I swear this is totally coincidental, but less than 24 hours after the marketing machine that is Apple unveiled it's latest toy, the very first iPhone compatible (and, ultimately, I assume iPad compatible) issue of GCM has hit our digital newsstands.
As you may or may not already know, the first fully digital edition of GCM launched in July of 2009. It's an exact replication of the printed magazine, complete with live Web links in both advertising and editorial, the ability to share stories or entire issues through a variety of sources and capabilities that include embedded video and audio. If you haven't seen it, I suggest you head over and check it out right now.
An extension of that step into the digital world is the unveiling of the iPhone version of GCM. Now, this isn't a separate app that you need to download. In essence, this is a mobile-enabled version specifically for the iPhone (don't worry, Blackberry users. Our provider, Advanced Publishing, will have your version up and running in no time). You'll just open Safari, type in the URL http://digitalgcm.gcsaa.org and you're off and running.
I'm interested to hear what some of you iPhone owners out there think of this. We're excited to offer it up, but wonder just how many users out there would really flip through the pages of GCM on their phones. I can see making a quick check of a story here or there, but how many of you would really read an entire feature story on your iPhone? Make your voice heard!
In other news ...
- Two new additions to our list of super bloggers — Josh Heptig, who oversees maintenance as the Class A superintendent for the three courses run by California's San Luis Obispo County, and Rick Munro, a former superintendent who now runs Greenside Environmental Services in Canada. Heptig is a 10-year GCSAA member using his blog to inform golfers about conditions and work being done on all three courses under his direction — Morro Bay, Daisy Creek and Chalk Mountain. Plus, he's a Kansas State (EMAW!) grad, so he obviously has something good going for him. Munro's blog typically focuses on environmental issues on golf courses. We welcome both to the blogging fold!
- We'll start beating you over the head with this soon enough, but both this blog and our Twitter account (@GCM_Magazine) are going to be hopping during the GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show. I hit the road next Wednesday for the GCSAA National Championship and Golf Classic in Palm Springs, and I'll begin updating you from there on Thursday. Then, you can check both regularly beginning Monday, Feb. 8 for the most in-depth reporting on all the activities in San Diego.
I was interested to read I would be able to view the GCM magazing on my iPhone. As I am an international greenkeeper in the USA and a (Penn State) student member of the GCSAA I can only view the magazine over the web any way. I am interested in this new technology and will keep it close at hand especially while the Golf Industry Show is in San Diego. Unfortunately, I just tried a few times to log on the the web site and was unable to do so. With any luck it is an issue my end. I look forward to reading more blogs from this site.
Posted by: James seisun | January 28, 2010 at 11:48 PM