Silicon Chip Magazine - new website - thoughts? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Agent24
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2012, 02:58:10 am
content: It's been known for a while (at least by me) that Silicon Chip wanted to "Upgrade\Update" their website.Today I noticed this has finally happened.Personally I think the old site looked better than the new one. The new one looks like it came straight out of 1998 and should be hosted on Geocities.Functionality wise it works OK, but it sure doesn't look as nice as the old one. I fail to see what was even so wrong and "outdated" about the old one anyway...Old:http://archive.siliconchip.com.au/New:http://siliconchip.com.au/What do you think?

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 23, 2012, 03:33:49 am
content: Both sights are deep into the category "SUCKY"!Although they are trying hard I don't think Silicon Chip HQ have quite worked out how to have a site on the Interweb that enhances their print offering. They are so hung up on what they perceive may detract from their existing revenue model that they've missed the boat completely on the potential earner a web site could be.On the positive side their recent efforts to make PCBs and front panels available for their projects is a good move.

author: Agent24
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2012, 04:42:13 am
content: Quote from: Uncle Vernon on December 23, 2012, 03:33:49 amI think they were forced to after RCS closed.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 23, 2012, 04:57:02 am
content: Quote from: Agent24 on December 23, 2012, 04:42:13 amThat may well be true, however the current situation has many possible benefits for SC.

author: ttp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2012, 06:45:49 am
content: In my opinion it went from bad to worse. I never considered their web contents usable except for downloads section. Now this is gone, you have to scroll through articles and everything pops up in new tab/window... I don't have printed December issue, is the "Circuit Ideas" section in December? Not according to new website.Thumbs down, sorry SC.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 23, 2012, 10:42:09 am
content: Very old school indeed!I do like how it shows the first page or two of every article in back issues, with the text scaling depending on how big your screen is.Dave.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 23, 2012, 10:43:44 am
content: They don't tell you if purchased back issues come as PDF's or not.Dave.

author: ttp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2012, 07:38:50 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on December 23, 2012, 10:43:44 amAs far as my experience goes they think .PDF format is evil.

author: ttp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2012, 07:45:50 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on December 23, 2012, 10:42:09 amNot so hot on netbook's 10 inch screen, I'm not going to try it on my phone....

author: N TYPE
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2012, 02:17:39 pm
content: Yeah I think the older site is actually better than the new one.#83 "Do You Suck At Hardware Or Software?" - I think the website was designed by a hardware engineer

author: steve30
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2012, 04:43:48 pm
content: I had a look at both and thought the new one is quite good. It is informative and easy to use.Only issue is it looks really old fashioned. Much more so than the old site.

author: Circuitous
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 26, 2012, 11:22:06 pm
content: I've long wanted to say something nice about the Silicon Chip site, and I had hoped the new site would give me that opportunity.But, no chance. The best I can do is agree with the previous comment of "from bad to worse" and throw in a "FAIL!".I've only had the digital version of the magazine, unless I see it in a store (which is rare in Kansas City). The previous site wasn't great, but the new site is pretty much unreadable on a laptop.So, unless they really do make improvements, then this is my last year of supporting them.

author: aldar
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 02, 2013, 06:34:10 pm
content: I find the new web site very dissapointing, virtually unuseable. I can't use it on my tablet or netbook and even on the laptop it does not work properly. I can zoom in but then I can't turn the pages! Even on the "full screen"view there is still half the page taken up with a red index.This website would have been poor 5 years ago.I will be asking for a refund of my subscription if it is not improved.

author: Circuitous
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 02, 2013, 06:37:29 pm
content: I sent an email to Silicon Chip magazine last week. No response so far.

author: larry42
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2013, 08:52:10 pm
content: Wow the new site is an aesthetic cluster frig and does not scale correctly on my Jelly Bean powered phone.The old one was at least slightly less amateur-hour looking.--Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 09, 2013, 03:46:27 am
content: FYI, I got a call from Leo Simpson the other day and he mentioned the site. He wanted people to know that it's in early "beta" (and not formally announced) and they are aware of all the feedback on it, and are looking to hire someone to improve it.Dave.

