production, your advertisers will be the key to getting anywhere.

What u will need, besides a really good pitch, is something to show them...maybe a mockup of what u want to do, some layouts, target audience, etc.

There's lots of ways to do this, but u need to figure out how to convince them "why they need to advertise with u."

[irmongoose]

Let's see... MacTech (http://www.mactech.com/) is taken...

MacWhiz?
MacWiz?
Maxpert? (ugh)
MacElite?
MacGuru?
MacFreak?
MacMaster?
MacVet?

MacPro sounds good.

I definitely like the idea of a more technical Mac magazine. But, it should still have to fun feeling of, say, MacAddict. If it gets too serious, it's gonna be just plain boring.

If this works out, please ship internationally! :D (I'm in Japan)



irmongoose

[Mudbug]

wow, my little idea is already going international!

Well, one thing at a time. I'll tell you what, irmongoose, I'll mail you a copy when it comes out, and you can do some pushing around Japan and get it distributed there when the time comes. Right now I'm still at the stage of figuring out distribution in the states, much less elsewhere, and let alone translating it into anything other than english. I have enough problems with that language as it is...:)

[bousozoku]

Originally posted by Mudbug
I'm presently bending towards

macpro

or just simply X

Perhaps, Macom X :) It would be full of radical ideas.

Maybe, ProMacFessional with the editor's opinion column being ConMacFessional.

Definitely need Graphic Design, Photography, Video, Music, UNIX, Programming, and general technology represented.

[Mudbug]

I think macpro has won with me, unless enough others feel it would be a poor name choice.
It says what I want, and stays simple.
Cover mock-ups (and probably other stuff as I move along) available at:
http://cs24242115-155.sport.rr.com/~colindav/macpro/

[Mudbug]

new cover in the macpro folder submitted by 000111one111000

Send me more... I dare you :)

and that goes for everyone.

[mangoman]

If you're serious about this, Mudbug, then I'm serious about designing a cover layout for you. PM me... I'd like to send you some work samples.

[applebum]

Has anyone here read MacFormat or Macworld Plus? (The British put out the best magazines). These both come with disks and have a lot of what was mentioned here. In fact, I think a recent one had a full layout on changing out a processor. I am able to pick these up at my local Barnes and Noble. They are pretty pricey - about $14, but the disks have a lot of stuff and they are a great read.:)

[macrants]

Why does the UK get the best tech mags? MacFormat, T3 (if you don't know what that is, get to Barnes and Noble and drop the 8 dollars to find out), and others would be good role models. I saw the cover with the G5 on it and it was not so good. I know in this forum alone there are tons of graphic designers that would help out.
Being in a Mac community rules, you guys are awesome!

[macrants]

BTW, how about a magazine that isn't so afraid of Apple that they would go ahead and at least TALK about rumors, and unsupported tweaks? MacAddict heads in the right direction, and MacWorld is like a long Apple press release.

[macrants]

One more thing...
The one with the opened-up G4 is awesome. I'd buy that for a dollar. Definite pro-class material.

[anneleonard]

I really like macuser (http://www.macuser.co.uk) as well, its another british magazine, although I admit its not strictly for pro-users. Its got good over-all coverage, the trouble is, I think its caught between a rock and a hard place. Basically mac-users who are interested enough in the mac to read about it will probably get information off the net about the latest mac developments, but the mac magazines are published weeks after these announcements, so you can buy a new macuser (or other) magazine, and the news is always way out of date. Also I don't really understand why they put virtually all of the articles, reviews and news on their website at about the same time that is in the magazine. Reading all of the stuff free as it happens versus spending 3 quid on out-of-date information, I know which one I choose! I only bought one macuser, and since then i've just read the stuff off the web!! They are shooting themselves in the foot, really, in my personal opinion.

[teabgs]

I wanna see tips and tricks for Final Cut Pro instead of iMovie. I wanna see detailed info on Photoshop instead of iPhoto. I want DVD Studio Pro instead of iDVD.

I don't want "neat" "cool" type things either. I want practical, powerful, in-depth tutorials.

I want reviews that get into nitty gritty details and not just say, this hardware is pretty good, or that software can do XYZ. I want to see pictures and read HOW it does XYZ.

