Jim Dalrymple, the veteran Apple journalist behind The Loop, is launching a new magazine for iOS devices today. Rather than simply being an iOS version of the existing site, the magazine version of The Loop is a separate publication hosting longer form writing from a variety of contributors and perspectives. As Dalrymple notes in his welcome message:
For many years people have been asking me why I didn't release an app for the iPhone and iPad. The answer was simple: I couldn't find anything that added value to what I did on The Loop. I wanted something more than a side-scrolling news app that basically imitated what I'd already linked to or written on the Web site. [...]
It wasn't until I saw the format that Marco Arment used in The Magazine that I realized what I really wanted for The Loop -- a design and reading experience that matched what I had on the Web site. An easy to read magazine that focused on original content, not on selling ads.
/article-new/2013/05/the_loop_magazine.jpg?lossy)
The inaugural issue of The Loop magazine includes a half dozen articles:
- A piece on enduring design from developer Matt Gemmell
- An autobiographical piece from Dream Theater keyboardist Jordan Rudess talking about the impact of technology and how he has embraced it in his work
- An essay on the impact of the smartphone revolution bringing computers into our pockets from Creative Strategies analyst and Time contributor Ben Bajarin
- A look at the balkanization of the Mac gaming industry by The Loop co-founder and iMore senior editor Peter Cohen
- A personal look at disruptive problem solving from Flexibits co-founder Michael Simmons
- A brief introduction to wine for newbies from event planner Brenda Singer
The Loop magazine is available through Apple's Newsstand automatic subscription delivery service and published twice per month, with subscriptions priced at $1.99 per month. [Direct Link]
Top Rated Comments
(View all):)
It wasn't until I saw the format that Marco Arment used in The Magazine that I realized what I really wanted for The Loop -- a design and reading experience that matched what I had on the Web site.
Aha. I think I see what Marco is doing here. Instead of trying to sell apps (e.g. Instapaper) to end-users, he's created a publishing platform. A platform that other editors in chief can use to create their own magazines. And Marco is presumably taking a cut of the subscription fees. Steady revenue stream from multiple publications. Or something like that. Good for you, Marco.Update: Nope. Marco's "The Magazine" is built on his own code. "The Loop" magazine uses TypeEngine.
(See gibbz' post below.)
An easy to read magazine that focused on original content, not on selling ads.
$2/month for an ad-free reading experience? Absolutely worth it, with one qualification. It's worth it if, and only if, you're into the magazine's content. But the something-for-everybody approach is too hit and miss for me. Kind of like Jim's web site. He link-blogs terse comments about all kinds of amusing YouTube videos, guitar players, Heineken, etc. that I don't care about.$2/month for great writing, ad-free, but on topics I may or may not want to read about?
I think one magazine like that is enough: The Magazine. I already subscribe to that.
If, on the other hand, the Loop magazine were more focused on tech, including Apple and all of its wannabe competitors, then I'd pay more attention. Especially if it had exclusive articles by the likes of Horace Dediu, John Gruber, Paul Thurrott, Eric Raymond, Richard Stallman, and other experts (yes, even if they're biased toward one platform or another.)
And the pièce de résistance: a point-counterpoint between the experts on specific topics. Just to show how intelligent people discuss things and agree to disagree. A refresher course, if you will.
$1.99 a month for 'yep' and 'nope', I don't think so.
Love how you dismiss it without even checking it out. It's all exclusive curated articles by writers in a similar manner as Marco's The Magazine.
Get your head out of your ass before making stupid comments.
Where's the Android version?
This probably isn't the best place to ask.
This isn't the case. Marco created the Magazine's structure from scratch. The platform used by The Loop is from TypeEngine - and Marco has commented on their very familiar design here (http://www.marco.org/2013/03/02/type-engine).
Wow. Sure fooled me. Thanks for the link!