Apple allows porn, Playboy coming to iPad

By Jeffrey Van Camp January 19, 2011

Sophisticates across the world, you may rejoice. One of America’s classiest magazines, Playboy, will soon bare it all on the iPad, says Hugh Hefner, founder of the magazine. Every issue of the magazine, from 1953 to 2011, will be available and uncensored on the iPad in March, Hefner said in a series of tweets yesterday.

The news is an interesting reversal for Apple, which has previously sought to keep pornographic material off of its App Store. Last April, CEO Steve Jobs bluntly stated that if people want porn, they can go to Android. “….we do believe we have a moral responsibility to keep porn off the iPhone,” said Jobs. “Folks who want porn can buy and Android phone…You know, there’s a porn store for Android. You can download nothing but porn. You can download porn, your kids can download porn. That’s a place we don’t want to go – so we’re not going to go there.”

Even Playboy’s official iPhone app has no full frontal nudity, which makes us wonder how Playboy made this deal. Apple must be eager to boost its syndicated content on the iPad. The hardware maker is also working with News Corp. to launch an iPad-only daily newspaper called The Daily, though the launch was recently delayed.

Some would argue that Playboy is not considered pornographic, but that is another debate for another time. Apple’s reversal is good for Playboy, which has seen its paper magazine business drop steadily for years now. Recently, Hugh Hefner has made bold moves to buy out all remaining stock in Playboy and privately own the company again. He hopes to expand the reach of the magazine and brand through new opportunities.

UPDATE 6:09 pm PST: Forbes investigated and found that Mr. Hefner may be confused. A Web version of Playboy will be available uncensored on the device, but the Playboy iPad app will be censored. Full story here.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Jeffrey Van Camp

Former Digital Trends Contributor

As DT's Deputy Editor, Jeff helps oversee editorial operations at Digital Trends. Previously, he ran the site's…

Mobile

Apple’s new iPad Air could be in trouble

iPad Air 5 seen from the back and held in hand.

If everything goes according to plan, Apple is set to unveil new iPads on Tuesday, May 7. It's been a while since the last iPad release in October 2022, so expectations are incredibly high for those eagerly waiting to buy a new Apple tablet.

I typically purchase the iPad Pro and own the current 11-inch model, and I am curious about Apple's plans for this product line. However, most people are probably more interested in the upcoming iPad Air lineup in 2024. Both lineups are getting a refresh next week. In recent years, the iPad Air has been positioned between the budget-priced iPad and the top-of-the-line iPad Pro, making it a popular choice for many.

Mobile

Best tablet deals: iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Fire, and more

Front face of Samsung Galaxy Tab S8.

Whether for work, play, or anything in between, a new tablet can make a nice addition to your tech lineup. They’re perfect for kids and professionals, and most brands have something at a price point for everyone. Tablets also make some great tech for some savings, as even the best tablets often see a discount. There are a lot of tablet deals out there, and among them are some of the best Samsung tablet deals, best iPad deals, and best Surface Laptop and Surface Pro deals we’ve seen. Below you’ll find what we feel are the best tablet deals to shop right now, as well as some information on why each might best suit your tablet needs.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite (32GB) -- $90, was $160

If you need an Android tablet for simple tasks like browsing the internet and watching streaming shows, the affordable Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite may be enough for you. Its 8.7-inch screen is decent with WXGA+ resolution, while maintaining portability so you can easily hold the tablet in one hand. Its internal storage is limited at 32GB, but you can expand it by up to 1TB using a microSD card. For the clumsy ones, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite is perfect for you because it's protected by a sturdy metal frame.

Mobile

Stop! Don’t buy this iPad at Best Buy today

The iPad 10.2 is great for reading.

For those who want to buy one of Apple's iPads but within a tight budget, the highly recommended option is the ninth-generation Apple iPad. The Wi-Fi, 64GB model is pretty cheap for its , which is how much it's going for on Best Buy, but you'll enjoy savings of $80 if you purchase the tablet from Walmart, where it's available for just $249. You're going to have to be quick in completing the transaction though -- with more than 500 units sold over the past 24 hours, we're not sure how much time is remaining before stocks run out.

Why you should buy the Apple iPad 9th Gen
The ninth-generation Apple iPad was released in 2021, but it's still in our roundup of the best iPads as the best iPad on a budget. While it's not as powerful as the latest models of Apple's tablets, it still provides decent performance for most daily tasks with its A13 Bionic chip, which is the same processor that's found in the iPhone 11 series. The tablet ships with iPadOS 15, but you can upgrade it to the latest iPadOS 17 right after unboxing it to be able to access the operating system's latest features.