It’ll be 22 years of publishing for MacDailyNews next month (September 18th).
So far we’ve published 81,579 posts. That’s an average of 3,708 posts per year or 309 per month.
Sometimes, we’re even a bit prescient: Is Apple building ‘The Device?’ – December 10, 2002
When MacDailyNews.com started (we wrote our own CMS using a simple language to create and maintain a database with some rudimentary HTML – you can see what the first site looked like here), it made just over $60 the first month. We didn’t start publishing until the 18th day of the month, so to generate $60 in 12 days was pretty good back then. Interest in Apple news was high. The site paid for its hosting that month (and every month since). At our height, hosting alone cost over 25x our original hosting bill (of course, many of our earliest visitors were still on dial up! We started the site on dial up 😲!).
In the Steve Jobs II era, the site was lucrative enough to actually live on, with some excess which we used to invest in AAPL. Thank God and Jobs we did that! Several splits later, dividends, stock price increases – those investments in AAPL have worked out well.
Today, the site generates almost exactly 1/8th of what it did when Steve Jobs was alive. It’s not enough to live on. Hourly, it works out to below minimum wage, which is why it’s becoming more and more difficult to devote a ton of hours to it.
See also: Visionary: Hear Steve Jobs, at the dawn of App Store, predict the future of mobile (and mention MacDailyNews) – July 26, 2018
Getting paid 1/8th of what you were once paid for the same amount of work is… something. So, we look on the bright side: it’s a unique situation that most people don’t get to experience. 🙂 Also, it’s a challenge: Can we keep it going? Can we grow revenue to livable levels again?
When the U.S. FTC approved Google acquisition of DoubleClick in 2007, it was a huge mistake. Google monopolized search and digital advertising. The advertising rates held up for a couple of years and then the monopolist did what monopolists do. Rates declined.
It did not help that ad-blocking arose at that time, too. Nor did it help that at the same time Apple lost its charismatic, visionary leader. A live Steve Jobs keynote drew eyeballs!
This confluence of events ended up killing many small, independent publishers, including a huge portion of what was once referred to as the “Mac web.” We miss sites like MacSurfer (thankfully, we still have MacHash!), MacNN, and many others. The handful of us left are devoted to coverage of all things Apple.
Soon, there was no way to pay for the site’s operation but to look to reader contributions. We currently have a small group of contributors who keep the site going, but it’s not enough to live on, much less to allow us to turn off ads once and for all. Without our MacDailyNews contributors, the site would not have made it even to 20 years and we’re now nearly two years past that!
Thank you so, so much, MacDailyNews contributors! Without you, MacDailyNews simply would not exist.
Now, we’re trying Substack. This way – at macdailynews.substack.com – we can offer unique, extra AD-FREE content meant only for subscribers (plus, of course, everything else posted here on MacDailyNews.com).
Please consider subscribing to enjoy subscriber-only content with NO ADS and also to help keep MacDailyNews going for another 22 years!
Thank you,
MacDailyNews
I can’t blame you if you if you decide to hang it up. I like this site but like so many things in this digital world nobody wants to pay for anything. It happened to me in my business. I finally found a way to make a living again, but it doesn’t include what I used to do.
Defeatist attitude Daniel. Of course people pay for tons of stuff these days, now more than ever. If you never ask for money and provide all your content for free they’re not just going to hand you money but Substack is probably the way to go. Then start putting most of the content behind a paywall so the freeloaders either subscribe or get lost.
Just subscribed. Easy decision.
Long-time reader of MDN. Joined yesterday as a founding member.
One of the things that has kept me coming back here for over 20 years is the simplicity of the site. While I read other Apple-focused sites, I find MDN to be one of the easiest to browse.
All the best !
Thank you, oh porcine one!
Just subscribed to MacDailyNews on Substack and very happy to support the site .
Less than a latte per month to keep MDN going – and to get it ad-free, with subscriber-only comments and be able to chat directly with MDN – is a no-brainer.
