Magazine Subscriptions?

DanTDavies · 10-09-2016, 12:08 PM

Not sure if this is the best forum for this, but...

I used to subscribe to a magazine (Analog Science Fiction / Science Fact). Originally in print, then in open format ebook - then they shut down the open format and went Kindle, etc. I have tried contacting them for info on various ebook format subscriptions, but thought I could ask here as well. I know they offer on Kindle and Kobo, but I would really like to be able to use my default reader (Moonreader on Android).

Has anyone been successful in converting books from the closed formats to an open one? I tried the Google Play version and it was awful. I tried the Kobo version, and apparently their reader is not suitable for Samsung (and no help from the developer!).

Any suggestions?

Dan

pdurrant · 10-10-2016, 11:02 AM

I subscribe through Amazon. I have a Kindle Voyage, and can easily strip the DRM from the issues downloaded for that device. (And so convert to ePub if I wanted.)

pendragginp · 10-10-2016, 11:14 AM

Good question. I had never thought about whether I could convert digital mags. Good to know!

theducks · 10-10-2016, 03:08 PM

The issue

with Magazine formats is they are not always is a single column .
(I subscribed to print Analog for 40 Years)
Analog was mostly 2 column, with various sections, full width. Illustrations varied just about any way you could.

I suspect they will be in a (wrapped) PDF format.
Those (PDF) don't convert well

Samsung? Tablet? why not the Kindle App (DO Check the subscription 'works with' list because not all Kindle apps can be used for various purchases

cromag · 10-10-2016, 05:10 PM

I subscribe to Analog and Asimov's through Barnes & Noble. They arrive as DRM-free EPUBs. The only trick is to get them to a computer so I can put them on my JetBook Lite. New versions of the Android Apps put them into an area that can only be accessed if you've "rooted" your device -- but I have an old version of the Nook App and have no problem getting them to Dropbox.

Tarana · 10-10-2016, 07:50 PM

I get Asimov's magazine and strip the DRM after downloading from Amazon. Calibre converts it nicely whether starting with Kindle or epub. Sibling reads it on my Nook ST without a problem (epub) while I read it on the Fire or Voyage. You want to be sure that wherever you DO source it that you can strip the DRM and store on your computer. In the past, both Amazon and B&N would 'drop off' issues more than a couple of years old. Amazon has since restored those old issues but B&N never did. This was a problem for me as sometimes I get very behind on these magazines and other times, I want to keep it because it had some good stories I would like to reread. I hope one day to figure out how to excise out the stories I want to keep and make like a personal anthology of them.

According to this page, you can have it delivered to your Kindle, Kobo or Nook device. https://www.analogsf.com/E-Analog.shtml Nook and Kobo, of course, are in epub format.

When you load into Calibre, you need to change the date of the issue, or it will keep replacing it thinking it's the same issue.

pdurrant · 10-11-2016, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

The issue

with Magazine formats is they are not always is a single column .
(I subscribed to print Analog for 40 Years)
Analog was mostly 2 column, with various sections, full width. Illustrations varied just about any way you could.

I suspect they will be in a (wrapped) PDF format.
Those (PDF) don't convert well

Analog, Asimov's and F&SF are all supplied electronically as ePub or Kindle reflowable formats.

In addition, the edition for Kindle for iOS also includes page images of the printed pages. (But getting at them is now tricky, not that they're really much use.)

HarryT · 10-11-2016, 04:34 AM

The one magazine I subscribe to is an Egyptology magazine, which I prefer to buy in PDF format, so I can read it on my iPad. It has lots of colour pictures, so really benefits from a large colour screen.

Penforhire · 10-13-2016, 12:21 PM

I like Zinio as my vendor & app for magazine subscriptions.

cromag · 10-13-2016, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

The one magazine I subscribe to is an Egyptology magazine, which I prefer to buy in PDF format, so I can read it on my iPad. It has lots of colour pictures, so really benefits from a large colour screen.

Same here. The only other magazine I read on a regular basis is a watercolor hobbyist magazine. It looks great on a tablet but would be pretty disappointing on a black and white ereader.

frahse · 10-17-2016, 12:26 AM

How times change. Once in college, I actually subscribed to "Donald Duck" I loved the "junior woodchucks." Later I subscribed to many different magazines in many fields including several from the IEEE.

Now the only paper magazines I get are Money, the IEEE main Mag which is no longer called the "Spectrum", and I guess AARP.

I realize that I never actually read Money, but they basically give it to me for little or nothing if I don't send them money. The IEEE considers that I am retired now and since I subscribed so long and was a member so long, they give me a free membership hoping I will donate money to them when I die. I guess my wife subscribes to AARP, AAA for us and then for herself, her own favorite types.

pwalker8 · 10-17-2016, 11:32 AM

I subscribe to several specialized magazines electronically. One comes out as a PDF, the other three are with Zinio. As far as I can tell, Zinio is simply a PDF with a proprietary wrapper so you can't copy it. It works pretty well on the iPad pro.

mbovenka · 10-20-2016, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

In addition, the edition for Kindle for iOS also includes page images of the printed pages. (But getting at them is now tricky, not that they're really much use.)

Kindle for Android has the same.

crich70 · 11-02-2016, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

The one magazine I subscribe to is an Egyptology magazine, which I prefer to buy in PDF format, so I can read it on my iPad. It has lots of colour pictures, so really benefits from a large colour screen.

