Changes to OPN’s Digital Offerings

 
New issues of OPN are no longer being offered in the digital “e-book” edition and mobile app versions. The OPN website will continue to provide top-quality content and an improving user experience to members.
 
We wanted to inform our readers about some changes to the options for accessing Optics & Photonics News in electronic formats. Specifically:

  • Owing to low and declining usage of the products, we will no longer be publishing new issues of OPN in two of its three electronic versions: the digital “e-book” edition, and the mobile-app version available through the Apple App Store and Google Play. The May 2015 OPN is the last issue published and delivered through these channels.
     
  • Going forward, the OPN website, at www.osa-opn.org, will offer the main electronic channel for the magazine’s content. All content for OPN, past and future, will be available there.
     
  • Members/subscribers who wish to access archival content (from June 2009 through May 2015) via the digital e-book edition can continue to do so by logging in at www.osa-opn.org/DigitalEdition/default.aspx. Current users of the OPN mobile app can continue to access issues from June 2009 to May 2015 on that platform.

Why are you no longer publishing OPN in the e-book and app editions?

The e-book edition and mobile app were launched in 2009 as an experiment, and while their initial launch sparked some interest, usage of these products has steadily trended down over the past three years. Regrettably, the number of active users has now reached a level sufficiently low that we can no longer support these products and the time and expense they entail, and we have made the difficult decision to discontinue them. We regret any inconvenience that this might cause to users of those products

Does this mean there's no more electronic access to OPN?

Absolutely not! The good news is that members will still be able to access all of OPN’s content—including features from the monthly print issue in HTML and PDF format, plus additional breaking daily news, arresting optics images, and other features—on the OPN website. What’s more, in the coming months, we’ll be focusing on making the experience of users better and better on the OPN site, with a particular emphasis on improving the site experience on mobile platforms and on highlighting the strong content and visuals that so distinguish the magazine’s print edition. We look forward to continuing to serve our members and readers, both in print and online.
 
Sincerely yours,
 
Stewart Wills
OPN Editor and Content Director