MacAddict
Encyclopedia
Mac|Life is an American monthly magazine published by Future US
. It focuses on the Macintosh
personal computer and related products, including the iPod
and iPhone
. Between September 1996 and February 2007, the magazine was known as MacAddict.
Mac|Life and sister magazine Maximum PC
are successors of the defunct CD-ROM Today
magazine. First published in 1993 by Imagine Publishing (now Future US
), CD-ROM Today was targeted at both Windows
and Macintosh
users, and each issue shipped with a CD-ROM
of shareware
and demo
programs. In August 1996, CD-ROM Today ceased publication, with two magazines taking its place: MacAddict for Macintosh users, and boot (which became Maximum PC) for Windows users.
MacAddict was the first North American magazine focused on the Macintosh to include a CD-ROM with every issue. As was the case with CD-ROM Today, MacAddicts discs included shareware and demo programs, but also came with other added features, such as staff videos and previews of content inside the magazine's hard copy. The MacAddict website was updated daily with news relevant to Apple
products. MacAddict also had a mascot, a stick-figure named Max. In February 2007, MacAddict was relaunched as MacLife. The new magazine is physically larger than the old magazine and was focused on the creativity of Mac users, and no longer comes with a CD-ROM.
Mac|Life has the second largest audited total circulation in North America among Macintosh-focused magazines (with a rate base of 110,000), after Macworld
, as well as the second-largest audited newsstand sales.
Current editorial line-up for the magazine and website include: Jon Phillips, editorial director; Paul Curthoys, editor-in-chief; Robin Dick, art director; Susie Ochs, senior editor; Ray Aguilera, reviews editor; Roberto Baldwin, online editor; Nic Vargus, associate editor; and Florence Ion, associate online editor.
. The forum had over 25,000 registered users and received up to 2,000 posts every day. Discussion ranged on a variety of topics; the magazine itself, computers and gadgets (both made by Apple and otherwise) and more wide-ranging personal and political issues. Around 2005 the forums had started to become neglected, making it difficult to use and causing members to create two independent forums. Its closure was announced on November 13, 2010, and the forum was shut down and erased on November 18th.
Future US
Future US is a United States media corporation specializing in targeted magazines and websites in the video games, music, and technology markets. Future US is headquartered in the South San Francisco with offices in New York City and Los Angeles...
. It focuses on the Macintosh
Macintosh
The Macintosh , or Mac, is a series of several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The first Macintosh was introduced by Apple's then-chairman Steve Jobs on January 24, 1984; it was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a...
personal computer and related products, including the iPod
IPod
iPod is a line of portable media players created and marketed by Apple Inc. The product line-up currently consists of the hard drive-based iPod Classic, the touchscreen iPod Touch, the compact iPod Nano, and the ultra-compact iPod Shuffle...
and iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
. Between September 1996 and February 2007, the magazine was known as MacAddict.
History
Maximum PC
Maximum PC, formerly known as boot, is an American magazine and web site published by Future US. It focuses on cutting-edge PC hardware, with an emphasis on product reviews, step-by-step tutorials, and in-depth technical briefs...
are successors of the defunct CD-ROM Today
CD-ROM Today
CD-ROM Today was an American magazine targeted to computer users. Published from 1993 to 1996 by Imagine Publishing , the magazine was initially issued once every other month, before being changed to a monthly...
magazine. First published in 1993 by Imagine Publishing (now Future US
Future US
Future US is a United States media corporation specializing in targeted magazines and websites in the video games, music, and technology markets. Future US is headquartered in the South San Francisco with offices in New York City and Los Angeles...
), CD-ROM Today was targeted at both Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
and Macintosh
Macintosh
The Macintosh , or Mac, is a series of several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The first Macintosh was introduced by Apple's then-chairman Steve Jobs on January 24, 1984; it was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a...
users, and each issue shipped with a CD-ROM
CD-ROM
A CD-ROM is a pre-pressed compact disc that contains data accessible to, but not writable by, a computer for data storage and music playback. The 1985 “Yellow Book” standard developed by Sony and Philips adapted the format to hold any form of binary data....
of shareware
Shareware
The term shareware is a proprietary software that is provided to users without payment on a trial basis and is often limited by any combination of functionality, availability, or convenience. Shareware is often offered as a download from an Internet website or as a compact disc included with a...
and demo
Game demo
A game demo is a freely distributed demonstration or preview of an upcoming or recently released video game. Demos are typically released by the game's publisher to help consumers get a feel of the game before deciding whether to buy the full version....
programs. In August 1996, CD-ROM Today ceased publication, with two magazines taking its place: MacAddict for Macintosh users, and boot (which became Maximum PC) for Windows users.
MacAddict was the first North American magazine focused on the Macintosh to include a CD-ROM with every issue. As was the case with CD-ROM Today, MacAddicts discs included shareware and demo programs, but also came with other added features, such as staff videos and previews of content inside the magazine's hard copy. The MacAddict website was updated daily with news relevant to Apple
Apple Computer
Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad...
products. MacAddict also had a mascot, a stick-figure named Max. In February 2007, MacAddict was relaunched as MacLife. The new magazine is physically larger than the old magazine and was focused on the creativity of Mac users, and no longer comes with a CD-ROM.
Mac|Life has the second largest audited total circulation in North America among Macintosh-focused magazines (with a rate base of 110,000), after Macworld
Macworld
Macworld is a web site and monthly computer magazine dedicated to Apple Macintosh products. It is published by Mac Publishing, which is headquartered in San Francisco, California...
, as well as the second-largest audited newsstand sales.
Current editorial line-up for the magazine and website include: Jon Phillips, editorial director; Paul Curthoys, editor-in-chief; Robin Dick, art director; Susie Ochs, senior editor; Ray Aguilera, reviews editor; Roberto Baldwin, online editor; Nic Vargus, associate editor; and Florence Ion, associate online editor.
Reviewing System
From 1996 to mid-2002, there were four rating icons, which depicted Max. There was "Blech" (the lowest), "Yeah, Whatever" (a mediocre product), "Spiffy" (a solid yet not perfect product), and "Freakin' Awesome" (the highest). From 2002 to 2009, it was replaced by a more conventional five-point system. Then, in 2010, Mac|Life created a 10 point system that included half stars.MacLife Forums
The Web site formerly featured an active message boardInternet forum
An Internet forum, or message board, is an online discussion site where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages. They differ from chat rooms in that messages are at least temporarily archived...
. The forum had over 25,000 registered users and received up to 2,000 posts every day. Discussion ranged on a variety of topics; the magazine itself, computers and gadgets (both made by Apple and otherwise) and more wide-ranging personal and political issues. Around 2005 the forums had started to become neglected, making it difficult to use and causing members to create two independent forums. Its closure was announced on November 13, 2010, and the forum was shut down and erased on November 18th.