Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
What about movies you already own on DVD? Using software such as
HandBrake (
www.handbrake.fr),
you can convert a movie to a digital file
that can be imported into iTunes and synced to the iPad. This option is
great if you're going on a long trip and don't want to bring along a stack
of plastic discs, or for storing kids' entertainment when you don't want
the original disc to be damaged. (The iPad, I predict, is going to become a
favorite for kids and parents on lengthy car or plane trips.)
note
It's worth pointing out here that I'm not a lawyer, and that the prac-
tice of encoding DVDs is technically against the law in the United
States due to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Making digital
copies of movies you've legally purchased seems like a legitimate fair use to me,
and is far preferable to downloading questionably ripped movies from the
Internet. The Electronic Frontier Foundation provides more information about
the topic (
www.eff.org/IP/digitalvideo/).
The iPad is a wireless device, yet you need to connect it to a computer to
sync movies and other entertainment to it over the USB cable. Or do you?
A few wireless options truly let you watch video almost anywhere.
I've watched quite a few movies and TV shows on the iPad, but some-
times I want to watch something on a much bigger screen. If you have
a second-generation Apple TV (the small, black unit) or other AirPlay-
compatible device, you can play a video directly between the iPad and
the Apple TV by tapping one button. AirPlay also works for playing music
to the Apple TV or to an AirPort Express connected to a stereo.