author: johnboxall
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 09, 2013, 03:52:59 am
content: SC is run by less than a handful of people, so considering the resources they have available it's a good start. Give them a few months to work with feedback and see what happens.

author: vk6hdx
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2013, 05:39:59 am
content: I think its great that they are finally going to offer the "full" version of the publication on the web, rather than what was previously on offer. Although the website does look like it needs a lot of work!Though is it just me or is the font quality of the standard text on sample pages extremely blurry? Really fatiguing on the eyes.They seem to be using PDF files somehow embedded in the website, I do hope that you will be able to download & read them offline somehow.

author: johnboxall
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 11, 2013, 05:57:16 am
content: In paid mode you can zoom in and out. This is four times zoom - looks ok:

author: vk6hdx
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2013, 06:00:19 am
content: Quote from: tronixstuff on January 11, 2013, 05:57:16 amAhh much nicer, thanks

author: Psychaotix
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 12, 2013, 03:06:57 am
content: I have to admit, the old site was better, by quite a significant amount! It was nigh perfect for viewing on an iPad, mostly because of the fact that it didn't need flash or anything to do it.As for downloading issues, you can't do that at all, as mentioned in their FAQ...Q: Can I save the online edition to my computer as a PDF file?A: Not currently. We would like to provide such features but are concerned that they would encourage unauthorised distribution of the magazine.So, I honestly don't see this happening at all, which is sad, because that's one of the features that would definitely convince me to use the digital edition, so I didn't have to wreck the magazine.

author: ttp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2013, 09:11:47 am
content: Just visited Silicon Chip website to see what's in June issue. June issue is not there (1st of June today...) so I've browsed May and noticed there is no more free downloads.For years you could download PCB layouts (PDF, not gerbers), firmware as hex files and sometimes source for free. No more, it's $3.00 per file now. I wonder what they expect to achieve?

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2013, 09:53:25 am
content: Quote from: ttp on June 01, 2013, 09:11:47 amTo make a bit of money, milking the cow as long as it isn't dead.

author: johnboxall
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 02, 2013, 12:04:52 am
content: To all the people who aren't happy with the new SC site - what would you do differently (bearing in mind it's a for-profit magazine)?Sent from my GT-N8020 using Tapatalk 2

author: Circuitous
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 02, 2013, 12:19:01 am
content: To be blunt, just make the online magazine readable. The site design is pure crap.I do want the site to be profitable, but the only way that can happen is if it's usable.There's been a lot of similar feedback about the site. Why ask for comments when no improvements have been made?I tried the site again today, and I repeat the request I made months ago... please refund my subscription. The digital edition has been worthless since the day the new site went online.

author: ttp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2013, 07:22:01 am
content: Quote from: tronixstuff on June 02, 2013, 12:04:52 amFor a start have June edition on the website at least on 1st of June, preferably a week before 1st. I'm able to buy printed edition before the 1st so they got all PDFs and other materials ready week or two before end of month. I think the time paper gets printed and distributed all over the country is enough to update website.

author: ttp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2013, 08:17:21 am
content: Quote from: Circuitous on June 02, 2013, 12:19:01 amI don't like your chances, Leo has already spent your money... Just a joke, keep trying and I hope you'll get your money back.

author: Precisiontools
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2013, 09:14:22 am
content: Is this thing even still relevant? It wasn't when I took a look through it about 8 years ago...

author: sotos
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2013, 11:59:19 am
content: You can’t print the schematics. If you try, you print the whole web page with the schematic very small. No use. If you want to construct the circuit, you can’t print it and have it on the bench.

author: sotos
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2013, 12:07:11 pm
content: I have purchased the April 2012 issue for a circuit I wanted. I lost my money. I can’t print the circuit diagram, I can only see it on line and try to remember what I saw, to continue.

author: johnboxall
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 02, 2013, 12:51:02 pm
content: Quote from: sotos on June 02, 2013, 12:07:11 pmJust zoom in a bit, take some screen dumps and print (etc) them.

