Time has named Harry McCracken an Editor-at-Large. McCracken, the founder of the tech site Technologizer, has written for Time and Time.com in the past, and as part of his new role, will contribute more frequently to both.

In a memo, Rick Stengel, Time’s Managing Editor, said the more McCracken, the better.

“His expertise is matched only by his versatility: he writes long, writes short, knows the inventors and the consumers, offers the expert product review and then the high altitude perspective on the forces that are changing the industry and the culture,” said Stengel. “He writes in a clear, conversational style that is appreciated by both techies and Luddites.”

Less than 48 hours after Apple co-founder Steve Jobs died, Time magazine is rushing to the presses with a special commemorative issue paying tribute to the visionary.

The special issue, hitting newsstands and tablets tomorrow, features Jobs on its cover and 21 pages dedicated to the man behind the iPhone, iPad, and iPod.

Time‘s special edition includes a six-page essay by Jobs’ biographer Walter Isaacson, a historical report on Jobs iconic career by Time technology reporters Harry McCracken and Lev Grossman, and a photo essay by Diana Walker, who has been shooting Jobs for Time since 1982.
 
“This is Steve’s seventh Time cover, which puts him in the category of Presidents and other world leaders,” Time editor Rick Stengel says. “No one has tracked Steve’s life better than the man who used to have my job, Walter Isaacson. Walter writes that Steve was the modern creation myth writ large and that he revolutionized six industries: personal computers, animated movies, music, phones, tablet computing and digital publishing.”

The magazine is increasing its print run for this special issue, which will be available worldwide.

Folio:‘s Dylan Stableford is looking on the bright side of media! He’s put together a list of the ten most inspiring things to happen in media in 2008. Number One: Seasoned Print Editors Go it Alone — Online

From ex-PC World editor Harry McCracken to Tina Brown‘s inner-Beast to a pair of ex-ElleGirl editors with Daily Candy-like aspirations, 2008 could was the year that old-school print editors collectively said “&%@# it” and forged ahead with their own businesses online.

Check out the rest of his glass-half-full list here (Ana Marie Cox clocks in at number five).