iPad: The Missing Manual

Chapter 14. Watch Videos

Apple started putting video-playback powers on its iPods back in 2005. Over the past five years, the devices’ screen sizes have gradually increased from 2.5 inches on that very first video iPod to the iPad’s majestic 9.7 inches of high-resolution, backlit real estate. It’s perfect for immersing yourself in the movie in your hand—or watching it inflight with your spouse on a shared pair of headphones while crammed into a couple of knee-knocking coach seats.

You and your iPad can get video in all sorts of ways. You can use iTunes to buy, rent, or stream movies, TV shows, music videos, and video podcasts; download iPad apps from the App Store; tap websites via Safari, and load the iPad’s built-in YouTube application (discussed back in Chapter 6).

And if the whole family wants to watch a video, you can connect your iPad to your TV and move to an even bigger screen.

From getting video content onto your tablet to sharing it once it’s there, this chapter guides you through one of the most fun parts of the iPad experience.

Get Video on Your iPad

Depending on what you want to watch and where you want to watch it, you can get movies moving on your iPad screen in a variety of ways. Here are the common methods of video acquisition:

• The iTunes Store, desktop edition. You can shop the iTunes Store in your computer’s window, browsing through the hundreds of movies, TV shows, video ...