We need to talk about Encore
So today I’ve cleared my diary. As has my colleague Brooke.
You see, there’s something we want to talk to you about.
Here’s our numbers:
Tim Burrowes: 02 8296 0201
Brooke Hemphill: 02 8296 0237
We’re both going to be at our desks, all day.
We want to talk to you about Encore magazine.
Today sees the launch of our iPad app.
I must admit, I’ve had mixed feeling about the iPad in the two years since it launched. There was the initial feeling of excitement. Followed by a slight cynicism as newspapers seized upon it, a little desperately it seemed to me, as their saviour.
But in recent weeks my thinking changed again.
As you may remember, we relaunched Encore magazine late last year – at the same time we moved its focus much more closely to Mumbrella’s audience. After three years away from print, I found myself falling back in love with magazines. When it comes to telling a longer story they still beat websites.
But at the same time, the things that you quickly take for granted are annoyingly absent in mags. Talking about TV shows, films or ads and not being able to watch them – what’s that all about?
Which brings us to the Encore app for the iPad. Which you’ll find in the App Store from today.
The process of creating it – and Brooke, as Encore’s managing editor has been far more involved in it than me – has been an utter thrill. There’s a feeling of excitement and potential as you find ways of combining what makes magazines great with the immediacy of digital. More so than I expected before getting involved.
Rather than take the approach of some titles, we’ve tried to create something more than a glorified PDF of the print edition. And I feel like we’re only just beginning to discover what we’ll be able to do as we try new things.
At the same time, I’m not naively optimistic. If you download the first edition – which I hope you will – you’ll see that there aren’t a huge number of advertisers yet. Certainly not enough for the business model to be certain.
I don’t really know if this is going to be a move that funds itself mainly through subscribers, through advertiser growth, or a little of both.
But as we go, I’ll share what we learn. Even if the number of subscribers is embarrassingly small, I’ll share it – I’ll try and do so at least once a month.
What I do know is that the last few weeks, as we prepared that first Encore iPad edition, have been fascinating, and exciting. The last few days, waiting for it to go live on the App Store, have been a little like waiting for Christmas.
And what you will find is a lot of content of which we’re very proud. Frankly I could kiss Derryn Hinch for putting himself on the front pages this week. Suddenly our profile interview, conducted a few weeks ago, is perfect timing to launch today.
You’ll also find all of our columnists – including our debut column from Packed To The Rafters creator Bevan Lee. We profile Australia’s most significant seven film reviewers, talk to Mix’s Tim Ross, learn how to bluff it as a talent agent and ask why students aren’t coming out of university ready to work in our industry. Plus of course we review ads. And play them.
Which is where you come in. Now it’s your turn to give it a go.
I want to know what you think. And I want to make it easy for you to do so.
So for starters I want your $4.49. (Or if you fancy making a real leap of faith, $19.99 for the next six editions.)
In the scheme of things when we’re asking you for $1799 to attend Mumbrella360, $4.49 is not a lot. Particularly as I bet you can stick it on expenses or claim it back against tax. But in truth, I don’t fully understand the iPad economy. I don’t know whether we’ll sell a handful of editions or a few hundred.
And the reason you may need our number is I want to know whether you feel you get value for money for that $4.49. Positive or negative, we want your feedback.
And to put my money where my mouth is, if you hate it, call us today and we’ll refund that $4.49.
If you can’t get through or it keeps ringing, bear with us – those numbers don’t connect to a call centre. They’re our direct lines. And we want to chat.
And if you can’t get through, you can always email us and tell us what you think.
tim@focalattractions.com.au
brooke@focalattractions.com.au
Speak to you later…
Tim Burrowes
Editor-in-chief – Mumbrella and Encore magazine
Linkedin
Is there an Android version? Or one that works across all platforms?
The non-iPad market is big too.
Can be done. It’s not going to be as smooth and sexy as as the iPad version but good enough.
User ID not verified.
Hi Lawrence,
Thanks for your note. We hope to be able to say a little more about that soon.
Cheers,
Tim – Mumbrella/ Encore
As a previous decade + subscriber to Encore magazine I would gladly pay you for an online version of the Encore magazine if it was a HTML5 site/app.
I don’t own an iPad, will never own an iPad and I know more people who don’t own one than do. I’m using a new (better than iPad) unreleased tablet running the consumer preview of Windows 8.
Why are people still creating device specific apps when HTML5 works across all recent smartphones and tablet devices? It will save you a ton of money in development, maintenance and when you want to enhance it and you aren’t subject to the whims and processes of 3rd parties ‘approving’ you site/app.
You build once for all devices!
P.S. Lawrence – a native mobile device app does not mean it will be smoother and sexier than a HTML5 website / app. There are now thousands and thousands of HTML5 apps and websites designed to work exceptionally across all devices.
User ID not verified.
Good luck with it, Tim and Brooke. And good on your for taking such a frank and transparent approach to the launch of this App…
(If I had an iPad I’d buy one!)
User ID not verified.
Here’s yet another world leading digital agency (RG/A) discussing why they chose HTML5 for one of their clients (Grey Goose) latest digital project – http://thenextweb.com/dd/2012/.....test-work/
And here is the fantastic site in question – http://greygoose.com/
It also has awesome film and music content and this is exactly the right approach to current and future proofing accessibility of your content across all devices.
User ID not verified.
Excellent iPad edition, Tim & team. Bought 1 edition and will subscribe for six.
Looks like Oomph provide a fantastic service too.
User ID not verified.
OOMPH is doing a great job and is a credit to Australian ingenuity that a small team can develop a product which does at least as good a job as the multi-national corporations at a fraction of the price.
Cycle Torque now has an iPad edition (www.itunes.com/apps/cycletorque) which contains heaps of multimedia, has been very well received by readers and looks fantastic, as does Encore.
User ID not verified.