author: murray78
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 04, 2013, 08:20:16 am
content: As a way around paying AUD$3 for a PCB pdf or the source code.http://web.archive.org/web/20121030233902/http://www.siliconchip.com.au/menu_2366/cms/attachments/index.htmlBut this only gets you to Oct 2012.

author: Colin55
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2016, 07:28:27 pm
content: I have watched Silicon Chip decline and decline over the past 15 years.Our local newsagent had 70 copies each month, some 15 years ago and now gets 7 copies.This topic has not been addressed for the past 2 years! That's the interest in SC.I offered to supply SC with new projects for the beginner. I even offered to supply AT NO COST.They were not even slightly interested.The only reason they are surviving is due to the fact that they are selling all their copy to Everyday Practical Electronics in the UK where it is published in its entirely 12 months later !!!!I offered to supply projects to EPE but they have closed down their technical section.It's just two magazines surviving on advertising and presenting a picture of success when the reality is the purchased copies has dropped to a point of unsustainability.No beginners are buying the magazines as there are no projects and no-one is buying any kits as I have written to the kit advertisers and the sales are nil.I don't know what they think they are doing, but it hasn't worked as EPE has a forum that gets one reply each 3 days and no replies for 12 months for their "Teach-in" series.If you look at the PCB sales for Silicon chip, you will see 3-7 boards sold on 18 months for many of the projects.I sold 30,000 kits for just one of the FM bugs I designed for Talking Electronics Magazine.How times have changed.

author: johnboxall
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 14, 2016, 10:42:48 pm
content: Colin, lighten up. I realise you have over 30 years in the field, however the hobbyist electronics market is going along nicely considering the other distractions for people these days.SC do accept new kits and projects. I count four projects in SC April issue, along with four reader-submitted circuits. Maybe you have some issues between yourself and SC/EA from your TE magazine days. Kits are selling. Altronics, Jaycar, and others wouldn't be releasing new kits every month if the market was dead.

author: rrinker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2016, 01:32:39 am
content: Eh, they've been saying Model Railroading as a hobby has been dying or dead for 50 years now, and that's a much smaller hobby than electronics. I don't think there's any danger of the electronic hobby dying any time soon. The approach may be different - I started with basic electricity, lights, switches, and batteries, and progressed to the multi kits, first a 20 in one, then 100 in one, and finally a 150 in one, as well as individual components and also kits. Culminating (pre college) with building my own computer. Who does that any more? Current processors are far too complex (not to mention, how does a beginner home hobbyist solder a BGA?). Installing components in a case isn't 'building' a computer, it's assembling parts (I always 'assemble' my own, never buy commercial). Things are getting complex for complexities sake - there's an awful lot of bashing of 8 bit micros, with lots of people saying "just use ARM cores". Why in the world would you need a 32 bit ARM core to run a gadget with a few pushbuttons and some blinky lights? That first computer I built, I still have, it still works even. I still remember most of the 91 instructions it had. Happen to check how many instructions there are in a current gen Intel or AMD processor? They are pretty much impossible to program without some higher level language. They have to be powerful to handle the layer upon layers of bells and whistles that keep getting added to every OS and application. There's a fellow who took that old CPU from my first computer and build an Arduino compatible (shield pinout) controller. He actually had it hooked up to the internet serving a simple game. That thing runs at about 2MHz, simple 8 bit microprocessor with support logic. And it worked. Simply amazing.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 15, 2016, 03:28:54 am
content: Quote from: Colin55 on April 14, 2016, 07:28:27 pmSC turned down my uWatch project, said no one would be interested in it. I sold more kits of that watch than every project in SC combined that year I'm sureI think it was just a too "weird" for them.QuoteMy uCurrent article got republished in EPE without my permission. Never got paid for it.QuoteIt's sad to see, but probably inevitable with the glut of competition on the web.But I can't talk down SC though, I like Leo, he's worked hard for decades to produce that mag and keep it going, and he has published several of my projects and articles. hats off to him for keeping it going so long and producing a quality publication.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 15, 2016, 07:15:01 am
content: As someone who have never visited the Silicon Chip website, I have to say the new sitelooksbetter and easier to navigate while still retaining that "old school" HTML feel. Whether it's any more/less functional, I couldn't tell you.