Been coming to MDN for 15+ years!
Yes definitely. To me you are the best with information on Everything Apple. Please stay.
Please keep MDN going, if you can. I mean, this site has chronicled it all. MDN is part of my daily routine and has been for many, many years.
SUBSCRIBED.
Yes, if at all possible, you should. Subscribed.
Well that saves me the trouble of heading over there…
As one of the prime contributors to the malignant, malicious, misinformation meme purveyors over the last decade, you managed to rid the site of anyone with an interest in verifiable facts, common sense, humanity and adult perspective.
In the early years MDN identified the ‘enemy’ as anything not Apple.
Then it was PC users, Microsoft, Steve Ballmer.
Post iPhone it became Nokia, Motorola and a host of laughable epic fails, Android, Google and finally…Samsung.
Oh how we laughed and celebrated.
Post Steve Jobs it became Tim Cook,endlessly criticised for not being SJ with barely concealed homophobia which was greatly amplified in comments.
Pre- and post Trump, the enemy became half of its own readership with constant sideswiped at the EU for good measure, hostility to anything not Trump ie reality, the truth, facts, common sense health issues, gun control…you name it. If Trump was against it – then so was MDN.
At this point the majority of adults left the room and MDN started ‘existential threat’ begging whilst the major player ad market dried up during Covid. Inmates had taken over the asylum whilst MDN courted hits with a hands off approach to moderation.
All utterly predictable.
I’ve been with MDN since the beginning… and all the way to the end it seems, if you retreat behind closed doors. Milking ‘Echo chamber’ substack subscribers hardly provides value or income.
Here’s a thought. How about you giving your current house a thorough clean to encourage more visitors, before you leave?
@stevejacks. No personal animosity intended, I’ve loved the Mac journey alongside this site. But lately not so much. A wrong turn is always a wrong turn.
perfectly said
We cheer your departure. We don’t like tyrannical censoring obnoxious self-righteous ignorant communists. Get thee gone.
“Well that saves me the trouble of heading over there…”
Blame someone else for your exit stage LEFT decision. Gotcha.
“As one of the prime contributors to the malignant, malicious, misinformation meme purveyors over the last decade”
From one of the prime contributors of LEFTIST malicious, misinformation meme. Gotcha.
“you managed to rid the site of anyone with an interest in verifiable facts”
No proof, only bloviating opinion. Gotcha.
“Pre- and post Trump, the enemy became half of its own readership with constant sideswiped at the EU for good measure, hostility to anything not Trump ie reality, the truth, facts, common sense health issues, gun control…you name it. If Trump was against it – then so was MDN.”
Gaslighting readers, Trump and MDN with ZERO facts and hyped OPINION. Gotcha.
“At this point the majority of adults left the room”
Whining baby still in the room, again gaslighting with ZERO facts and attempting to speak for countless readers. Gotcha.
“@stevejacks. No personal animosity intended, I’ve loved the Mac journey alongside this site. But lately not so much. A wrong turn is always a wrong turn.”
Certainly, you have made a “wrong turn.” Gotcha.
“How about you giving your current house a thorough clean to encourage more visitors, before you leave?”
Starting with you, GotNothing…
Everything wrong with leftists, summed up in an arrogant, petulant rant.
Steve Jobs had disdain for inferior, ill designed, and stolen products. MDN never has wavered in this regard. And I have also been here since the beginning.
Your post is irrelevant. If you can’t say anything nice, or at least constructive, then you should have just kept quiet.
PS I WILL be signing up, because we all know that the real reason Apple News has slowed is because, without Jobs as the head things have significantly slowed down and stagnated. Nothing to do with MDN.
Sound like whining ass crybaby. Ohhhh sake alive … is First Then a real meanie? Go bitch on another board, good riddance, lib.
to whiner GOTCHA:
So, if MDN kicked out comments with which you disagree, then you’d be happy…
and if they have a “hands-off” policy which is the current policy and is freedom of speech in action, then you’re pissed and want to quit. Interesting; you seem to be advocating censorship. It would be nicer if you just left the party.
