Inconsistent access to MEW archive

But if, as stated by Neil "the archives are not a significant source of income", what is MTM's objection to the old 'Flash' issues being put into a more accessible format, even with the 'risk' of them being pirated?

The demand for them, as perceived by MTM, is seemingly low and thus should be as unattractive to the pirates as it is to MTM.

I have more sympathy with the position regarding current HTML5 issues but the older archives can surely be treated as a separate, low financial risk, issue.

As a Business I would think it quite obvious that MTM are not keen to do something that may cost them more than they are likely to get back, even more so with the current loss of income from extended publication frequency and loss of advertising that is going to take some time to recover from.

Who's to say what a more readable format is going to be in the future, everone could read Flash 5-10yrs ago, will we even be using PDF's in 5-10yrs time? Even if it does get upgraded there will still be moans from those that insist on running Windows 7 or earlier operating systems that they can't view the newer formats but I bet they would not go into Blockbusters and moan that the VHS tape they just hired won't fit in their betamax machine!

Knowing that Model engineers don't like to spend money it seems obvious to me that they will want to buy a pirate copy of the archive for less that £10 than take out a years digital subscription for £38 for only one years access.

Edited By JasonB on 21/04/2020 07:35:42

I am setting up a workshop in retirement in order to restore and maintain my Austin Sevens, so my interest is very much focused on the basics. If the MEW archive had a searchable index and I could access specific articles, as opposed to entire editions of the magazine, I would pay for that. If I download a pdf I am fairly sure Adobe has the wherewithal to stamp my copy so if I start selling them off down the virtual pub you can get me bang to rights. Would I email a copy to a friend? Yes I would. Does this deprive the publisher of income? Strictly, yes, but if my friend is impressed by the quality of the content and its production and takes out his own subscription, then maybe I am simply acting as an unpaid salesman for the publisher.

By the end of 2020 Flash will no longer be supported. It will be actively blocked on all mainstream web browsers and all operating systems that receive regular security updates. Pointing out that Windows XP or Windows 95 or whatever run flash is futile.

**LINK**.

The end of life for flash was something widely reported at least in the technical community elsewhere nearly three years ago, so more than adequate warning. The views of Steve Jobs on the matter were known about a decade ago.

**LINK**

Flash currently, across all versions, has 1078 documented security vulnerabilities. So just reflect on that figure or one brief moment. ONE THOUSAND AND SEVENTY EIGHT security vulnerabilities

**LINK**

That leaves the end user with the choice of having access with a security compromised out of date operating system / browser, or losing access.

Of course where might be workarounds with virtual machines used only for magazine access.

Flash is at the moment patched several times a year, often once a month, come the end of the year it won't. Accidentally access a rogue site because you had to keep flash to read 'your favourite magazine' and it could lead to no end of grief both for you and for those say in your email client address book.

The question for the user is do you feel lucky.?

The request to the providers of flash content is PLEASE do the responsible thing. Flash is very dead, or soon will be. Expecting your subscribers to compromise security to read 'paid for content' IS IMHO irresponsible.

I can understand MTM's reluctance to pay for the effort of translating the archive material from Flash to HTML5 given that the income from that would be practically zero. However, I presume that they have access to the original scans in PDF format or something easily translated.

The argument against making the archive available in an easily saved format is that it would help the pirates. On the contrary, assuming pirate copies are already in the wild, it would reduce the income of the pirates as their pirate copies would become worthless. Putting PDF copies on the site would be a very simple exercise and cost very little. Agreed there will be little return except for keeping their customer base happy.

Russell

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Which is generally estimated to be about ten times more cost-effective than recruiting new customers.

MichaelG.

Correction: typical figures seem to be around 6x these days.

MichaelG.

.... yet would it be economically viable to do so?

What I think ought to be possible - probably need Adobe to do it - is to have a pdf that will "lock" itself to the machine that it is downloaded to and refuse to open on any other.

Hey, computers can do anything with the right programming can't they?

I was being ironic about the MEW private eye tracking me down to exact justice. I assume MEW would like me to renew my three month digital subscription when it expires in June. It provides a 100% contribution to their fixed costs. Will I do so with only limited access to the archive? Not sure.

Incidentally, Adobe PDF docs can be time limited, i.e. they can be made to go phutt after a set number of days or weeks. I think that might sort it, and pdf has an excellent search utility.

Ah, I see. That old adjective "ironic" - always miss that.

My apologies, Colin ... it wasn't obvious to me.

Edited By Bandersnatch on 21/04/2020 22:59:32

I am quite sure I miss a lot more irony than I'd like to think I do. However, it's probably much less socially disastrous to assume someone's being serious when they're not than to reckon somebody is having a laugh when they are in fact being deadly serious.

Colin if you want an index of articles then this one should help an at least point you to the right issue and page.

Hi all

I am dithering on taking up the latest offer to subscribe. One of the attractive things for me though is access to the archive, and possibly the potential to print off articles....and that in itself seems problematic.

It does appear though that there are difficulties with reading or accessing the archives, I am not very computer literate and I am reasonably confident that I would not have the skills, or the patience! to be able to resolve it. I find trying to resolve silly issues with computers a frustrating time wasting exercise to be honest. There seems to be too many variables that needs to be in place before a user can access these archives, it must be a simple way isn't there?

I am in the process of culling my old copies of ME and extracting useful information that interests me. I am not sure if I want to start collecting more hard copies (even if it is MEW!) Hence the choice of digital format plus archives is my preferred option but......

Regards to all

Derek

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Neatly summed-up in one word, Derek

MichaelG.

Thanks Jason, good tip on the index. The problem of the text resolution remains, for me at least.

I think Derek Hall and I are of a mind and so wonder if we are typical of the majority of the readership? If we are, converting the Flash dependent archive to pdf would seem a good way of rewarding loyal subscribers, and the more recent HTML5 versions can remain secure, and their numbers will grow as time goes by.

My understanding was that if we produced a DVD of back issues, they would have to be re-scanned.

I have to admit some of the archive issues are not outstanding quality, albeit readable.

Neil

Pointed to this from my similar question in the M.E. subforum - now that Flash is completely dead, what is the solution?

Neil, you mentioned in the previous discussion in this thread that the archive wasn't likely to be migrated to HTML5, but then in my thread in the main M.E. subforum you said that it was half-way done.

Is it still in progress?

Yes still in progress as mentioned in several more recent threads than this one.

thanks JasonB - if it's half done and started in January, presumably that means it's probably a few months away? It seems that ME is only back to ~4600 so presumably MEW was started first?

Edited By William Ayerst on 02/03/2021 16:39:07

Yes