author: BradC
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2016, 09:10:35 am
content: Quote from: Colin55 on April 14, 2016, 07:28:27 pmJust a brief aside to say thanks. I still have all my bugs, books and a good number of old printed TE magazines. I already had an interest in electronics, but your content stepped it up an order of magnitude. I even sent my Dad to pick up some kits in person when he went East and he still tells a story of getting lost trying to find your premises.

author: Tandy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2016, 10:23:18 am
content: All this talk of the death of electronics (as a hobby) is only partly true.Many things have changed in the world, when I was a kid most of us would have a home made go cart made from a few planks of wood, some old pram wheels and steered using an old piece of rope. You don't see that sort of thing today as kids that do have something to ride on probably have a scale model of a BMW complete with its own battery powered motor. Kids wouldn't be impressed with a plank of wood with old pram wheels today, most wouldn't be than impressed with a model car either, they would rather have their own tablet or smartphone to play a racing game on. But if your kid wanted a ride-on toy, what would you do, spend hours finding all the parts, weeks carefully crafting it and painting it so it didn't look like cobbled together scrap? No I expect like most people you would go to the toy shop or on-line and just order a ready made one.We have seen the same thing in the world of electronics, I bet even those of you who get great satisfaction out of building stuff often end up buying cheap ready made stuff. Why build a timer for watering your greenhouse with $20 worth of parts and a few hours of soldering, coding & troubleshooting when you can get one for $10 on eBay? The only reason you are going to do it is if you want to learn something or simply enjoy rolling your own. Very few kids today would be impressed with a flashing LED or a home made AM radio that can pick up the remaining 5 stations still broadcast on AM. After all they can get thousands of radio stations streamed live on their computer, easy!Most practical hobbies have seen a similar decline, the global market means that cheap ready made goods are available to everyone. Computer technology continues to improve and get more portable meaning many things can be done in the virtual software world. People have many more leisure activity options available to them, don't like what is on the TV tonight? stream a movie that you do want to watch. You don't have to go out and stand on a train platform writing down engine numbers just to kill some time because you have nothing better to do.However despite the huge decline in practical activities there is still a sizeable niche. There are still people, and I think there always will be who are curious, we want to know how things work, taking things apart to see how they work, trying to improve them and making our own. Many people get bored with the virtual world and want to do something practical with their hands. People take up sewing, mechanics, electronics, some even rediscover old technologies like film photography and CDs/Vinyl recordings, not just because of some audiophoolery idea that it is somehow better, but because it is being in touch with the physical process that makes them work.So electronics is a niche, and so are printed magazines for that matter. Within the hobby there is a diverse range of interests and skill levels and it will be difficult for a magazine like silicon chip to cater to them all. The fact that we are on this forum and watching Dave's youtube videos just goes to show how the way we get information and ideas has changed. Do you subscribe to a magazine, or when was the last time you picked one up at a newsagent? Come to think of it I don't think I have even been in a newsagent for many years. It is trends like this that the magazines have to compete against and it is not going to be easy for them. Silicon Chip magazine have done remarkably well to hold on as long as they have, EPE magazine as has been mentioned is mostly made up of Silicon Chip articles and is run by a small publisher. Any large publisher would have shut EPE magazine down long ago for making too little profit for them. I am glad that these magazine still hold on but I do think that they are all run by people who are clinging on to a model that worked well 20 years ago and don't really know how to reach out to a new generation. In saying that I don't have the answers for them but they are going to suffer if they don't find ways to capture the interest of another generation.Electronics is not dead, it is has just changed and is a much more difficult niche to run a successful business in. Some companies like Adafruit are doing quite well out of it by concentrating on a particular type of hobbyist and people like Dave seem to be doing a good job of educating and entertaining people wile making a reasonable living from it.

author: hendorog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2016, 10:25:53 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on April 15, 2016, 03:28:54 amAnd that is the problem - they just sit there publishing audio amp projects and miss all of the interesting stuff happening. 3d printers, arduino, FPV/drones all passed them by. Jaycar are just as useless. They wake up 3 years too late.Both of those organisations need some young blood or they are brown bread.