The problem is that MDN isn’t neutral, as it should be. That encourages some commentators to mimic their stance. I was a mod on several sites and I believe freedom of expression – to a certain point. But there are lines you shouldn’t step over. Calling people communists and other absurd names is over that line.
The concept is to disagree with what people say without insulting them. If that can’t be done, it needs to be deleted. It’s pretty simple,e. Most sites are careful about that. But MDN has a history of not following that concept. It’s 50/50 as to whether my post will remain. I surely hope it does. If they made it clear that they would keep the site neutral, then I would happily support them financially as I do with a few others.
Oh…MDN! Hypocrisy much?
I noticed two replies to goeb from gotcha got deleted yet…
MacDailyNews Webmaster
Tuesday, August 20, 2024 at 9:07 pm
Hi,
This site has always allowed pubic comments – from anyone, even anonymously. That is a positive and a negative.
You can’t have it both ways. That’s bad…really bad
Tennersworth,
MDN has always deleted posts with ad hominem attacks, curse words, obscenities, etc.
Soon, if they follow the results of their poll on Substack, it won’t matter as MDN subscribers want comments only from registered visitors going forward.
“On MacDailyNews.com, should we require logins for comments – no more anonymous comments?”
Yes – 66%
No – 23%
Unsure – 10%
https://macdailynews.substack.com/p/on-macdailynewscom-should-we-require
I hope MDN requires registration to comment.
All of the above, and I’ll add a slight preoccupation with AAPL’s stock price.
I hope you keep going!
Well, I’ll need to head over to SubStack.
21 years! If pageloads could be tracked, I would be shy to share that number, because it might reveal quite the obsession, and your middle name would need to be changed to Hourly.
Thanks for the memories.
You have covered my screen with so many ads I can’t even read your articles. Now you want me to pay you.
That was just enough to cause me to delete MacDailyNews from my RSS feed.
Good riddance. A whining freeloader.
I have several subscriptions through Substack and two of them have a lot of the information behind a paywall. You can read only so much and then you have to subscribe. That works well. I stopped looking at the MDN app because the adds blocked my ability to read the content and were very annoying.
I don’t pay much attention to the Apple and Apple TV press releases. Press releases are a waste of time. I would like a little more insight on developments in the Apple sphere. I enjoy gettin my posts in real time by email.
It’s your decision.
Go with your heart.
OT: What does this say about Tim Cook?
The gun emoji being nerfed in ~2016 marked the ascendance of woke_mind_virus.mp3.exe — Elon Musk
https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1825743161076875773
See also:
https://x.com/TheApeMother/status/1825743794412868017
It’s time to relaunch your Youtube Channel, start creating videos for any Mac News you publish, people now don’t read, a Youtube Channel will help you make more money in short period of time. You got the news, you only need an iPhone and your Channel is ready. While I check Macdailynews many times a day, I consume a far more Mac related Youtube Channels everyday.
I remember the time the Daring Fireball dork said, “I don’t know what the hell they’re doing over at MacDailyNews.” That said to me that you have a voice that SHOULD be heard, evidenced by the fact that those inside the Silicon Valley propaganda bubble don’t understand it. “A conservative Apple website? Conservative Apple users? Do those even exist?! Is that even legal?!”
I for one will support you financially.
I’ve always enjoyed reading this site for Apple News. It’s well laid out and the person behind it usually has pretty good takes and perspective. The simple straightforward format is part of its charm.
However, the fact that this site nurtures vitriolic MAGA horseshit that has nothing to do with Apple (and nothing to do with conservative politics either to be honest) has hurt it financially.
I can be more specific.
