Transfer files to iPad from a Macbook Air instead of home iMac

Question

Transfer files to iPad from a Macbook Air instead of home iMac

Hi all

My wife unfortunately has an extended stay in hospital and I'm trying to find some way of transferring videos to her iPad to help break the boredom. Her iPad is linked to her iMac at home, backs up over iCloud, and we've a Macbook Air with an account linked to her Apple ID and iTunes is authorised against her Apple ID. As I can normally only get there once a day it's not really practical to take the iPad home as she loses it for a day but I can load up the Macbook at home and bring it in.

She has the GoodReader app and I can transfer by creating a WiFi network from the Macbook. This works, but the files are large and it takes quite a long time - most of the visiting time. There's no WiFi in the hospital, otherwise we could probably find some solution where she syncs overnight or something via WiFi. I'm hoping to find some way to do it over the USB connector which should be much quicker, ideally using built in software or Apps.

Thanks for any pointers.

Andrew

Posted on May 18, 2013 3:27 AM

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Answer 1

May 18, 2013 6:20 PM in response to Andrew Beattie

If the videos are on the macbook air, you can sync them to the ipad via itunes.

IOS: Syncing with iTunes

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1386

Apple - Support - iPad - Syncing

http://www.apple.com/support/ipad/syncing/

ITunes: Syncing media content to your iOS devices

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1351

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Answer 2

May 19, 2013 5:12 AM in response to GrumpyGator

Thanks for the pointers.

I had a read through but they seem to be based on the iPad already being tied to the specific computer/iTunes account. I can only sync/transfer videos using iTunes with the MacBook Air if I wipe all of the existing iPad content which I'm trying to avoid. I've made some progress by shrinking the video files so that they transfer more quickly over wifi and it's now a more workable solution, but if there are any options out there for using the cable I'd be happy to hear them.

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Answer 3

Demo

Level 10

166,494 points

May 19, 2013 5:43 AM in response to Andrew Beattie

I don't know how well heeled you are or what financial position you are in, but there are WiFi hard drive that create their own ad-hoc networks that you can transfer the movies to and then stream to the iPad.

http://www.seagate.com/external-hard-drives/portable-hard-drives/wireless/seagat e-satellite

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Answer 4

May 19, 2013 5:45 AM in response to Andrew Beattie

You should be able to 'manually manage photos and videos', in itunes in the macbook air.

Before connecting the ipad to the air, open itunes>preferences>devices> and then check the box 'prevent ipods, ipad, and iphones from syncing automatically'

Then connect ipad to the air, open the ipad in itunes

Go to summary, to the bottom the screen and check box 'manually manage photos and videos'

then go to videos, you should be able to 'drag and drop' the videos you want

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Answer 5

May 19, 2013 7:12 AM in response to GrumpyGator

Perfect, many thanks GrumpyGator. iTunes help took me the rest of the way - can't see how I missed that earlier. Much quicker too as I'd hoped.

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Answer 6

May 19, 2013 7:11 AM in response to Demo

Thanks Demo - that looks very interesting!

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Answer 7

May 19, 2013 7:43 AM in response to Andrew Beattie

Not as user friendly as it could be, but the options are there.

There are other options out there for transfering content between devices, some good cloud based ones, but since video files are traditionally large, not sure which ones would be best. Many only provide a couple of gigs of storage space to start.

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Answer 8

Demo

Level 10

166,494 points

May 19, 2013 8:59 AM in response to Andrew Beattie

And it will obviously hold a whole boatload of movies!

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Answer 9

May 19, 2013 5:53 PM in response to GrumpyGator

>>Not as user friendly as it could be, but the options are there.

I guess we're normally spoiled by it being so easy. Would have been helpful to have a hint/extra line when trying to sync on another iTunes.... Are you sure you want to erase all content, "or would you rather carry out a manual sync". Thanks again, all working well now.

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Answer 10

May 19, 2013 5:59 PM in response to Andrew Beattie

I'm glad its now working for you, and I agree with you🙂

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