Hugh Hefner (pictured right)
Anyone who works in, or enjoys the output of, the adult industry has a lot to thank Hugh Hefner for.
Now that’s over with, allow me to tell you that, Playboy Digital, Playboy’s attempt to precisely replicate their print magazine in a format which can be read on a computer, is a failure.
The Playboy system uses two pieces of proprietary software. Issues are delivered via ‘Zinio Delivery Manager’ and can then only be viewed using ‘Zinio Reader’. It’s clumsy and it’s how Zinio sell publishers the dream of ‘copy control’ - a claim which is, of course, gorgonzola shit (i.e. a bunch of crap with enormous holes in it).
DRM inaction. The photo above was taken from ‘Playboy Digital’ using my computers built in screen-capture command.
It’s a match made in hell. Software burdened with cheesy DRM (to go with the cheesy photos), tacky effects (which match Playboy’s astoundingly tacky wardrobe) and an awkward interface (reminiscent of the awkward erection I once suffered after studying the December 2000 centerfold too closely in public).
‘Digital magazines’ were the original holy grail of publishing houses, and now cheap powerful PC’s, broadband internet access and the PDF format have made ‘digital print’ easy. Publishing houses have ignored the most obvious solution in favor of ’safe’ proprietary solutions which they imagine will stop ‘theft’ and encourage ‘thieves’ to become customers.
Of course the universe in which this is true is the same one in which Hugh Hefner’s hair looks real close-up.
If Playboy want to produce a digital copy of their print magazine, they’d be wiser distributing a PDF, via RSS, on the same day the print version is published.
If they want to re-invent the magazine, they should have build a website that couples their content with multimedia in ways print can’t.
What they have produced in Playboy Digital is a lesser magazine than the print version, and a lesser digital experience than provided by their existing website (Playboy’s Cyberclub - oooh cyber! So techno!)
Playboy Digital is interesting, deeply flawed and not a bargain, given that every Playboy photoset can be seen on the web for free moments after each issue hits the streets. If you want month-old Playboys delivered to your computer for $20 a year, or can’t collect a print subscription, go-for-it. If you don’t want to wait a month to see new issues, need to view issues on more than one computer, value multimedia, or react badly to annoying page-turn effects - look elsewhere.
(NB: I am informed by Zinio that digital issues should arrive before or at the same time as print issues. It’s not happened yet for me but this might well be the case.)
Well, I guess it’s a good thing that I purchased a printed version of the magazine to read on my flight to Scotland instead of subscribing to the new digital version. I think I’d prefer the printed version anyways… I can lie in bed and read the articles, ;), while Zod gets more of a chance to use the computer.
Playboy would be smart to listen to your advice… although I bet they won’t change their ways for quite a while.
Thanks for commenting on the digital edition we produce for Playboy. I’m writing just to provide a small correction to your comment. Zinio delivers digital editions prior to the time when someone would get their print subscription in most cases. At the latest, we would deliver a digital subscription at the same time that a print edition would arrive. For example, in the case of Businessweek, our subscribers, no matter where they are in the world, will get their digital edition at 6:30pm eastern time on Thurday prior to the week that the print edition is published.
To try a free sample digital edition, just go to http://www.zinio.com.
Thanks for the space to comment and correct the record.
Ms. Kitka,
I have a digital subscription. It’s not that it couldn’t be worse, it’s just that it could be so much better. I’ve never subscribed to the ‘Cyber Club’ so I guess that’s a vote in the magazine’s favor too.
Dave,
Thanks for the additional information and I’ve made an addition to the post which reflects your input. Why is my subscription not giving me the option to download the latest issue I wonder? Is this a Playboy issue?
I’m sorry - not interested in digital magazines. If I’m paying for something of this nature, I want something with real-world substance. My subscription to the actual thing is like $20 a year (less, actually), and I haven’t opened the plastic on one in well over a year (one day I will - honest!). I’m happy with what I receive in the mail - the digital version doesn’t even make me curious.
I see your point Chris. Still - I really miss the New Yorker when I travel…
Well Sam, had you bought the October edition in paper format you would have got the 3 weeks of free access to the Cyber Club… I blow my nose at you…
Ms. Kitka, but to quote the greatest living Canadian - “Everything I do, I do it for you…”
Great, now that song’s going to be in my head the rest of the day.
*grumbles*
Apologies Chris… It’s a truly awful record.
Other than the fact that you cannot print from Zinio the electronic versions of Playboy, I think the image quality is excellent. If you want to print or save any images, just use Techsmith’s Snag It. It can even save scrolling windows and windows bigger than the screen. By the way, Penthouse has enabled the print function in Zinio’s Digital Rights Management.