====INTRODUCTION==== Our lead story this month is a rather sad one. Power Systems Design Europe has been a remarkable success story in a tough market. It demonstrated just how much a small team of people could achieve in print and web publishing and, in a market where it was widely perceived that there was no room for a new print publication, Bodo Arlt, Julia Stocks and Jim Graham drove it into profit and earned the support of many of the leading companies in the power electronics business. Now they've fallen out - and I haven't spoken to anyone who thinks there is room for 3 specialist power magazines in the European market - the rival Power Electronics Europe has been established for some years. Maybe the market is wrong and they will all succeed, at least to some degree, against the odds. A response to Paul Miller's (CMP) SOAPBOX feature in last month's issue comes from Alberto Taddei of Italy's Elettronica Oggi. Paul argued strongly for BPA audits. Alberto thinks that there may be a more useful audit system. I think that it's only readership that really counts in the end! Onto the news.... ====Power struggle in Europe - new editor for Power Systems Design Europe==== Founding editor of Power System Design Europe, Bodo Arlt, has left the publication following a falling out with his US-based partners, Julia Stocks and Jim Graham. The disagreement was over financial matters and responsibilities. Bodo has set up his own web site and published a print issue of a new publication, Bodo's Power Systems. Meanwhile, Power Systems Design Europe has announced the appointment of Cliff Keys as editor-in-chief. Cliff brings over 20 years' engineering and marketing experience to the role. He is based in Munich and will work closely with the Power Systems Design China editor, Liu Hong, we are told. The June print issues of both Bodo's Power Systems and Power Systems Design Europe have the same cover style and the same photograph, and both publishers claim to have the support of most advertisers. Bodo has said that, unlike previous years, he will publish separate July and August issues this year. **CONTACTS (in alphabetical order!)**\\ Bodo's Power Systems\\ Advertising and editorial: Bodo Arlt, publishing editor, \\ Power Systems Design Europe\\ Editorial: Cliff Keys, editor in chief, \\ Advertising: Julia Stocks, publisher, \\ ====EDN gets new analogue technical editor==== Paul Rako has joined EDN as analog technical editor. He comes from National Semiconductor, where he was a senior applications manager specialising in amplifiers and filters. “Paul is going to be an outstanding addition to the EDN editorial team,” said Maury Wright, EDN's editor-in-chief. “Paul offers the perfect mix of traditional analog design experience with a firm belief in breadboards and prototyping, and he also knows where and how computer tools such as Spice should be applied. He will offer readers a mix of hands-on tutorials and exhaustive analyses of analog ICs and technologies from the vendor community.” **CONTACTS**\\ Editorial: Maury Wright, editor-in-chief, \\ Advertising: John Schirmer, group publisher, \\ ====EDN collects awards==== EDN won three national first-place awards in the 28th Annual Awards of Excellence competition of the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE). EDN took the top prize for Best Regular Department of the Year for its Prying Eyes department; Best Redesign of the Year, based on its June 9, 2005, issue; and Best Computer-Generated Cover Art of the Year for its Aug 18, 2005, cover. ASBPE’s annual competition recognizes the hard work and commitment of business and trade-magazine professionals, newsletter and Web editors, and designers. With twice the number of entries as any other national business-publication award contest for editorial and design excellence, the “Azbee” awards claim to represent a competitive and prestigious program. **CONTACTS**\\ Editorial: Maury Wright, editor-in-chief, \\ Advertising: John Schirmer, group publisher, \\ ====Disruptive companies in the Embedded Market, a soapbox opportunity==== At the Embedded Systems Conference Boston (September 25-28, 2006), EETimes and Embedded Systems Design magazine are looking for companies who are potential disrupters of current design techniques and methodologies. These are companies that have the potential to make a 10x improvement in some aspect of current design processes. Publisher CMP is looking for up to 10 companies to feature on the show floor and at a lunch in front of editors, analysts and industry managers where they will be given a chance to pitch their company and product. Not all of the companies who think they are disruptive really are, so candidates will be vetted by Jim Turley, Editor in Chief and David Blaza, Publisher of Embedded Systems Design. Final date for entries is August 25. **CONTACTS**\\ Publisher: David Blaza, \\ ====Digital Power Forum expands into digital energy management and enterprise installations==== The 2006 Digital Power Forum (DPF ’06) will feature a significantly expanded technical content, including an entire afternoon devoted to system-level issues when implementing