New magazine launches exclusively for iPhone
October 17, 2008
Through the iPhone's Looking Glass
New media company Hot Phone Hit Factory announced the launch of Looking Glass, a monthly travel magazine available exclusively to iPhone users.
Looking Glass offers iPhone users monthly, relevant and up-to-date-themed travel information in 12 distinct sections. Travelers ages 18-34 will be better informed in terms of their destinations both physically and culturally.
"Looking Glass is a travel-obsessed magazine that will provide young people with travel information while they are on-the-go," said Michael Merriam, editor-in-chief of Looking Glass, New York.
"We are trying to make it easier on readers to get the travel information they need, without having to carry around a clunky travel book," he said. "The iPhone can read your location and so the content can be tailored according to the travelers specific location."
The monthly magazine will be available on iTunes' App Store for $0.99 per issue starting on Nov.15.
The inaugural issue, available online at http://www.lookingglassmagazine.com on Oct. 20, offers a Grimm's Fairy Tale trip through Eastern Europe and New England.
Detailed coverage includes a food critic's exploration into culinary culture in Providence, Rhode Island and extensive coverage of Halloween in Transylvania, new to the EU.
The November issue, debuting on iTunes Nov. 15, incorporates all the online content and adds additional articles. "Walking Against Traffic" focuses on tourism in the Middle East during the Moslem month of Al-Hijaz, when pilgrims travel to Mecca.
"Michael Merriam's visual storytelling with a twist lends itself perfectly to the iPhone interface," said Michael Prenez-Isbell, founder and publisher of Hot Phone Hit Factory, New York. "The pictures and stories evoke travel even if you only read them in on your living room couch."
Hot Phone Hit Factory publishes Looking Glass, PMc Magazine with Patrick McMullan as well other productions in magazine, book, music, animation, live-action and game publishing.
"Also the iPhone makes photography look gorgeous," Mr. Merriam said. "You really can't go wrong showing graphics on that device.
"The iPhone app has ads in it as well," he said. "Right now its basic ads, but I expect that as time goes on advertisements will be more specific to the iPhone and will be more engaging. Stolichnaya Vodka is one of the advertisers."