ARRL is moving to a new digital publishing platform! The January 2017 digital edition of QST will be the first produced using PageSuite. ARRL Publications Manager Steve Ford, WB8IMY, said the transition from the current NxtBook platform to PageSuite not only will improve members’ reading experience, it will be more convenient.

“PageSuite provides a sleek, modern design that runs on desktop browsers, mobile browsers, and within apps for mobile devices,” Ford said. “PageSuite does not require Flash but uses HTML5 instead. This alleviates many security concerns and makes the magazine more broadly compatible.”

New QST issues, beginning with the January 2017 edition, will take up less space on mobile devices, speeding up download time. Added features include digital bookmarks to save a page and pick up right where you left off, and a clipping tool to save or share important passages as JPEG files. Video files will be hosted on YouTube in high resolution.

The new application is compatible with Android devices, iOS devices — including iPhones, iPod touches, and iPads — and will be newly available to Kindle Fire! These apps will receive regular, quick updates in order to keep the application running smoothly.

Ford said the link to the digital edition of the monthly journal will remain in the same spot on the QST website, and members will continue to be notified of its release via e-mail.

ARRL has compiled a “how-to” guide to help members navigate PageSuite, which will be available on the QST webpage on the day the January digital issue is announced. The announcement concerning the availability of the January issue of QST in the new desktop/laptop version, the how-to guide, and the new digital QST apps, will be forthcoming.

Members can use the online digital QST feedback form to comment on the new platform when it is available. To ease the transition, NxtBook applications will continue to function on iOS and Android devices until January 1.