MacLife
{{Short description|Magazine focused on Macintosh personal computers}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox magazine
| title = MacLife
| image_file = MacLife July 2024 cover.webp
| image_caption = Cover of the July 2024 issue
| editor = Nick Odantzis {{cite web|title=About Us – MacLife|url=http://www.maclife.com/about_us|publisher=MacLife|access-date=June 28, 2014}}
| frequency = monthly
| category = Mac and iOS computing
| company = Future US
| firstdate = September 1996 (as MacAddict)
February 2007 (as MacLife)
| finaldate =
| country = United States
| based = South San Francisco, CA
| language = English
| website = {{URL|www.maclife.com}}
| issn = 1935-4010
}}
MacLife (stylized as Mac|Life) is an American monthly magazine published by Future US. It focuses on products produced by Apple, including the Macintosh personal computer, iPad, and iPhone. It was sold as a print product on newsstands, but is now a digital-only product distributed through Magazines Direct and the Mac|Life app, the latter of which can be obtained via the App Store. From September 1996 until February 2007, the magazine was known as MacAddict.
History
MacLife is one of two successor magazines to the defunct CD-ROM Today. 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 (now Maximum PC) for Windows users.{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1996_March_11/ai_18079665|title=Good News for Macintosh Consumers: Imagine Publishing Announces its second phase in the evolution of CD-ROM Today|work=Business Wire|date=1996-03-11|access-date=2008-04-04}}
As was the case with CD-ROM Today, MacAddict's 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. By 1998, MacAddict had surpassed Macworld as the Macintosh magazine with the highest consumer newsstand spending due to its $7.99 cover price.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/MacAddict+Magazine+Surpasses+Macworld+Magazine+in+Consumer+Newsstand...-a053162240 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305104717/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/MacAddict+Magazine+Surpasses+Macworld+Magazine+in+Consumer+Newsstand...-a053162240 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |title=MacAddict Magazine Surpasses Macworld Magazine in Consumer Newsstand Spending |website=The Free Library}}
In February 2007, MacAddict was relaunched as MacLife.{{cite news|url=http://www.macobserver.com/article/2006/10/09.8.shtml|title=MacAddict Rep Discusses New Magazine|publisher=MacObserver|first=Brad|last=Cook|date=2006-10-09|access-date=2006-10-10}}{{cite news|url=http://www.macworld.com/news/2006/10/06/macaddict/index.php|title=MacAddict to rebrand as MacLife|publisher=Macworld|first=Peter|last=Cohen|date=2006-10-06|access-date=2006-10-23}} The new magazine had physically larger print editions than the old magazine, was focused on the creativity of Mac users, and no longer came with a CD-ROM.
In April 2023, MacLife issued its last print edition and switched to a digital-only format.{{Cite web |last=McCracken |first=Harry |date=2023-04-15 |title=The End of Computer Magazines in America |url=https://www.technologizer.com/2023/04/15/the-end-of-computer-magazines-in-america/ |access-date=2023-04-15 |website=Technologizer by Harry McCracken |language=en-US}}
In Germany, an unrelated magazine of the same name is published by Falkemedia from Kiel ({{ISSN|1860-9988}}).
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 imperfect product), and "Freakin' Awesome" (the highest). From 2002 to 2009, it was replaced with a more conventional five-point system. In 2010, MacLife adopted a 10-point system that included half stars.
See also
- MacFormat – sister publication published in the United Kingdom
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.maclife.com|MacLife}} – official site
- Archived MacAddict magazines on the Internet Archive
{{Future plc}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maclife}}
Category:Computer magazines published in the United States
Category:Monthly magazines published in the United States