I would’ve been happy to support the site except I would never support a site that nurtures vitriolic MAGA horseshit.
what a shame that MAGA somehow infected this otherwise wonderful site.
and although I would never support that, I’ve enjoyed reading everything else, and want to thank the blogger for doing this all these years and wish him all the best in whatever he decides to do next!
Bigotry oozing out of your woke mindset !
I would’ve been happy to support the site except I would never support a site that nurtures vitriolic libturd stupidity.
What a shame that libturds somehow infected this otherwise wonderful site and became such a cancerous infestation on the country.
I’ve never anything on this site so vitriolic as the above comment.
I will take the MAGA content over Democrat Marxist LGBGQ grooming and perversion all day long. Go away fast.
I have to agree. This is a Mac news site (hopefully!), but really – too much politics allowed here. Any news site where the term *tard is allowed should really look inwards.
I decided to not send money when told “The advertising model is broken…” and “if every user contributed…” because of the publication of consistent criticism of one group of users about the politics of another group of users (“Trumpers” vs. “woke” is an example) while MDN did nothing to curb this negativity.
I’m not for censorship, but the amount of anger and vitriol exhibited here was at times overwhelming and not getting me anywhere in my understanding of Apple News and Current Events. I would have appreciated more curation and cleanup of the negativity on MacDailyNews.
I used to check in once a day, now it’s more like a matter of curiosity as to what might have happened today… but only if I had nothing else to do. Let the angry comments commence. Folks may say “the internet IS anger” or “Anger is the medium of interaction in the 2000’s” if they wish (even though that not and further should not be true), but the fact remains that angry and childish users pushed me away.
I wish you well with Sub Stack and in utilizing your considerable talents in other mediums more rewarding for you !
I like to hear the commenters, especially those who don’t let the officious, obnoxious, self described “tolerant” fascist Democrats trash all that is good. MDN is good, intelligent, fair, and necessary. I will pay. But Democrats are all welfare kids.
Absolutely agree.. FREELOADING IS THE NAME OF THEIR RELIGION ! These self entitled lazy, jealous bunch believe the Wold owes them something…..
Pathetic!
Hi,
This site has always allowed pubic comments – from anyone, even anonymously. That is a positive and a negative.
Comments (and chats) should be a far different place as only subscribers can comment at https://macdailynews.substack.com/
Thank you!
Truth is a liar. Ironic.
I’ve witnessed MDN deleting Sam’s voluminous cut-and-paste list of Biden-Harris faults at least THREE separate times under this article alone.
Truth is a liar.
“Sam” has been placed in moderation for repeatedly posting the same comment, which we removed several times (it seems he couldn’t take the hint). The next step would be an outright ban.
MacDailyNews was originally built on open comments, no registration required. On our Substack, only paid subscribers can comment. We expect it’ll be a MUCH different experience – hopefully like the “old days” were, a Mac community, before the current political polarization the U.S. is experiencing.
Also, everyone, please try to refrain from cursing. We have always used “fsck” for you-know-what. The bad language gets crawled and negatively impacts what’s left of our advertising.
Thank you for your help.
No anger here. Just know that there’s lots of that feel the same way about Daring Fireball, whom I assume you have no critique for. You don’t stand in the center; you want leftist perspective. Which is your choice. But know that it’s partisan.
Would you say the same thing about Daring Fireball, who is much more partisan?
MDN.. i subscribed… i am able to see the articles… but unable to find the comments!
Which i love! As Annoying as they can be sometimes..
Am i doing something wrong or the site is not fully functional??
Thanks
Hi,
We’re just ramping up now. Only a few comments so far – they’re at the bottom of each article. Comments should be a far different place as only subscribers can comment at https://macdailynews.substack.com/
Thank you!
Just subscribed as a Founding Member. Your site has been one of my all time favorites for the past 25 years. Helped me stay with the stock when the crowd said, “Sell”. And I like your common sense, which is found almost nowhere in tech media.
