videos/ movies on iPad or laptop

we are traveling to Hawaii in 6 weeks and want to have the ability to watch movies/tv shows on my iPad while traveling. What is the best way to do this. I also have a laptop I could use if that is the easier way to accomplish this. I have a subscription to Netflix but I think you have to have the Internet to watch. I am not sure if the airport has free wifi and I know there is not wifi on the plane. Any help/tips/advice is appreciated

nygiants11991 said:

we are traveling to Hawaii in 6 weeks and want to have the ability to watch movies/tv shows on my iPad while traveling. What is the best way to do this. I also have a laptop I could use if that is the easier way to accomplish this. I have a subscription to Netflix but I think you have to have the Internet to watch. I am not sure if the airport has free wifi and I know there is not wifi on the plane. Any help/tips/advice is appreciated

Click to expand...

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1657


Sent from my iPad

THat is handy to know. Still getting used to the iPad, but loving it.

You can rent many movies off ITunes store--it does take a good wifi connection to download, and a bit of time (30 mins or less). Then you have 30 days to watch, and once started, have to finish in 24 hours. Works great.

Also, iPads (on airplane mode) are allowed to be played the entire time. Laptops have to be stowed during take-off and landing.

We have 2 iPad mini's that we use to watch movies. Most of the time we'll rent from the iTunes store. Many of the DVD's we purchase now also have digital download where we have access to them for viewing but, to date I haven't attempted to watch one of those while in flight.

Many of the flights we've been on lately have wifi. Service varies and I'm reasonably certain download times are reflective of how many passengers are utilizing the service at any one time. So far the only one I've really been disappointed with has be SWA's service provided by direct TV. Most of the pages I wanted to view wouldn't load or required me to attempt to access them multiple times. I won't pay for SWA's service again based on that experience.

Keeping that in mind, we download the movies we want to watch a couple of days in advance. There's pretty large files and can take quite a while to download. At home it's not such a big problem but, if we're at a resort where wifi speeds can be iffy, it can take a long time. I generally wait until I'm about ready to turn in for the night, then rent a movie and download it. Then it can take all the time it needs.

Even though I carry a laptop, we use our iPad mini's to watch movies. If the person in front of you reclines it can be a PIA to use a laptop.

Fly Hawaiian, they have iPad minis now for entertainment on board, preloaded with movies, music, etc. $15 coach, included in first class.

ipad

If you have comcast (xfinity), you can use the internet and watch thousands of shows. IF Y OU DON'T have the internet, Xfimity allows you to download many of their movies and programs and then you can watch them WITHOUT the internet. If you have xfinity x-1 platform you can watch the contents of your home DVR. You can also program your dvr remotely to record what you want. There are several other services that you can use depending upon whether you have internet access. It is possible to even watch pirated in theater movies from China if you have the gall to do so.

Has anyone attempted to stream shows using inflight wifi? I have my doubts that it would be very good.

dougp26364 said:

Has anyone attempted to stream shows using inflight wifi? I have my doubts that it would be very good.

Click to expand...

I've done it from a private server and it works, but sometimes buffering takes a while. I wouldn't do it using the current airline wifi setup (but the next gen equipment will be much faster) and is definitely not recommended.


Sent from my iPad

nygiants11991 said:

we are traveling to Hawaii in 6 weeks and want to have the ability to watch movies/tv shows on my iPad while traveling. What is the best way to do this. I also have a laptop I could use if that is the easier way to accomplish this. I have a subscription to Netflix but I think you have to have the Internet to watch. I am not sure if the airport has free wifi and I know there is not wifi on the plane. Any help/tips/advice is appreciated

Click to expand...

I do this all the time. Do you have iTunes on your home computer? Do you sync your iPad to your home computer?

First you need to record, purchase, or download the movies you want, store them on your home computer, and import them into iTunes.

1. Redbox, using an importer/converter (there is a number of good ones)
2. Rent from iTunes store.
3. Purchase from iTunes store.
4. etc...

Second, before you sync your iPad, select which movies you want copied to your iPad.

And don't forget to bring along a headphone splitter, with separate volume controls, for when your SO, who swears he wouldn't get caught dead watching "Pride & Prejudice," wants to hear, too.

http://www.amazon.com/iLuv-Splitter...dphone+splitter+with+separate+volume+controls

Ok so I bought a package (2 movies) from iTunes and one of them shows a cloud at the bottom of the icon, I assume I cannot view this one unless I have internet access. My question is, why would it do that? Was that an option I choose?

nygiants11991 said:

Ok so I bought a package (2 movies) from iTunes and one of them shows a cloud at the bottom of the icon, I assume I cannot view this one unless I have internet access. My question is, why would it do that? Was that an option I choose?

Click to expand...

Click the cloud and it will download. Yes, you need Internet access to download the movie.


Sent from my iPad

nygiants11991 said:

Ok so I bought a package (2 movies) from iTunes and one of them shows a cloud at the bottom of the icon, I assume I cannot view this one unless I have internet access. My question is, why would it do that? Was that an option I choose?

Click to expand...

It gives you the option to keep the movie in your cloud (ergo the cloud) and stream it to your device. Why would you want to do that? To save disk space or to access it via multiple devices.

As Ken said, just click on the clould and it will download it to your device. You need to have internet access while it's downloading, but once it's done, it will be available to watch offline.

If I download it to my device can I put it back on the cloud after watching?

nygiants11991 said:

If I download it to my device can I put it back on the cloud after watching?

Click to expand...

Yes, if you OWN it. But if you rent it, it just disappears after a time (48 hours?) after you start watching it. It 'lives in your device for a few weeks if you don't start watching rentals.

Passepartout said:

Yes, if you OWN it. But if you rent it, it just disappears after a time (48 hours?) after you start watching it. It 'lives in your device for a few weeks if you don't start watching rentals.

Click to expand...

http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT1657

Rentals stay for 30 days but once started it will automatically be removed in 24 hours if in the US and 48 hours if elsewhere.


Sent from my iPad

If you're going away for a while and want to keep in touch with home TV, buy a Slingbox...and get the app for iPad. Anything you can see at home, even HBO can be viewed anywhere you have Wifi...but you have to adjust for the time difference. In some countries you can't get much in English and get tired of CNN reruns. I love Slingbox.

http://www.slingbox.com/

Brian

LisaRex said:

And don't forget to bring along a headphone splitter, with separate volume controls, for when your SO, who swears he wouldn't get caught dead watching "Pride & Prejudice," wants to hear, too.

http://www.amazon.com/iLuv-Splitter...dphone+splitter+with+separate+volume+controls

Click to expand...

Hi Lisa,

Thanks for the good laugh


Richard