The Next Web: The Future of Media
If you haven’t checked it out already, Next Web Digital just launched the first digital magazine, known as SHIFT, using the prss publishing platform. Prss gives readers access to over 30 publications and growing. Since the October 2nd launch, over 7,000 people have already subscribed to SHIFT, awaiting their newest digital copies. The new prss platform allows a viable outlet for publishers to transition their content from print to a digital format, easily and concisely.
International Tech Topics
For those that have never heard of it, The Next Web is one of the worlds most followed and influential technology blogs. Since 2008, they have been offering the top technology news and culture to its immense fan base, but the allure of emerging technology of the Prss platform has proven to be too strong for Next Web. Their iPad publications are reported to be completely exclusive from the content shown on the website. Next Web has been one of the few websites to cover international technology instead of focusing on just a select country or market.
The correct way to do Digital Magazines
According to the Next Web press release, SHIFT “will be a radical new take on magazine publishing for the Ipad”. It will be a quarterly magazine that will offer unique articles about innovation, technology, and startups.
“A lot of digital magazines are similar to horseless carriages with an engine thrown on top. Sure it is digital, but not where we need to be with digital magazines. With Prss we have seen a preview of what the future of digital magazines look like,” said Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten, the founder of The Next Web, at the New York press conference.
Issue 1
The very first issue offers an overview of the 100 top gadgets that 2013 has to offer. Undoubtedly, as word spreads, more and more will flock to the Prss platform in order to procure their own copy of SHIFT magazine. The publication strongly appeals to the techie crowd as there is no shortage of information about the various gadgetry offered in their first issue.
SHIFT will be £1.99 per quarter (every 3 months), but it was suggested at the press conference that if Next Web reaches enough subscribers, that they will begin offering monthly publications as well. “With the relaunch of our magazine I felt like experimenting with the revenue model again, so we are trying out a quarterly edition now, for a small fee. If we see enough subscribers we might start publishing monthly again.” Veldhuijzen van Zanten said.
In Conclusion
Needless to say, this is a big step in the right direction for not only Next Web and SHIFT magazine, but for mobile device users as well. As technology continues to progress, it is becoming very likely that more and more syndicated publications will begin looking to the iPad to market their content. Within a few years this may be the norm. It is clear that mobile devices are quickly becoming the “go to” option for digital content.