Founding Member
It use to be the first thing I did after work was to hop on MDN to check out the latest info and gossip. But that was in the days of Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer when we had the Mac vs PC wars going on. The “I’m a PC/I’m a Mac” commercials were hilarious. It was great fun although sometimes it got a bit out of hand. But after Steve it was just stock valuations and gay pride parades with Tim Cook. It almost seems like that’s when the country accelerated into a downhill slide into the disgusting DEI mess we have now. These days checking out MDN is an afterthought and not a priority, and I don’t anticipate or even watch any Apple events or announcements any more. Sad to say everything runs its course, and maybe that applies to MDN today.
Substack is a great move! I have been a loyal MDN reader for, well, two decades. I’ve also aggressively ad-blocked it the entire time. The ads are just too over the top and overwhelming. I definitely don’t want MDN to discontinue; it’s a valuable daily resource. Now that there is an ad-free, subscriber option, I am a proud and happy $5/month subscriber! See you in 2044!
Subscribed.
The name calling, hate and nastiness in comments is really unfortunate. It spoils the fun and informative value. MDN occasionally stokes some of this nastiness. Sure, freedom of speech, but is that really MDNs mission? Steve Jobs was smart about avoiding politics – anyone can own an iPhone and Mac, so why intentionally offend readers. MDN is primarily an aggregator and moderator of other’s content, adding insight and accountability to make it more interesting. It saves me time from having to visit every source and read entire articles. Please stick to being neutral and providing us with an efficient way to keep up with Apple. Plenty of other publications and content sources available with strong bias’. Let MDN be a sanctuary from all the divisiveness. Stick to your knitting.
Then we agree. No more Rainbows and anti MAGA screeds from the commenters.
Needs to work both ways buddy. Try practicing what you preach.
I second those above who recommend keeping politics out of articles and MDN editorials. You’re entitled to your political opinion, of course, but there are plenty of political websites to post them on. You can’t help the comments, but MDN itself should be neutral, like articles about washing machines. If that were so, I would contribute.
When Apple censors legitimate political opinion, like when it shut down the Parler app and when it constantly promote Marxist energy policy under the false banner of fixing the planetary thermometer, then it is vital that these terrible moves be pointed out. How much would Apple have saved if it listened to actual experts about EVs instead of the insufferable ignoramus, Al Gore. Probably $200 billion at least.
You are right that there are some cases where Apple and politics intersect, such as the Parler thing.
You were the first site I ever responded too. I love the conversation, I love the articles, and I’m so grateful have an Apple ‘home’ to come too. If you move, I move too.
MDN, keep it going, if possible.
Daily reader since 2002!
Subscribed as founding member
MDN ‘takes’ have been absurdly political over these last few years. I’ll miss going to your site daily, but I won’t miss your regularly unnecessary political ‘takes’.
That shows that you are incapable of being educated.
This personal attack should be ample justification for permanent banishment. Kent repeatedly shows how nasty he can be …. But after years of bad behavior, MDN keeps letting this jerk keep trying to hurt others. Why?
I hope the Substack will filter out the control freaks who hate people that have a different opinion than they do. I don’t like some of the over-the-top pro-Trump stuff because its just baiting mentally deranged people, but in an age where comment sections are increasingly deleted entirely and if they exist they’re controlled by thought-policing prog mods (cough..MacRumors…cough) I appreciate MDN tremendously. I’ll be subscribing.
The over-the-top pro-DEI-woke-crap is far worse. Generally, agree with the majority of your insights on tech, sometimes we may disagree without being disagreeable and it’s all good either way, Nick. That said, two thumbs up for subscribing…
I agree, it is worse GoeB. I spoke to a long-term Apple employee last spring and she and her colleagues were just as troubled by all the woke stuff Apple has been doing in recent years. She might be in the minority but at least there is some resistance internally. Even when things get heated here at MDN the motivation is the desire to have Apple be a better company that’s more focused on creating the great products that have enriched our lives for decades.
Well said. Too bad free thinking Apple employees are in the minority…