New magazine? Formed by Harris / Bovington / Meaden
Discussion
Drivers Republic is great, I'm really impressed with what is being put together. however a few points,
I prefer the initial presentation that they had (say for the Porsche v GTR v R8 etc) to the pdf-ish version for the Corvette ZR1 feature (bit too Winding Road), the original format differentiates the website even if it is I'm sure more costly.
There is low content on their right now, but it will be only a matter of time before the archive of features and drives builds up.
Some people have complained at the use of videos and flash, and trying to be too much like a print magazine, but this is the future. It is only a matter of time, and I suspect a few months, before most devices are flash enabled, and the good 'ol days of HTML text will be very last generation. Videos are great, bit repetative but I could watch for days! No doubt these are posted on YouTube and this will bring in more new viewers.
Evo hasnt embraced their website, its seems just an advert to buy the magazine, albeit the historic stuff is interesting; and PH design-wise is last century. If DR pushes other websites to up their game that can only be a good thing. Oh, and every magazine-website needs to build a community, you cant just give it up because it starts slowly or you are scared what people may say.
Good luck to the guys, I hope they do well.
I prefer the initial presentation that they had (say for the Porsche v GTR v R8 etc) to the pdf-ish version for the Corvette ZR1 feature (bit too Winding Road), the original format differentiates the website even if it is I'm sure more costly.
There is low content on their right now, but it will be only a matter of time before the archive of features and drives builds up.
Some people have complained at the use of videos and flash, and trying to be too much like a print magazine, but this is the future. It is only a matter of time, and I suspect a few months, before most devices are flash enabled, and the good 'ol days of HTML text will be very last generation. Videos are great, bit repetative but I could watch for days! No doubt these are posted on YouTube and this will bring in more new viewers.
Evo hasnt embraced their website, its seems just an advert to buy the magazine, albeit the historic stuff is interesting; and PH design-wise is last century. If DR pushes other websites to up their game that can only be a good thing. Oh, and every magazine-website needs to build a community, you cant just give it up because it starts slowly or you are scared what people may say.
Good luck to the guys, I hope they do well.
mantra said:
Some people have complained at the use of videos and flash, and trying to be too much like a print magazine, but this is the future. It is only a matter of time, and I suspect a few months, before most devices are flash enabled, and the good 'ol days of HTML text will be very last generation.
Yes, right. Text is so last generation. That must be why no-one buys books any more, or participates in text-based online motoring forums. Oh, hang on...If you're talking about devices, are you saying that DR works well on (say) an iPhone or Eee PC? Let alone a mainstream phone.
I imagine that the only "device" DR works well on is a magazine-sized high-resolution LCD connected to a fast PC. I have several in front of me now, but I'd much rather read a paper magazine.
I love video content - Chris's Autocar TV stuff was great. But embedding a 8 second cornering video into a magazine-style turny-page paradigm is just gimmicky.
Lots of things are "the future" but never actually materialize. I'm still waiting for my flying car plus robot-brained monkey butler-chauffeur, but not holding my breath.
HundredthIdiot said:
mantra said:
Some people have complained at the use of videos and flash, and trying to be too much like a print magazine, but this is the future. It is only a matter of time, and I suspect a few months, before most devices are flash enabled, and the good 'ol days of HTML text will be very last generation.
Yes, right. Text is so last generation. That must be why no-one buys books any more, or participates in text-based online motoring forums. Oh, hang on...If you're talking about devices, are you saying that DR works well on (say) an iPhone or Eee PC? Let alone a mainstream phone.
I imagine that the only "device" DR works well on is a magazine-sized high-resolution LCD connected to a fast PC. I have several in front of me now, but I'd much rather read a paper magazine.
I love video content - Chris's Autocar TV stuff was great. But embedding a 8 second cornering video into a magazine-style turny-page paradigm is just gimmicky.
Lots of things are "the future" but never actually materialize. I'm still waiting for my flying car plus robot-brained monkey butler-chauffeur, but not holding my breath.
Edited by waynepixel on Monday 8th September 17:03
Can we get back to Video's for a second? Arn't Video's just about the most important part of an on-line auto-journal? I'm pretty sure they are, or at least should be, no? Indeed, shouldn't road car tests be more like this one evo did?....
From evo...
http://www.evo.co.uk/videos/planetevovideos/216963...