digital power management solutions, say organizers Darnell. They are also setting up a second track of papers focused on digital energy management and power management in enterprise-level installations and related digital equipment. The afternoon sessions related to system-level implementation of digital power management are being organised in cooperation with the PMBus™ Organisation. The new track on digital energy management at the facilities level is being organised in cooperation with Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ENERGY STAR Program. DPF ’06 has an expanded Advisory Committee including representatives from AMD, Analog Devices, Artesyn, Astec, Coldwatt, Energy Star, Fairchild Semiconductor, IBM, Intel, International Rectifier, Power-One, Primarion, STMicroelectronics, Texas Instruments, Tyco Electronics and Zilker Labs. The three-day international conference will serve an audience of decision makers who are interested in learning about and contributing to the latest practical advancements related to the use of digital power control techniques in electronic systems and in power converters, and digital energy management and power management in enterprise-level installations and related digital equipment. EDN Magazine is the official media sponsor for the Digital Power Forum. **CONTACTS**\\ Web: http://www.darnell.com/digitalpower ====Electronic Business re-designs==== After claimed 'extensive readership research' Electronic Business has redesigned its print publication from June to deliver 'more content in a sharper and more accessible.' At the same time, associated web site, eb-mag.com, has added daily content in the form of audiocasts, commentaries, news stories and blogs. The new “EB Weekly” e-mail newsletter was launched May 16 to highlight online content that can be found only at eb-mag.com. Other enhancements will be coming to eb-mag.com later this year, says the publisher. **CONTACTS**\\ Editorial: John Dodge, editor-in-chief, \\ Advertising: John Schirmer, publisher, \\ ====Microwaves & RF Notepad claims digital delivery to 55,000 subscribers==== A digital magazine formatted for a computer screen, the Microwaves & RF Notepad was delivered this week via email to 55,000 design engineers and engineering managers who work in high-frequency/high-speed design, including 12,000 outside the United States, according to publisher Penton. A companion to the Microwaves & RF print magazine, Microwaves & RF Notepad offers expanded editorial and features not covered in Microwaves & RF. Nancy Friedrich, editor of Microwaves & RF magazine said, “Microwaves & RF Notepad gives the editorial staff a forum to present a range of additional topics relevant to the RF/microwave community, without some of the time constraints of a print publication.” “Sponsors support the magazine without overwhelming the reader, by supplying links to news, white papers, and other technical data that reside on their own websites,” said Tom Morgan, director of Penton's Electronics OEM Group and publisher of Microwaves & RF Notepad. Microwaves & RF Notepad is the fourth enhanced digital magazine produced by Penton’s Electronics OEM Group, including Electronic Design Europe (www.ElecDesignEurope.com), EEPN2 (www.eepn2.com), and Penton’s Military Electronics (www.MilElec.com). **CONTACTS**\\ Editorial: Nancy Friedrich, editor, \\ Advertising: Tom Morgan, director, \\ Web: http://www.mwrf.com/notepad ====Hearst Business Media and Global Technology Conferences to partner in the electronics industry==== Hearst Business Media (HBM), a publisher of product information to the electronics industry, and Global Technology Conferences (GTC), owner and operator of GSPx, the technology trade shows and conferences specializing in embedded signal processing technologies, have announced a partnership to co-promote their offerings in a bid to bring bring the most advanced education in leading-edge technologies to the electronic engineering and software design communities. They also announced a co-branded e-Blast technical newsletter named “GSPx Newsletter”, which they claim will be to be sent bi-monthly to over 150,000 engineers and engineering managers. The newsletter will release "state-of-the-art technology papers describing the best technologies presented at the GSPx conferences and will provide key information the EE design community needs in designing and developing product solutions." As part of the agreement, HBM will be a Media Sponsor of the GSPx 2006 Fall conferences and will promote and participate in the conference program. GSPx 2006 will take place October 30th-November 2nd, 2006 at the Santa Clara Convention Center. HBM also will extensively promote GSPx to its database of electronic engineers that is now said to be 350,000 strong. **CONTACTS**\\ Advertising: Todd Christenson, \\ GSPx event: Laurie Tallent, \\ ====EE Times Europe goes live==== EE Times Europe has appeared online at www.eetimes.eu. The site features global and regional news analysis in a mix of English and other local languages, together with a new products section. The site brings together a number of separate