While I attended Uni, we signed up for a ton of free trials to various magazines -- Linux Format, Linux Journal, EE Times, InfoSecurity, etc. We got pretty lucky in that most of the free trials never ended. And if they did, we'd pool together money and buy a year's subscription. The department even bought a couple for us.
I can't stress how influential these magazines were to our participation. We were in an academic environment surrounded by geniuses in their field. We could read an article and nobody would understand it -- bring that topic up at the end of a lecture and talk about it for 20-30 minutes with the prof afterwards. Abstract concepts began to tie in with lecture materials. We were able to validate our courses of study and how it can relate to the real world. While this could've been just as likely by printing out articles or emailing the prof articles and asking his opinion, it was much easier because everyone (mostly) had thumbed through the communal magazines and had some rudimentary understanding of what's being talked about. We were able to actively participate in the discussion. That comfort in asking questions and talking in front of peers led to some great lectures -- many of which probably wouldn't have existed without the magazines.
1) Will the digital version be DRM-free? Even if you're not opposed to the concept of DRM, I'm sure you understand the logistical issues around consuming DRM crippled content on Linux.
2) You say you "aim to use an open source/Creative Commons licence." How firmly are you committed to this? I really like the ideal of content going free after 9 months.
3) What percentage of pages do you anticipate will include advertisements/sponsorship? It seems most magazines in our industry are cramming in as many adverts as possible, and worse - disguising them as real content (yes, I'm looking directly at you, Wired/Conde Naste). It's bad enough feeling like "the product" in the context of the unrelenting waves of ad-sponsored and metric-selling web-apps, it's a lot worse when you're paying for the privilege (via subscriptions to magazines with more ads than articles).
Are you addressing a more casual audience ?
[1] http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTA0MTM [2] http://www.phoronix-test-suite.com/
We're going to covering a wider area. We'll feature some stuff on programming (though this will never get too hardcore -- we're a Linux mag, not a programming mag), we'll feature desktop Linux as well. We'll feature Linux gadgets where they're relavent, but we're not going to be a big gadget review mag. Some stuff on servers. Some stuff on hardware hacking. Basically, if you can do it on Linux, it'll have a place in Linux Voice.
In terms of "hardcore-ness", we'll aim to strike a balance so there's something for everyone.
We'll be addressing a casual audience insofar as it'll be written with humour and will be easy to read.
Sure, I could probably fill in some kind of apartment number or so. Yet, it's not something I usually have on in my postal address, and it's definitely not something getting a line of its own.
Also, that seemingly broken requirement bugs me.
I supose it would be possible (indexing metadata). And it would be awesome!
I've not picked up a copy of Linux Journal for the last couple of years.
I'm backing this in the hope it becomes something amazing, that I can use to replace Linux Journal.
Best of luck, I look forward to seeing my pdfs :)
- Linux Format Xmas 2013"
"M. Saunders: After writing my own x86 operating system, I'd like to fund a new version written in Forth"
"B. Everard: Having written a wooden scooter across Africa, I'd simply ask for an off-road map"
:-)