subject: 8 Ways Of Showing You Guide To Watch Videos On The Ipad [print this page]
The iPad is a solid video-playing machine. But you have a whole slew of choices when it comes to finding and watching videos on the new tablet. Which is right for you? Lets explore your options.
Load Videos From iTunes
This is the way Apple would prefer you do things, as it would presumably involve you paying them for the videos youre watching. Its probably the most idiot-proof way of watching TV shows and movies (provided theyre in the iTunes Store), but its also going to fill up your iPads hard drive really quickly. If you want toload the iPad up with your own ripped or downloaded videos, theyll need to be 720p or less and in h.264. Check out Joels in-depth post on this very subject for more details on that.
Air Video App
This great app is the perfect solution for people who store lots of videos on their computer but want to watch them on their iPhone. And an iPad version is currently awaiting review from Apple. When its approved, it will probably be the best option for watching downloaded or ripped videos on your iPad without stuffing the hard drive.
Netflix App
The official Netflix app is free, although in order to use it youll need to be a paying Netflix member. It allows you to stream the same shows and movies available online and on the various consoles and devices that already support Netflix streaming.
Hulu App
This hasnt officially been announced yet, but the scuttlebutt has it that theHulu app will be Hulus first foray into paid subscription services. That means youll probably have to pay for the right to stream all its content to your iPad, although just how much isnt clear.
YouTube App
The iPads built-in YouTube App clearly will let youwatch YouTube videos on your tablet. Of course, full TV shows and movies arent really what YouTube is all about, but for music videos and other standard YouTube fare this is clearly where youll head
ABC App
ABCs iPad app will let you stream any of their shows, but unfortunately its the only network offering iPad streaming up. CBSs TV.com iPhone app will work if youre really desperate for CSI, but itll be ugly as sin. Hopefully theyll update it for the iPad soon.
HTML5-Supporting Video Sites
Vimeo is set to work on the iPad thanks to its conversion to HTML5. Flickr, too. CBS is also currently testing its streaming content in HTML5. And hey, Gizmodos (and all Gawker sites) own video player is now HTML5-friendly, so those videos will play on the iPad as well. With other sites such as the NY Times, CNN and TED switching to an HTML5 video player, there should be plenty of options for you to view web-based videos inside of Safari.
