More of my sites

WinInfo Daily News
SuperSite for Windows
Windows IT Pro Magazine
Connected Home
Thurrott Dot Com
Windows Weekly at TWIT

About this site

For six years, the Internet Nexus served as my technology blog, but I've since started blogging at the SuperSite Blog instead. If you're looking for the blog, please head there. --Paul

Saturday, July 17, 2004

iPodWorld Magazine bites the dust

I haven't seen anyone discussing this for some reason, but IDG's high profile launch of iPod Magazine (a monthly? a standalone issue?) has fizzled earlier than expected. At last week's MacWorld Expo in Boston, we attended the MacWorld Mardi Gras party, where we were treated to plastic hurricane glasses with a logo for something called "Turn It Up! MacWorld Digitial Music Special." The thing is, the logo was on a sticker. Under the sticker was the logo for "iPodWorld." I noted to Keith that the iPodWorld Magazine idea was thus likely dead in the water. And sure enough, that's true: Visit www.ipodworld.com and see what happens. Yawn.

To be fair, I think I understand the issues here. Obviously, the success of the iPod and iTunes is due mostly to their availability on Windows, and the title "MacWorld" will be of no interest to most commputer users. However, if IDG were to call it iPodWorld, a number of problems arise: First, they'd have to license the name from Apple, and if this year's MacWorld Boston is any indication, the relationship between the two companies isn't exactly rosy right now, so don't be surprised to discover Apple had a little ... reluctance ... in giving them naming rights. Second, using a unique name like that suggests that there will be more than one issue, and my suspicion (based on real world experience, actually) is that right now isn't a great time to launch a new magazine. Third, how much can anyone actually write about the iPod, iPod accessories, and music related issues on a regular basis? Most people who buy iPods aren't part of a vibrant community like that Mac users enjoy; instead, they just want to listen to music (and, apparently, be trendy. But that's a different story). It all adds up to a simple fact: iPodWorld Magazine was a stupid idea.

[ Posted at 9:13 AM | Permalink ]