Sounds interesting HarryT. Is it about new work or more a historical magazine?

HarryT · 11-02-2016, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crich70

Sounds interesting HarryT. Is it about new work or more a historical magazine?

A mixture.

http://ancientegyptmagazine.co.uk/index.shtml

10-09-2016, 12:08 PM	#1
DanTDavies Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 1000010 Join Date: Oct 2016 Device: Android	Magazine Subscriptions? Not sure if this is the best forum for this, but... I used to subscribe to a magazine (Analog Science Fiction / Science Fact). Originally in print, then in open format ebook - then they shut down the open format and went Kindle, etc. I have tried contacting them for info on various ebook format subscriptions, but thought I could ask here as well. I know they offer on Kindle and Kobo, but I would really like to be able to use my default reader (Moonreader on Android). Has anyone been successful in converting books from the closed formats to an open one? I tried the Google Play version and it was awful. I tried the Kobo version, and apparently their reader is not suitable for Samsung (and no help from the developer!). Any suggestions? Dan

10-10-2016, 05:10 PM	#5
cromag Surfin the alpha waves ~~ Posts: 26,002 Karma: 459735575 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids	I subscribe to Analog and Asimov's through Barnes & Noble. They arrive as DRM-free EPUBs. The only trick is to get them to a computer so I can put them on my JetBook Lite. New versions of the Android Apps put them into an area that can only be accessed if you've "rooted" your device -- but I have an old version of the Nook App and have no problem getting them to Dropbox. Last edited by cromag; 10-10-2016 at 08:34 PM.

10-10-2016, 07:50 PM	#6
Tarana Wizard Posts: 4,030 Karma: 38840460 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Minneapolis Device: PWSE, Voyage, K3, HDX, KBasic 7 & 8, Nook Glo3, Echos, Nanos	I get Asimov's magazine and strip the DRM after downloading from Amazon. Calibre converts it nicely whether starting with Kindle or epub. Sibling reads it on my Nook ST without a problem (epub) while I read it on the Fire or Voyage. You want to be sure that wherever you DO source it that you can strip the DRM and store on your computer. In the past, both Amazon and B&N would 'drop off' issues more than a couple of years old. Amazon has since restored those old issues but B&N never did. This was a problem for me as sometimes I get very behind on these magazines and other times, I want to keep it because it had some good stories I would like to reread. I hope one day to figure out how to excise out the stories I want to keep and make like a personal anthology of them. According to this page, you can have it delivered to your Kindle, Kobo or Nook device. https://www.analogsf.com/E-Analog.shtml Nook and Kobo, of course, are in epub format. When you load into Calibre, you need to change the date of the issue, or it will keep replacing it thinking it's the same issue. Last edited by Tarana; 10-10-2016 at 07:54 PM.

10-17-2016, 12:26 AM	#11
frahse occasional author Posts: 2,315 Karma: 2064403292 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Wandering God's glorious hills, valleys and plains. Device: A Franklin BI (before Internet) was the first. I still have it.	How times change. Once in college, I actually subscribed to "Donald Duck" I loved the "junior woodchucks." Later I subscribed to many different magazines in many fields including several from the IEEE. Now the only paper magazines I get are Money, the IEEE main Mag which is no longer called the "Spectrum", and I guess AARP. I realize that I never actually read Money, but they basically give it to me for little or nothing if I don't send them money. The IEEE considers that I am retired now and since I subscribed so long and was a member so long, they give me a free membership hoping I will donate money to them when I die. I guess my wife subscribes to AARP, AAA for us and then for herself, her own favorite types. Last edited by frahse; 10-18-2016 at 10:20 PM.

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10-10-2016, 11:02 AM	#2
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 73,596 Karma: 315126578 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	I subscribe through Amazon. I have a Kindle Voyage, and can easily strip the DRM from the issues downloaded for that device. (And so convert to ePub if I wanted.)

10-10-2016, 11:14 AM	#3
pendragginp Guru Posts: 985 Karma: 4567263 Join Date: May 2009 Location: The End Of The Earth Device: Several	Good question. I had never thought about whether I could convert digital mags. Good to know!

10-10-2016, 03:08 PM	#4
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,889 Karma: 59840450 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	The issue with Magazine formats is they are not always is a single column . (I subscribed to print Analog for 40 Years) Analog was mostly 2 column, with various sections, full width. Illustrations varied just about any way you could. I suspect they will be in a (wrapped) PDF format. Those (PDF) don't convert well Samsung? Tablet? why not the Kindle App (DO Check the subscription 'works with' list because not all Kindle apps can be used for various purchases

10-11-2016, 04:34 AM	#8
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The one magazine I subscribe to is an Egyptology magazine, which I prefer to buy in PDF format, so I can read it on my iPad. It has lots of colour pictures, so really benefits from a large colour screen.

10-13-2016, 12:21 PM	#9
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	I like Zinio as my vendor & app for magazine subscriptions.

10-17-2016, 11:32 AM	#12
pwalker8 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,196 Karma: 70314280 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Pro, iPad mini, Kobo Aura, Amazon paperwhite, Sony PRS-T2	I subscribe to several specialized magazines electronically. One comes out as a PDF, the other three are with Zinio. As far as I can tell, Zinio is simply a PDF with a proprietary wrapper so you can't copy it. It works pretty well on the iPad pro.