Digital Magazines News Wire | 10.29.09

New Version of Digital Magazines on iPhone, iPod
Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based Nxtbook Media is getting ready to launch a new version of its digital magazine platform which will play on iPhones and  iPod Touch devices. According to CEO Michael Biggerstaff, the company expects iPhone usage initially will be relatively small but this new version gives publishers “insight into exactly how usage differs on mobile.”

Features of the new service will include live links for all advertising, the option for text or graphic versions, and integrated analytics such as those that are currently available on the company’s standard digital magazine platform.

The new version is expected to be available to customers “in the coming weeks,” Nxtbook said. The company also said it plans to release a second version before the end of the year with expanded features like streaming media capabilities.

Zinio, Hearst Magazines and the Ad Council to Launch Campaigns
Digital magazine vendor Zinio has partnered with the Advertising Council and Hearst Magazines to create a suite of digital, interactive public service announcements and other products.

Under terms of the partnership, Zinio has agreed to create interactive digital editions of the Ad Council PSAs promoting digital publishing and deliver them in connection with all of Hearst’s 12 digital publications including Cosmopolitan and Seventeen. According to Zinio president and CEO Rich Maggiotto, the partnership helps Zinio “play a critical role in communicating with America’s youth in a language and medium” that resonates with them.

In addition to creating the PSAs, Zinio said it will work to integrate the PSAs into its other digital magazines it produces.

Advanstar Title Moves Digital-Only
Trade publisher Advanstar Communications has decided to fold the print edition of auto title Aftermarket Business. The December issue will be its last. Starting in January, Advanstar instead has partnered with Nxtbook Media and plans to publish a monthly digital version of the 73-year-old magazine, as well as twice-weekly e-newsletters.

“Our audience is less reliant today on old media in a monthly print format. They’re reacting to news much quicker,” Advanstar vice president and Automotive Group general manager Jim Savas told FOLIO: recently. “This is another evolution in the way we want to help our advertisers communicate to the distribution audience.”

The print edition of Aftermarket Business carried a monthly circulation of 20,000. The digital version will be e-mailed to more than 140,000 “decision makers and influencers” in the auto distribution market. “Instead of having a 150-page magazine replicated for the Web, we’ll produce a 15-, 16-page e-magazine in rectangular format that’s easy to read on a computer screen,” Savas said.

Advanced Publishing Takes Home Award
Canada’s Province of New Brunswick recently selected digital magazine vendor Advanced Publishing as one of its “most innovative businesses,” the company said.

The honor was announced during an evening event hosted by Business New Brunswick. New Brunswick’s Premier made the announcement, Advanced said.

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