publications that CMP Media owns in Europe and is led by Peter Clarke as editorial director for Europe. Existing, news-only local language editions covering Germany, France, the UK and Scandinavia have been consolidated into the new website, and new local language editions for Israel, Eastern Europe and Russia have been added. The EE Times Europe e-newsletter was launched on June 19 with a claimed circulation of 23,000 across the 25 countries of the European Union, plus Israel and Turkey. **CONTACTS**\\ Editorial: Peter Clarke, editorial director, \\ Advertising: Patrick Flynn, \\ Web: http://www.eetimes.eu ====Staff changes as Electronics Weekly (UK) puts on weight==== Harry Yeates, R&D editor of Electronics Weekly is leaving soon to take up a position with a medical communications company in Oxford, UK. "We will be sorry to see Harry go," commented Richard Wilson editor of Electronics Weekly. "He has been a key and valued contributor to Electronics Weekly from the day he joined. The plan now is to replace Harry with a suitable candidate and I have started the recruitment process." From June 28 Electronics Weekly readers will see a brighter and whiter magazine when it moves to a heavier 60gsm stock. "The new paper will enhance yet further the look and feel of Electronics Weekly," said publisher Mick Elliott. "The A4 format has been very well received by our readers and our advertisers. It's a sign of our confidence in the print product that we are happy to make this significant investment," he added. **CONTACTS**\\ Editorial: Richard Wilson, editor, \\ Advertising: Dean Slade, \\ Web: http://www.electronicsweekly.co.uk ====Elektra06 awards deadline looms==== The entry deadline for the Elektra06 - European Electronics Industry Awards is now looming. It was originally June 23rd but we understand that entries will be accepted until mid July. Over 650 people attended last year's awards in London, says the organiser, Electronics Weekly, and a similar number are expected this year at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Munich during the Electronica exhibition in November. "It is one of the industry's great evenings, and to be a winner is the icing on the cake" commented Mick Elliott, publisher of Electronics Weekly. Entries are still being accepted on the awards page of www.electronicsweekly.com **CONTACTS**\\ Web: http://www.electronicsweekly.com ====Change of editor at Embedded Systems Engineering (Europe)==== Dick Selwood has resigned as editor of pan-European publication, Embedded Systems Engineering (ESE). He tells us that he will be working on a web-based project away from the electronics business but that he is available for consultancy and writing work. The new editor is Alistair Winning who takes on the full-time role after a few years in PR. Alistair was previously a journalist on CMP's Electronic Engineering. Martin Whitbread remains as consulting editor for ESE. **CONTACTS**\\ Editorial: Alistair Winning, editor, \\ Hungry freelancer: Dick Selwood, \\ ====EMC UK 2006 conference programme announced==== Full details of the EMC UK 2006 conference programme have just been announced. EMC UK 2006 - which also includes an exhibition - will be held at the Racecourse, Newbury on the 17th and 18th October 2006. The programme comprises nine modules and 28 papers over the two days, plus a keynote address by Andy Drozd President of the IEEE EMC Society. One module is devoted to directives such as WEEE, RoHS and EuP, with emphasis an how they affect EMC design. There are also free workshops and EMC basictraining sessions. Exhibition space has sold out, says the organiser, Nutwood Ltd. Conference delegates can save money by booking before 31st July 2006, we are told. Entrance to the Exhibition is free and there is also ample free car parking. **CONTACTS**\\ Web: http://www.emcuk.co.uk ====IET announces Embedded Systems Technical Conference in October==== The IET has announced a two-day technical conference on embedded systems to be held at the NEC, Birmingham (UK) on the 11th and 12th of October. Key themes will include dependable systems DSP development, multi-core processing development, model-based design, and wireless networking and communications. The event is designed for delegates to update their knowledge of systems design and take advantage of networking opportunities. **CONTACTS**\\ Web: http://conferences.iee.org/ess ====Global SMT & Packaging appoints European sales manager==== Global SMT & Packaging magazine has appointed David Garnsworthy as the new European sales manager. David will cover all of western Europe, based out of the company's Glastonbury (UK) headquarters. Published as European, US and Chinese language editions, Global SMT & Packaging has enjoyed substantial growth over the past two years, up 54% in the past 12 months, says the publisher. The company also produces a range of electronic Newsletters and says it will be announcing new products in the next few months. **CONTACTS**\\ Editorial: Trevor Galbraith \\ Advertising: David Garnsworthy \\ ====Markt & Technik (Germany) to publish daily newsletter at Electronica==== Markt & Technik