I grew up reading Popular Science magazine. My father was a long time subscriber and I have fond memories of discussing articles with him during my formative years. Since then, while I haven't subscribed, I often pick up issues when they catch my eye. So, as you might imagine, I'm happy to have contributed to their latest publishing venture.

Just recently, Popular Science has released The PopSci Genius Guide to Home Entertainment. And as you might expect from a magazine that focuses on the practical application of technology, it's not a traditional publication. Not even close.

This issue, the first in a quarterly series, is implemented using the Zinio magazine platform. Zinio enjoys the support of many periodical publishers, with hundreds of big magazines participating, and it allows you to purchase and read issues onscreen in a custom PDF-like fashion. You can either download the magazines to your computer for use with the Zinio Reader application, or view them in a Flash-based interface.

But PopSci is taking Zinio-based publishing to a new level. Most magazines in Zinio are electronic copies of the printed versions. The Genius Guide, on the other hand, has been designed and built specifically for onscreen use. The interactivity is thoughtfully done and befitting of the "do it yourself" slant to the entire publication.

My contribution is about home theatre automation. You'll learn the basics, as well as several specific projects and techniques that you can use to take your home theatre to the next level of sophistication and function.

For the introductory price of only 99 cents, The Genius Guide is a no-brainer. The whole focus is on "do it yourself" projects, and you'll get a peek at how one publisher is forging ahead into online publishing. See Stop the Presses on the PopSci blog for a bit more about the project and a preview, or visit the Genius Guide page to purchase a copy for yourself.

Many thanks to Mike Haney and the other folks at Popular Science for the opportunity to participate in this interesting and challenging project.