articletemplates
I'm looking for a good latex template that is similar to those of popular (science) magazines. Think NewScientist, or Time magazine.
Its for writing an article concerning a technical subject (IPv6 networking) but to explain it to a regular, enthusiastic crowd. So no IEEE style, but plenty of pictures, smooth type setting and easy and fun to read. Like popular (science) magazines.
Putting a lot of effort into a template for a journal that does not have a template is most likely not worth while. I assume they accept LaTeX files and so the easiest way for the journal to handle them is if they are as generic as possible. Home made templates may include packages that are or may become outdated or incompatible and may involve home-cooked solutions that are not optimal.
I suggest writing your manuscript in plain LaTeX with the use of as few packages as possible. For references write them in the format of the journal using \begin-\end{bibliography} and \bibitem. You can of course use BibTeX but then you need to make a style file for the journal.
You do not specify the minimum (similar?) requirements of your desired magazine layout, but in general, such complex and inconsistent layouts are more suitable for desktop publishing software as Scribus or InDesign.
Said that, there are the paperTeX document class:
There also a newspaper package to produce a similar layout to the New York Times:
And even the newsletr macros in plain TeX for this purpose:
Finally, flowfram package allow you to design your own layout. See Three-columns text with figures of 2\columnwidth for more information:
Of course, there are also others packages as cuted and cutwin that can help in text shapes in differrent ways, as well as many others to obtain magazine-like effects (backgrounds, etc.) but this is a too broad subject.
Best Answer
I have ran into two classes that might be interesting for you: papertex and newspaper. Please read the documentation, and PDF examples, for this classes and you'll probably be able to create magazine-like PDF.
Good luck in your quest!