Jump in the stream with your iPad

Dear PropellerHeads: A few months ago you wrote about some iPad apps. I just got an iPad and was wondering if you could give me some choices for watching videos on it? Thanks.

A: No problem. Besides, I like doing "research" that involves watching movies on my iPad.

What I was talking about a few months ago concerned some nice free iPad apps to get a newbie started. I like free. The only thing better than free is getting paid for something I was going to do anyway.

Some free apps that I mentioned back then were Crackle, HBO Go and Netflix. And before you get all hoity-toity on me, let me qualify free. Although the app itself is free, you may need to pay a subscription fee to the content provider. (Downloading the Netflix app isn't going to do you diddly poo unless you are signed up for Netflix.)

Basically, if you are already paying for cable TV, chances are you can watch much of the same content on your iPad without paying extra for the convenience. I performed an in-depth look at the XFinityapp, as I have Comcast at home. Keep in mind that equivalent apps exist for Verizon FIOS, Direct TV, and so on. What I found is that generally what you can watch On Demand on your TV you can watch on your iPad as well.

That is quite a bit of content at your disposal and all you need to do is remember your cable provider account credentials to get it. If you have subscriptions to Cinemax, HBO, Showtime, Starz, etc., most of that On Demand content comes along for the ride.

I found that the viewing quality was acceptable and that it would work anywhere I could find a wi-fi signal, not just at home. So long, hotel movie fees! The XFinity app also gets you some gee whiz features like browsing the channel guide and changing channels on various TVs throughout your house. What's not to love?

Each of the channels (ABC, NBC, TBS, TNT, etc.) have their own app, including the premium channels (Cinemax, HBO, Showtime, etc.). You think of the channel acronym and there is probably an "app for that." I didn't see much of a difference in content or quality between XFinity and the individual networks' apps. However, the individual networks tend to have a little nicer interface for their own content. So if you find the XFinity UI confusing, you can check out the other ones, but otherwise I wouldn't bother.

I don't have Netflix or Hulu for streaming so I can't comment on those; however, if you are already streaming movies to your computer or TV with them and are getting good results, then you shouldn't have a problem doing the same with your iPad.

Crackle is another alternative that doesn't require you to have any pay TV service. The selections are far more limited and will probably not contain anything recently released, so if you are looking to catch a current episode of a TV show, or the hottest new video, this may not be for you. You will also have to watch a fair amount of advertisements and the video quality may not be as good as some other choices. But after all, it's free TV and movies you can take anywhere.

SnagFilms is another completely free app and specializes in documentaries and indie films. Check it out for some cool short films and obscure movie titles.

So download your apps, nuke some popcorn, grab a two liter of Mountain Dew and you are all set for a movie marathon wherever you are! At least that is what I did when I researched this article.

When the PropellerHeads at Data Directions aren't busy with their IT projects, they love to answer questions on business or consumer technology. Email them to questions@askthepropellerheads.com or contact us at Data Directions Inc., 8510 Bell Creek Road, Mechanicsville, VA 23116. Visit our website at www.askthepropellerheads.com.