Why should video's be on tracks? I mean look at what Richard found in this video that the Impreza actually handled the challenging roads better than the Lambo. I mean if track work is all thats done we might as well just get DR to bring the Dodge Viper and Corvette to Silverstone as they will easily lap it cleanest and fastest..but whats the point? Have road testers become track testers and in so doing lost the essence of their jobs? thanks, JL
From evo...
http://www.evo.co.uk/videos/planetevovideos/216963...
Why should video's be on tracks? I mean look at what Richard found in this video that the Impreza actually handled the challenging roads better than the Lambo. I mean if track work is all thats done we might as well just get DR to bring the Dodge Viper and Corvette to Silverstone as they will easily lap it cleanest and fastest..but whats the point? Have road testers become track testers and in so doing lost the essence of their jobs? thanks, JL
Edited by j123 on Monday 8th September 19:40
Actually your right the Audi R8 which is based on the Lambo would be a better comparison- and yes it can handle wales roads. Amazing how all anyone wants to do is hang on to the status quo. The man finds an angle from which to form an argument as to why video's of road cars driven on real roads is not such a great idea!!! Love it. JL
Now will on line zine's make sense to the toilet dwellers?...
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/08/technology/08ink...
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/08/technology/08ink...
j123 said:
Now will on line zine's make sense to the toilet dwellers?...
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/08/technology/08ink...
A potentially good solution, if you don't mind monochrome. Still gets beaten by a magazine, in that you don't have to turn the magazine off during takeoff and landing, and if it gets nicked you've only lost a fiver.http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/08/technology/08ink...
j123 said:
Now will on line zine's make sense to the toilet dwellers?...
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/08/technology/08ink...
Not until those things have the processing power to cope with flash, which they don't. Plus they're black and white.http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/08/technology/08ink...
Looking forward to reading that article, I'm sure it'll hit sooner or later! There does seem to have been a fair bit more activity of late, to the point where I've now got a few things I haven't gotten around to reading yet..... but I still wish there was more content if only because I think its top notch!
Well well...
I'm pretty sure no one here has been more critical and downright angry than myself about DR. Indeed I thought the boys just about let their ego's get the best of them...but alas somewhere somehow they changed....
I've just had a look at their newest video of the C63/M3/Lexus, and its very very good. I'd say its about the best performance road car video I've yet seen from anyone. Granted its about 5 months late, but they actually did it.
Harris has let his arrogance down a very good bit and its just three great drivers and three (well maybe 2 cars) great cars- on the best of roads, and direct talk about what they can do...and for real this time- actually on video for time.
I'd say if they can turn maybe 1 or 2 of these tests out each month they will make it big. These video's could be the standard bearers for anyone on the internet who want the real deal on what the best cars can do.
What also makes it work is that they act like 3 regular people with bright, and alive personalities- something autocar, evo and the like won't be able to copy. They have got something. Congratulations. Been dreaming of such a thing since my first call to Barker 20 years ago. I asked him, tell me what the cars were really like? Granted he often did a damn fine job telling me.
Note for Rich. I can remember about decade ago pleading with you to make tests with this level of specificity and you basically told me to blank off. Well I'm glad you have, and I hope you make it.
I'm pretty sure no one here has been more critical and downright angry than myself about DR. Indeed I thought the boys just about let their ego's get the best of them...but alas somewhere somehow they changed....
I've just had a look at their newest video of the C63/M3/Lexus, and its very very good. I'd say its about the best performance road car video I've yet seen from anyone. Granted its about 5 months late, but they actually did it.
Harris has let his arrogance down a very good bit and its just three great drivers and three (well maybe 2 cars) great cars- on the best of roads, and direct talk about what they can do...and for real this time- actually on video for time.
I'd say if they can turn maybe 1 or 2 of these tests out each month they will make it big. These video's could be the standard bearers for anyone on the internet who want the real deal on what the best cars can do.
What also makes it work is that they act like 3 regular people with bright, and alive personalities- something autocar, evo and the like won't be able to copy. They have got something. Congratulations. Been dreaming of such a thing since my first call to Barker 20 years ago. I asked him, tell me what the cars were really like? Granted he often did a damn fine job telling me.
Note for Rich. I can remember about decade ago pleading with you to make tests with this level of specificity and you basically told me to blank off. Well I'm glad you have, and I hope you make it.
mgp1969 said:
phatgixer]I like Jethro's writing. [/footnote said:
really? used to subscribe to evo but found his stuff tedious in the extremeEdited by j123 on Saturday 25th October 09:43
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