First I pay for an episode of a disney show for my kids, and the ipad says "Cannot play the video". Really? After I just bought it with the ipad. Hmm. Nice one Steve.
Then I try to upgrade the OS thinking that may help. It tells me that I have rentals that should be transferred to my library before performing the upgrade. Then it does not give me any way to transfer a rental. I can only transfer purchases. Truly awesome.
iPad, iOS 4.2
You are only talking to other users here.
If you have feedback for Apple send it to http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipad.html
Don't blame the product if you do not know what it can and cannot do. I feel the iPad is handicapped at times to. Things like Flash and Silverlight have been locked out in favor of html5 which is still new. But some apps overcome these limitation hence the closed system of Apple. Hardware is very different the iPad cannot and will not always perform like you computer. I sat down to watch Netflix one night and my Internet went down. I thought, well there is one negative of streaming vs DVD. Welcome to Darwin rules of electronics.
If Microsoft bothered to develop software for the iPad, like silverlight, that worked really well Apple would allow it.
Since they don't, it's not on the iPad.
I understand your frustration and you reasoning makes sense but it may be more helpful for you if you try to solve your problem on this site rather that complain about what has happened to you.
This is information from the iTunes store FAQ web site ......
If you download a rented movie on your iPhone 4, iPad, iPod touch (4th generation), or Apple TV: It is not transferable to any other device or computer.
That is the "to the point" part of the FAQ. This is the web site where you can read more if you like.
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1657
If all else fails you can contact the iTunes Store here.
http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/contact.html
Now to try to help you watch the video, try quitting the videos app and restarting the iPad. From your home screen, double tap the home button and the task bar will appear with all of your recent apps. Find the video app. Tap and hold down on the icon until it wiggles and then tap the minus sign in the left corner to close the app. Tap the screen above the task bar to return to the home screen.
Now restart the iPad. Hold down on the sleep button until the red slider appears and then slide to shut it off. Hold the sleep button until the Apple logo appears to start up again.
This may not work, but it's not going to hurt anything and it is worth a try.
Microsoft is fully behind HTML5 as well.
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2011/apr11/04-12mix1pr.mspx
The myth of "it just works"
