Online auto magazine

[myles]

The first online Go Auto magaine came out today (Friday, 29 April). Received the details in my email a few mins ago.

Interesting concept for an 'online' magazine.
http://www.mellor.net/themaglatest

Direct PDF link (7 meg file)
Go Auto PDF file (http://mellor.carsales.com.au/TheMag/2005.04.29_TheMagazine.pdf)

[Inter-ceptor]

The first online Go Auto magaine came out today (Friday, 29 April). Received the details in my email a few mins ago.

Interesting concept for an 'online' magazine.
http://www.mellor.net/themaglatest

Direct PDF link (7 meg file)
Go Auto PDF file (http://mellor.carsales.com.au/TheMag/2005.04.29_TheMagazine.pdf)
Great idea, more enteractive and no paper waste. Love the lil animes!

[Smitty]

saw it in my inbox this morning
nice......

[GoAuto]

Glad you like it guys. :D

It will be a FREE, weekly, online magazine.
We are going to make some small changes along the way but the format is to remain the same.

In the next issue we will be looking at the TORNADO (if you are interested) amongst many others

If you want to be notified of each new issue click here:
GoAuto The Magazine Subscription (http://www.mellor.net/themagsubscribe)

[FNQracing]

Glad you like it guys. :D


Sorry GoAuto, the old PDF version was much better. I just tried the interactive version and it gave me the sh!ts in 15secs. I gave up. :mad:

Your original simple PDF was far far better. I could actually read it like a magazine. The new version stinks.

[myles]

FFO, I found it as easy to navigate through. Might take a bit to get used to.

At least with it being interactive there's more of opportunity to insert multimedia clips, whether it be for sponsors or to accompany the articles.

Each to their own. :) Regardless of the format, it is a great read. Thanks GoAuto :cheers:

[myles]

I noticed the PDF version is still being produced...

Just delivered
www.mellor.net/mellor/enews.nsf/edition/$first

[GoAuto]

Sorry GoAuto, the old PDF version was much better. I just tried the interactive version and it gave me the sh!ts in 15secs. I gave up. :mad:

Your original simple PDF was far far better. I could actually read it like a magazine. The new version stinks.

Sorry to hear that... :(
One question...Did you try to save it to your PC first. This works better because the file size is a bit too big to serve directly to the browser.

I would like you to elaborate as to why you think it "stinks".....(If you have the time). At this early stage any feedback is good feedback. :)

As 'myles' has pointed out, the weekly E-News will continue to serve up the latest automotive news from Aust and around the world and will be available every Wednesday morning.

Keep the comments coming :D

[M&Ms]

OK here's what I think

Firstly, it's a great idea to have this magazine, very interesting and useful info with some good pics. It's been done in the US (MotorTrend, Road and Track) but it's good to get some local news for a change. What I think you should add (and what other magazines already have) are some performance data (0-100, 1/4 mile etc). Also, those ads give me a fright sometimes, when I click onto the next page and all I hear is things like a Honda F1 revving etc. I'm sure this mag will only improve with time.

[ABS]

I'd have to agree that the interactive pdf is kinda annoying to use. I'd prefer to see an 'old school' style pdf with a contents page and then each story sequentially afterwards.

[GoAuto]

I'd have to agree that the interactive pdf is kinda annoying to use. I'd prefer to see an 'old school' style pdf with a contents page and then each story sequentially afterwards.

Is it the navigation of the magazine you find annoying......please elaborate.
Our idea was that if you saw something you would like to read, one click and you are there.

micmansour
We have just set standard levels for the audio and visual advertising so the first audio that you hear will set the level throughout the magazine.

Thanks guys :D

[myles]

The things I see that would make it even easier to use would be a single contents page, rather than one that rotaes through a few. The one contents page could have smaller images but it's laid out the same as the contents pages you find in most regular magazine, one contents page, with the regular columns section, and the main 'feature' story.

And for the multimedia, if it's able to be loaded with the option to click 'play' before it loads. Then while reading a revving engine doesn't come straight out at you.

I noticed GoAuto receives a large number of requests for articles they publish. Do they get much feedback? If so, would a reader feedback section be regarded as suitable? It's normally placed of a high priority in many magazines with high readership.

Overall, I do like what I see. :)

[ABS]

Is it the navigation of the magazine you find annoying......please elaborate.
Our idea was that if you saw something you would like to read, one click and you are there.

micmansour
We have just set standard levels for the audio and visual advertising so the first audio that you hear will set the level throughout the magazine.

Thanks guys :D

Adobe Acrobat isn't exact the cutting edge of built hyperlink based in navigation. In my opinion navigation is actually easier based on just having a title page, contents page and the feature articles sequentially after. People can read the page number and scroll down without trouble. The thing that I found annoying about the 'interactive' brochure was that it was a full screen document. Depending on where people are reading it, for example in an office environment, it is downright annoying to use something that takes over the whole screen. Most of the time I've got at least half a dozen Firefox windows open, a few Acrobat documents open and Microsoft Word. By keeping it in the standard view that most pdf documents are formatted in then it means the user is able to multitask switching back and forth between different applications quickly and easily.

That's my 2.2 cents including GST*

*plus dealer delivery and government statuatory charges

[GoAuto]

The latest edition is out now... :D
latest edition (http://www.mellor.net/themaglatest)

Thank you to all who gave us feedback on the first issue.
We have made some changes to the mag including a toggle switch for full screen and standard view :) , bench-marked all audio to the same levels :) , and simplified the attachment for the subscriber mailout. More changes next week...

Have a look and let me know what you think.

[CDAA]

Thanks for that GoAuto. Being a reader of your publication for quite some time I can appreciate the effort with this latest more interactive magazine. Although I like the new format visually, the old one I never considered to be inadequate, in fact I liked the ‘newspaper/press release' style of it, which built the perception of it being the 'latest' hot of the press news, rather than a glossy magazine, which I bought more for visual entertainment and keep sake (I had already read about most things on the internet/email/forums etc).

Unfortunately my first reaction is this has been done for the benefit of the advertising sponsors rather than the readers. They receive greater value out of your new visually animated and audio enabled format. For the reader there is now more to do just to see it (action a 7 meg download i.e. used just happen when retrieving my email), longer to wait (waiting for download even with ADSL), more to download (500k to 7meg) and turning down sound of the ads. The advertising is quite annoying and distracting and has been the primary reason for me desperately trying to exist! So much for having a quite read..lol

Sorry to be so negative. I know it must be hard to try and please everybody, especially your advertising sponsors who pay for advertising so we don’t need to pay for your publication. Time will tell I guess and again thanks for being innovative.

Colville

[GoAuto]

Thanks CDAA,
I should let you know that the existing and current E-News will remain our main publication and we have no intention of removing it from our line-up.

Thank you for your feedback on the magazine. The advertising is too loud and we are negotiating sound levels and quality with the respective agencies.

The mag is to be targeted at the public audience whom may not get E-News, be a member of a forum or be as well informed as others.
We are taking this opportunity to test the magazine in forums and throughout the industry. If we can get it right here then the "public" will enjoy the benefits.

Thanks again.