I want people from Apple, Macromedia, Alias, NewTek, etc to write how-to articles if possible.

[Mudbug]

Originally posted by teabgs
I wanna see tips and tricks for Final Cut Pro instead of iMovie. I wanna see detailed info on Photoshop instead of iPhoto. I want DVD Studio Pro instead of iDVD.

I don't want "neat" "cool" type things either. I want practical, powerful, in-depth tutorials.

I want reviews that get into nitty gritty details and not just say, this hardware is pretty good, or that software can do XYZ. I want to see pictures and read HOW it does XYZ.

I want people from Apple, Macromedia, Alias, NewTek, etc to write how-to articles if possible.

sounds like you're reading my mind, if not my magazine yet...

I'd love to have articles written by the manufacturers on tips and tricks - how cool would it be to have tricks for photoshop that aren't published anywhere else?

[irmongoose]

So, Mudbug, what's happening with the magazine? Is it going to happen? What's your current status?




irmongoose

[scem0]

TheBigMac (Mag)

MacRes

The Macintosh Resource Magazing/MRM

MacStart

MyMac (Mag)

Macintosh for Life

MadMac

Me n' my Mac

Macintoshfizzle (ok that was a joke :D)

MegaMac

The Mac Magazine/TMM

Mac Monthly

The Mac Manual

Replace Mac with Macintosh on some and it may sounds better.

Hope you choose one of those ;).

scem0

[slightly]

I like the "by000111one111000" design a lot, but I would like to propose that the actual magazine has no (0) exclamation marks on the front. Ever. Unless Apple comes out with a new glottal-stop scheme for software naming: (eg !photo, !tunes and !dvd).

I really hope this project works out. We certainly have the skills on the forum to make a go of it.

Matt

[Mudbug]

Originally posted by irmongoose
So, Mudbug, what's happening with the magazine? Is it going to happen? What's your current status?




irmongoose

Well, currently I'm working on things that pay the bills (my real job) while I wait from some numbers from a distributor. If anyone has an "in" with a mac reseller (i.e. macwarehouse, macmall, macconnection) and knows someone in the advertising department, would you let me know?

And let me have more sample pages... even content pages are fine. Right now my design has each section pages in a different colored edge, so the mag will be divided visually on the cut edge, so you can flip to the section you always read first, instead of having to try and find it randomly. I really do hope this can take off, but until I can devote a serious amount of time to it (after our October elections in Louisiana) then it's going to be on the back burner, with a low fire under it.

[Ambrose Chapel]

Originally posted by slightly
I like the "by000111one111000" design a lot, but I would like to propose that the actual magazine has no (0) exclamation marks on the front. Ever. Unless Apple comes out with a new glottal-stop scheme for software naming: (eg !photo, !tunes and !dvd).

I second this..the exclamations look too desperate for attention.

Also, it's Jon Ive, not Ives :)

[Mudbug]

I have (very slightly) changed the organization of my (really crappy) website so that submissions from other folks are in one lower folder, and I'll make the file name one that gives you credit, so others will know who did it.

[GeeYouEye]

Very nice idea. If I get an artistic inspiration, I'll make a cover mock-up.

[teabgs]

Originally posted by Mudbug
sounds like you're reading my mind, if not my magazine yet...

I'd love to have articles written by the manufacturers on tips and tricks - how cool would it be to have tricks for photoshop that aren't published anywhere else?

great minds think alike ;) :D

I'd be interested in being a reviewer for Hardware and software relating to animation (3D, 2D, stopmotion), and Video Editing/compositing if you need..... :D

[Cheese]

Mudbug, I work in print publications and we use iMacs (mostly). Layout is attempted with Quark and there are a hundred or so sundry things that must taked place on schedule to make it all happen each month. I like the direction you are going with the new "Macmag". I thought about the name, "MacTech Pro". I especially like the suggesstion about using out of warranty macs and finding out how much you can get out of them before they frag.

[Ambrose Chapel]

Originally posted by Cheese
I thought about the name, "MacTech Pro".

There already is a MacTech magazine...

