Playboy is Now Available on the iPad

You can read the newspaper, watch movies, play games and now get your pornographic thrills all using the iPad. Playboy Enterprises has developed and introduced a subscription program for the iPad. The service allows subscribers to view Playboy magazine from the beginning until now. Back in 1953 Hugh Hefner placed a captivating shot of Marilyn Monroe on the cover. Many people have dreamt of being able to see that first magazine issue on which she was featured as well as other past issues in their entirety. Playboy has now made this possible with a little help from Apple. Users can scroll through the magazine’s archives and read every single article, ad and pictorial ever published. Playboy fans can now read magazine issues that were published before they even knew what Playboy was.

The prescription is reasonably priced at $8 per month, $60 per year and $100 for two years. This makes this service just about as affordable as Netflix. For that price, I’m fairly certain that many people will be signing up to see those articles—not just the nude shots of buxom blondes and brunettes. If you desire to take a stroll down memory lane, this is a great way to do it. The subscription entitles you to view current issues as well, meaning that you will never have to buy an actual Playboy magazine ever. No more hiding them from loved ones or having to covertly grab one at the magazine stand. You can get your kicks from the comfort of wherever your iPad is. Playboy has officially gone digital and I think the world is totally ready for. People that have yet to purchase an iPad will definitely have more motivation now. Whoever came up with this idea is a genius.

There is just one big question that is gnawing away at me: How will Playboy make sure that minors don’t have access to pornographic heaven? I looked at the subscription page where you create an account and it seems like Playboy is depending on Scout’s honor. The page only asks new subscribers to check a box if they are 18 years of age or older and agree to the terms and conditions policy. We all know how well that has been working out for Facebook, whose executives struggle to keep ten year olds off the social network. Children are increasingly more in tune with the latest technology and are light years ahead of their parents. What’s to stop a teenager with credit card access from subscribing, with or without their parent’s knowledge? With all the legal battles and public scrutiny that Playboy has dealt with in the past, I bet they have their ducks in a row on this matter.

Companies like Facebook and Playboy Enterprises have to make it harder for the younger generation to gain access before things get out of hand. Overall, I admire Playboy for taking this step forward. It is yet another sign that the era of the paper book, newspaper and magazine is coming to a screeching halt.

May 19, 2011