Goodbye, Smartphone & Pocket PC Magazine

[Pony99CA]

If you're a reader of Smartphone & Pocket PC (SP&PPC) Magazine, I've got some bad news for you -- SP&PPC is suspending publishing (http://pocketpcmag.com/cms/finalissue) and the next issue will be its last. Lack of advertising and circulation were blamed for the decision. Thaddeus Computing, publisher of SP&PPC, will be publishing iPhone Life, though. Current subscribers who still have issues remaining will get iPhone Life by default, but there are other options, so check the announcement linked to above.

There is some good news, though. First, the SP&PPC Web site (http://pocketpcmag.com) will continue in operation. Second, Thaddeus is leaving the door open for additional issues of SP&PPC, or a generic smart phone magazine, if somebody steps forward (advertisers or entrepreneurs).

Do you read Smartphone & Pocket PC Magazine regularly? If so, what do you think of this decision?

[keoni34]

I was a subscriber years ago when they were called HandheldPC Magazine. I was new to handhelds and had my first Casio E-100 "Palm-sized PC". It ran Windows CE 2.11 and this magazine helped me to understand how to use its functionality and try new and interesting types of software. However as websites like Brighthand, PocketPC Thoughts, Pocketnow and others were discovered by me I finally cancelled my subscription with them and their name changed and was just called PocketPC Magazine. I found that it did not feed my thirst for new and interesting articles fast enough as they only had new issues coming out every other month whereas I could find articles and discussions about Windows Mobile on sites like Pocketnow and Brighthand every day. It'll be sad to see them go. I hope they can find a new avenue to support new users of the smartphone market.

[jc1125]

I am sad to see this magazine go. I discovered it only this year while waiting for a subway in New York City. I had recently bought the Samsung SCH i760 from Verizon and was learning how to use it. I immediately bought a subscription and found the information in the magazine very useful. The magazine did have a strong Windows Mobile leaning to the point of disparaging every other Mobile OS, but that was okay after I realized the slant of the magazine.

I believe there is still a healthy marketplace appetite for this magazine and wish it wasn't going away. I'll miss Smartphone and PPC magazine.

Your newest subscriber - : (

[Brandon Miniman]

The magazine was never funded to the extent needed to make it into a hugely successful publication. Yes, they got funding by Microsoft and others, which was enough to run the operation, but not enough to advertise the magazine in a big way, or bring on more staff so that there could be more timely issues (one every two months just wasn't enough). The concept is a good one, and I think if they (or another company) got a large infusion of capital, they could really become a strongly compelling magazine.

[kanzlr]

I think these magazines have a very limited audience.
As keoni34 pointed out, online media has replaced paper IT magazines for a lot of us.

It is just specialized development and software engineering magazins that i keep reading in their paper form.

[xdalaw]

I'm very sorry to see it go.

I've been a subscriber for a few years, and while I didn't necessarily get the newest information there--I'd get it from sites like this one and other user forums--it lent an air of legitimacy to this odd hobby we share.

The fact that a real nice glossy magazine existed which was there to explore this niche with reviews, articles, advertisments, and lots of pictures and screenshots scattered throughout was really something I looked forward to every other month.

:(

[Pony99CA]

I think these magazines have a very limited audience.
As keoni34 pointed out, online media has replaced paper IT magazines for a lot of us.
True, and because of publishing lag time, they won't usually have the freshest news, but it was still nice to have a copy to read on an airplane or in bed.

Hey, Brandon, maybe we should starting doing the "Best Of" awards. ;)

Steve

[buzzard]

I will really miss this magazine. I keep each copy around until the next one arrives and the funny part is I have no idea why because with sites like Pocketnow I already know most of the information in the magazine before I get it. One of the parts I read the most is the applications section because I'm always interested in trying new programs and find this section to be a good all in one location where I can read short reviews of each one.

The whole magazine industry could be in trouble because of the internet and this magazine won't be the only one. I get a bit irritated paying for magazine subscriptions (Time, Newsweek, Car & Driver, Laptop, etc.) and finding out that the same articles are available for free on the internet. I get an email once a week from Time that has their top 10 articles available on the internet so I have to wonder why I'm spending money for the magazine. Some magazine sites have tried to limit the stories by not allowing access to all articles but as time goes on more and more of the articles become available. For me I like a magazine because paging through it requires me to at least "see" everything and then choose what I want to read. The internet has the same stories but they're usually shown as a list of headlines and a story that may "look" interesting in the magazine may not appear interesting in a sentence. In any case it just looks the magazine industry is in for tough times in the future.

It's just the old saying "time marches on".

[Brandon Miniman]

I will really miss this magazine. I keep each copy around until the next one arrives and the funny part is I have no idea why because with sites like Pocketnow I already know most of the information in the magazine before I get it. One of the parts I read the most is the applications section because I'm always interested in trying new programs and find this section to be a good all in one location where I can read short reviews of each one.

I think your mysterious devotion towards the magazine comes from your human desire to hold something in your hand rather than see it on a screen. When I received my magazine, despite knowing that I could find all of the information posted within on other websites (as you've implied), I liked the idea of seeing it in front of me, in my hands.

[JoelJohnson]

I hate to see the magazine go. I got a subscription because I plan to purchase my next device from overseas (as the American GSM Windows Mobile offerings are quite weak in my opinion, not to mention locked to a network). Additionally the magazine had lots of reviews of software that I enjoyed. While I read through a lot of online sites it was nice having a reference and set of comparisons in one place (I don't think that most sites keep track of all of the Windows Mobile devices available and a comparison chart).

I just got my first issue of iPhone life the other day. I plan to change the mailing address to some one that can appreciate the magazine. Having flipped through the magazine I found it full of info I already know from online sites.

[natestera]

I am (was) an occasional contributer, and will probably continue to blog there for as long as that lasts. Not sure about iPhone Life yet, but have to strongly agree with the sentiments here. It's nice to have something (besides a device or computer) to read in print. Seems I can more comfortably process information from a printed page, for some reason. The blogosphere is mostly useful for scooping news, how-to info, searching and such, but if I want to sit down and read a lengthy article about something, it's easier in print. Even the zinio readers are aggravating to me. I do think the awards should live on in some form, though. It was a worthwhile endeaver.