will publish a special issue each Electronica show day from November 14th to 17th. Described by publisher WEKA as "The only official Electronica show daily" it will contain a dedicated English section and will have a claimed on-site and offsite distribution of more than 60,000 copies. The advertising deadline: October 11th, 2006. **CONTACTS**\\ Editorial: Peter Wintermayr, editor-in-chief, \\ Advertising: Martina Schmid, international account manager, \\ ====Elektronik (Germany) special issue marks 25 years of VMEbus==== TheVITA (VMEbus International Trade Organisation) and Elektronik will publish a special issue entitled "25 years of VMEbus" in Elektronik on September 19th. Advertising closing date is August 29th. **CONTACTS**\\ Editorial: Joachim Kroll, editor, \\ Advertising: Sonja Diehl, international account manager, \\ ====Global Sources launches China Webinar==== EE Times-China, Electronic Design-China and ESM-China have launched China Webinar. Mark Saunderson, publisher, said: “China Webinar is part of Asia’s first local-language Webinar network to serve the region’s electronics industry. It will enable clients to reach and talk directly to more qualified engineers across China than ever before, allowing them to update their customers on new products and teach them how to optimise solutions to best suit their needs—all in real time.” Launched this month, China Webinar is the first of the four sites that will comprise the Asia Webinar network: chinawebinar.com (Simplified Chinese), taiwanwebinar.com (Traditional Chinese), koreawebinar.com (Korean) and asiawebinar.com (English). The network will use ON24’s web seminar platform. Headquartered in the United States, ON24 is a provider of webcasting systems. **CONTACTS**\\ Advertising, Asia: Bennie Hui, \\ Advertising, USA: Brandon Smith, \\ Web: http://www.chinawebinar.com ====Survey shows branding and innovation as key issues for Chinese distributors==== The ESM-China 2006 Electronic Components Distributor Survey is said to have revealed that the intense competition and rapid growth in the electronics industry in mainland China has put pressure on quality franchised and independent distributors to enhance their brands and offer more innovation to manufacturers. 810 purchasing executives participated in the survey. Collectively they calim to have purchased US$30.4 billion worth of components in the past year – 59 percent of which were ordered through distributors. ESM-China Publisher Mark Saunderson said: “Brand is becoming more important in China, enabling distributors to stand out in an increasingly crowded market, and sustain long-term growth. Innovation means that distributors will need to increase their investment in R&D and focus on design solutions that will help drive orders.” **CONTACTS**\\ Advertising, Asia: Bennie Hui, \\ Advertising, USA: Brandon Smith, \\ Advertising, Europe: Patrick Flynn, \\ Web: http://www.esmchina.com/SITE/DISTYSURVEY2006_ENG.PDF ====SOAPBOX==== Alberto Taddei of Italy's Elettronica Oggi argues that BPA audits may be too complicated to be useful, and that there are better alternatives. With reference to the Paul Miller (CMP) soapbox published in the May edition of this newsletter, I think there is no doubt that an audited certification such as BPA is one of the best tools – although not the only one - that a publisher can use to guarantee that advertisers get the best value for the Euros or dollars they invest. But is the BPA certification an efficient, quick to use, and simple to understand, tool? In my experience, if you want to provide value to an advertiser it isn’t enough to give them a full statistics report. It’s also necessary to make sure it can be easily understood. This is true in in all aspects of business: in order to be effective, you need to be user-friendly. The most detailed financial report might be unusable even for the cleverest CFO when he needs to pinpoint key indicators quickly. As advertisers are constantly in a rush, sometimes even booking advertising after deadlines have expired, they have no time for investigating circulation quality in depth, but just need the key facts quickly - and a good price! For this reason Elettronica Oggi – until now the only Italian electronics magazine to be BPA audited – chose to work with a new auditing partner last year. This ‘service certification’ is provided by BVQi, an well-known international organisation focused on quality system auditing (similar to DNV and TUV). The two factors behind this decision were the reputation of the auditing company and the ease-of-use of the report they provide. This allows us to be effective in communicating the audit data to the advertisers: in a couple of very easy-to-read pages they can see at glance the main quality benchmarks and the audited data. Providing client with simple but clear indicators of circulation quality, saving both their time and ours. It allows both parties to then focus on the main issue - the price battle - without letting the audit become a bore for the advertising and a barrier to successful business for the publisher. Alberto Taddei, publisher, Elettronica Oggi, \\