[eyelikeart]

I didn't put it together last night that Mudbug is the one who wants to do the magazine!

Again, let me know if I can help ;)

[eclipse525]

I've worked for numerous Advertising Agency's and run my own Graphic Design Company at the moment.[thats' my background, in a nutshell]

Now...the name is a personal choice. [ I ] personally feel it's rather generic but most people are so it might catch. The Mac market is a niche market but releasing a Mac mag. doesn't make it an automatic niche mag. You'll still be surrounded by a sea of Mac based mags. and yes especially some real solid ones from the UK. 'Big Ups' to the UK for putting out some quality SH#! One question. What pulls you apart from the rest of all the others??? If you can answer that one with conviction/honesty, then you might be on to something.

I know you need to fund it with advertisement but most of the mag's out there do that and it seems that most have more Ad's than content. I do like the idea of real world problems, with mini-tutorials.(Photoshop/QuarkXPress/Illustrator/Strata 3D Pro(had to mention it...lol!) and so on.) Also, articles containing info on Modding, Hack and New and little know warez.

Here's my contribution. How about a Magazine that focuses on people who deal with dual(or more) platforms. I know TONS of people who love their Mac's but also use Windows BUT I have never seen a Magazine that focuses on the person who is dual platform literate. Now, that would be an interesting perspective.

If you do finally decide of something solid, please feel free to shoot me a message. I would not mind helping you out and contributing in anyway to the Magazine. Pro-Bono ofcourse, until the millions start rolling in.<LOL>


Best of luck!
~e

[cc bcc]

Basically you should make a mac only version of Computer Arts (uk mag, http://www.computerarts.co.uk )

It's the best mag there is, both in content and in design. If you're serious about this, don't let "someone you know" do the artwork, spend money on a pro, I mean that. Please buy the magazine and check it out, it's first class.

edit:
I mean use Computer Arts as an example, add some mac techie info shizle etc, perhaps a game page or two. Don't flame Windows pc's, instead offer tips for mixed enviroments etc.

[bryanc]

Here's an idea for a column:

Each month you have someone in an unusual field describing/illustrating their use of macs (what software they use, it's strengths and weakneses, any special hardware they've got hooked up to their macs, what sort of macs they use, how long they've had them, what they'd like to see in future generations of macs, etc.).

I'll volunteer to write a column describing the use of macs in a research biology lab.

Cheers

[NavyIntel007]

One thing I hate about the mac mags is that they never review a mac machine, or any product hardly in a bad way. It's always 3-4.5 stars, mice or whatever. A monthly article that will set your magazine apart from all the rest is a "Products to Avoid" or "Apps that Suck" section. Do one hardware, one software.

Also, there's already professional mac magazines. There needs to be a mac magazine for *nix geeks or one that gives better catering to them. Check out a Linux Magazine sometime. It's kinda dry but I assure you there is good stuff to be learned. Give out useful applescripts or program code for hacks or mods. Maybe even do a mac mod of the month or something.

I like MacAddict because it's sometimes humorous. MacWorld is not my favorite, it's sometimes informative, sometimes not. MacHome is ok. They all really scratch the surface of what the mac is truly capable of doing. MacDesign I find to design-pro for me, that's not why I bought a mac.

Bottom line: Give us mac geeks something to read!!!

[Mudbug]

The feedback on this is really good - I appreciate all of it. Unfortunately for now, I've got a little more on my plate to handle than I did when I first posted this thread, so until after October 4 (and maybe later if there's a runoff election) I'm slightly swamped (except for screwing around in macrumors, of course...)

That's not to say that I don't welcome more input, since I'll take all I can get, I just wanted to make everyone aware of my overall timeframe.

As an overall update as well, I've talked with a local distributor (one of my clients) who says they're not going to be able to provide me with the distribution possibilities that I want to have happen, so I'm looking for another option. I know there are distributor groups out there that publish/distribute multiple niche-style mags like this, and I've yet to contact them - wanted to see what my local guy could do first. And I've made no attempt to secure advertisers yet - I need more of a proposal to offer them before I pitch.

anyway - i've got some spreads built, which I'll upload when I think about it...
and I've been really busy with macbytes and everything... ;) j/k