What's the best way to watch video on the iPad? (Outside of iTunes)

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Level 3

631 points

What's the best way to watch video on the iPad? (Outside of iTunes)

Hey guys,

I'm new to the iPad and am discovering that file sharing between the mac and the iPad is more complicated than just system level file-sharing or streaming. I don't use iTunes for movies and don't want to have to try to manage my videos via iTunes.

Any tips?
Thanks,
max

iMac i7, pmG5 2.3 dual., Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Jul 11, 2010 2:12 PM

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Answer 1

deggie

Level 10

167,543 points

Jul 11, 2010 3:12 PM in response to Max Miles

Use the ABC Player or the Hulu paid app or similar streaming that works with the iPad.

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Answer 2

Max Miles Author

Level 3

631 points

Jul 11, 2010 3:17 PM in response to deggie

Hey deggie,

I'm in Canada so it makes both Hulu and ABC impossible.. or is it? I managed to change the iTunes store and am downloading ABC to see if it will work. But being in Canada these apps will probably not stream to my iPad. Also, I'm looking for a way to stream or otherwise watch videos I have on my computer.

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Answer 3

deggie

Level 10

167,543 points

Jul 11, 2010 3:41 PM in response to Max Miles

Then your option is to add them to your iTunes library and sync them to your iPad.

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Answer 4

Max Miles Author

Level 3

631 points

Jul 11, 2010 3:45 PM in response to deggie

deggie, I'm asking about NOT syncing them to iTunes. Please read my request before replying..

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Answer 5

deggie

Level 10

167,543 points

Jul 11, 2010 3:49 PM in response to Max Miles

I did and I answered you. At the current time your only option in transferring videos that are on your computer to your iPad and watching them is to use iTunes. I know of no alternative software that works at this time.

You might check the Xplay and Winamp websites periodically and see if their 3rd party software is eventually compatible with the iPad if you dislike iTunes that much. But you will then have to move your movies to that software.

Message was edited by: deggie

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Answer 6

Max Miles Author

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631 points

Jul 11, 2010 3:52 PM in response to deggie

Deggie, if you don't know of alternatives then don't answer. In the last 20 minutes I've researched and downloaded and have become better informed, no thanks to you. Remember, when offering help it's important to resist the urge to simply offer opinions, (which often are inaccurate.) There are multiple apps and alternatives available for what I asked about.

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Answer 7

deggie

Level 10

167,543 points

Jul 11, 2010 3:55 PM in response to Max Miles

Ok, then you share them here and help others.

I listed two other apps that are used as an alternative for the iPod series I just didn't believe they are available for the iPad. So enlighten me, which ones are?

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Answer 8

Max Miles Author

Level 3

631 points

Jul 11, 2010 4:03 PM in response to deggie

I've downloaded AirVideo, haven't tried it yet.

http://www.inmethod.com/air-video/index.html

Downloaded iSquint, also haven't tried it yet.

Downloaded Dropbox, am hoping for the best with this one.

Last night I used Quicktime Pro to convert a FIFA world cup match to iPod. The quality was so bad and given the time involved in exporting, etc. the Quicktime/iTunes option doesn't seem very attractive. I could see iTunes being useful for my video podcasts and bought/rented movies, otherwise I'm hoping there is a better option.

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Answer 9

47T's

Level 1

16 points

Jul 11, 2010 4:46 PM in response to Max Miles

Go to slysoft.com and get the clone DVD mobile. It has the option to convert all of your movies into QuickTime format. Works great. ( it pretty much allows you to convert any movie for any mobile device you want movies on)

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Answer 10

Jul 11, 2010 5:01 PM in response to Max Miles

Hey Max,

have just bought my 82 year old mother an iPad for her to catch up on e-mails, mainly. Her friends send a lot of files that are .wmv..........of the three apps you downloaded which would be the easiest for her to see these attachments with?

Would appreciate your input
Thanks
Morris

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Answer 11

Max Miles Author

Level 3

631 points

Jul 11, 2010 5:25 PM in response to Morris Short

Hey Morris,

Unfortunately it doesn't look like there is a way yet to view WMV's directly from the iPad.. for instance in Mail on the iPad. What I found was several video converter utilities that work on whatever mac the iPad syncs with. This probably wouldn't help your mom as she's using the iPad as a primary device? If she is not regularly syncing with a laptop or desktop and doesn't know her way around OS X, converting WMV's and placing them on the iPad (via AirVideo, etc.) is problematic.

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Answer 12

Jul 11, 2010 8:29 PM in response to Max Miles

Hi Max,

Thanks for that........seems that being an early adopter at 82 years of age has some drawbacks!

Thanks again
Morris

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Answer 13

MichelPM

Level 10

81,547 points

Jul 11, 2010 10:10 PM in response to Max Miles

Hello,
To watch videos even without the use of iTunes, the video format has to be one that is compatible/readable by the iPad. I do not know if, off the top of my head, that QT Pro has an option for converting to iPod/iPad or Apple TV format, but this is the format you need to use. You can use an a PC/Mac OS X application called Handbrake to do the conversion or iTunes, itself can do do this conversion. The iPad/Apple TV conversion takes the longest, but gives the best quality. I use the iPod/iPhone conversion as it takes about half of the time and I find the quality still pretty good and I can use one format to put movies either on my iPod Touch or iPad.
In order to actually put these movies on your iPad, you have to use iTunes.
If you just want to stream the movies from your computer to your iPad, you can use an iPad app called
AirVideo to stream them.

Message was edited by: MichelPM

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Answer 14

Jul 12, 2010 4:05 PM in response to Max Miles

Max Miles wrote:
I've downloaded AirVideo, haven't tried it yet.

http://www.inmethod.com/air-video/index.html

Downloaded iSquint, also haven't tried it yet.

Downloaded Dropbox, am hoping for the best with this one.

Last night I used Quicktime Pro to convert a FIFA world cup match to iPod. The quality was so bad and given the time involved in exporting, etc. the Quicktime/iTunes option doesn't seem very attractive. I could see iTunes being useful for my video podcasts and bought/rented movies, otherwise I'm hoping there is a better option.

I don't know how any of those options are going to work for you, since you have to go through iTunes to use them. There are other ways to get programs on your iPad, but that's outside of the scope and TOS of this forum.

iTunes is pretty perfect if you want to use legally downloaded movies.

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Answer 15

Jul 12, 2010 4:07 PM in response to MichelPM

MichelPM wrote:
Hello,
To watch videos even without the use of iTunes, the video format has to be one that is compatible/readable by the iPad. I do not know if, off the top of my head, that QT Pro has an option for converting to iPod/iPad or Apple TV format, but this is the format you need to use. You can use an a PC/Mac OS X application called Handbrake to do the conversion or iTunes, itself can do do this conversion. The iPad/Apple TV conversion takes the longest, but gives the best quality. I use the iPod/iPhone conversion as it takes about half of the time and I find the quality still pretty good and I can use one format to put movies either on my iPod Touch or iPad.
In order to actually put these movies on your iPad, you have to use iTunes.
If you just want to stream the movies from your computer to your iPad, you can use an iPad app called
AirVideo to stream them.

Message was edited by: MichelPM

He doesn't want to use iTunes for some reason. I know why, and he needs to look elsewhere for assistance, because no one is going to actually help around these parts.

Message was edited by: OrangeMarlin

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