Woah woah woah. There are loads of all-format video players for iOS, both universal and ipad optimised, free and costly.

See this list for the current recommended ones:

http://appadvice.com/appguides/show/alternative-video-players

I use AVPlayerHD for my iPad and HD video is smooth as butter. For your DivX (you still use that???) or XVid files you'll have no problem at all, though high bitrate (quality) 1080p may stutter a bit. But then if you've found a torrent source for that, well done you.

Loading video files onto the iPad is easy. Simply plug it in, load up iTunes, go to the "Apps" tab, scroll down a bit, and you'll see a list of apps that can handle side-loading. Your video player will be there, simply click on add files, browse for the films you want, and add.

MUCH better than streaming.

Funkstain wrote:

Woah woah woah. There are loads of all-format video players for iOS, both universal and ipad optimised, free and costly. See this list for the current recommended ones: http://appadvice.com/appguides/show/alternative-video-players I use AVPlayerHD for my iPad and HD video is smooth as butter. For your DivX (you still use that???) or XVid files you'll have no problem at all, though high bitrate (quality) 1080p may stutter a bit. But then if you've found a torrent source for that, well done you. Loading video files onto the iPad is easy. Simply plug it in, load up iTunes, go to the "Apps" tab, scroll down a bit, and you'll see a list of apps that can handle side-loading. Your video player will be there, simply click on add files, browse for the films you want, and add. MUCH better than streaming.

I use AVplayerHD.  It hasn't struggled with any file format I have tried and plays MKV files beautifully.

Funkstain wrote:

Loading video files onto the iPad is easy. Simply plug it in, load up iTunes, go to the "Apps" tab, scroll down a bit, and you'll see a list of apps that can handle side-loading. Your video player will be there, simply click on add files, browse for the films you want, and add. MUCH better than streaming.

... except that with streaming, I can finish watching something on my 360, streamed from the iMac, while curled up on the sofa with my wife, then hop into bed with her, tap a couple of icons, and continue streaming the same video from where we left off on the iPad/iPhone/etc.

It's the convenience I'm after; I'd probably like a cheap app that can handle playing DivX files as you mention, but your solution there isn't better than streaming for me.  I don't mind it being a little bit blocky if it avoids having to pre-load items onto the iPad and guess what we want to watch before we do it.

For when we're away, we'll probably do a split; I might put a couple of things on the iPad for the flight, but the MacBook comes everywhere with us, so it can hold the vast majority of video and we'll just stream it.

Ah right, I get it, sorry.

Yeah Boxee is pretty great for that kind of thing. I was lucky enough to get hold of an app called AirView before it was taken off the app store, which uses Airplay in reverse: you set up your mac as an airplay server and your ipad becomes the client. Works really well (not for DRMed content though) and was free, but hasn't been in the store for a while.

That POS iCloud won't let me change the order of my bookmarks in iPhone Safari.  Anyone know how to fix that?

EDIT: okay, should have poked more before posting; I can reorder them, it's just a massive hassle now.

Elmlea wrote:

Does ANYONE actually have a cellular iPad?

Yes. In the office we have them for our demo's.

What's the question?

There are different models in the US depending on the carrier you want to use the data plan with.

So you would want to purchase the AT&T version as it's GSM and If I remember correctly, the UK only works on GSM.

Honestly, I'm very rarely at any place where I don't have a Wifi connection and I cant do without not receiving my email for a few hours. So in the example you use, I would still only buy a WiFi capable model.

While I dont think you 'need' a 64GB iPad - I would certainlly recommend getting as much storage as you can afford.

Elmlea wrote:

Well, I can afford a 64Gb one, but the tight Scottish part of me would rather hide $100 under the pillow and put up with 32Gb.  With no music on it, no podcasts, and most movies being streamed, I wonder if I'd ever fill it up....? What are your biggest apps?

Biggest apps are games mostly:
Monkey Island, Football Manager, Magic, etc - they're all around a GB.

Netflix and the like are around 10-20MB.

adkm1979 wrote:

Think of it as $100 for an iPad that's essentially twice as good, Elm.

That's a pretty telling thing.  I know you said 16Gb was way small, but is 32Gb likely to be strained?

I've got cellular iPad (bought from my brother). Don't need it, don't use it.

It's 64GB and even with big games and several movies and a fuckton of photos and music it's about 40% full. I would've bought 32GB wifi and, I suppose, eventually put up with space juggling.

Funkstain wrote:

But - what do you plan to do with the saved $100?

Dunno.  Does it matter?  Pay for a fortnight's worth of petrol.

google wrote:

adkm1979 wrote:

Think of it as $100 for an iPad that's essentially twice as good, Elm.

I'm not sure why you've chosen this wordage. The functionality of the device stays the same.

Content is king.

The price comparison's a little scary.

Wifi
16Gb: UK £399, US £315
32Gb: UK £479, US £377
64Gb: UK £559, US £440

4G
16Gb: UK £499, US £396
32Gb: UK £579, US £460
64Gb: UK £659, US £522

Even the iPad 2 is £329 in the UK, £250 in the US.

Yeah, I don't have to pay sales tax either, which is handy.