TV is like PC, they're both passe'! At least NOW they are, thanks to iPad and iPad mini. Why watch a broadcast when you can watch a podcast? Why wait until the program is scheduled when you can now watch the program when it fits into YOUR schedule! Sure, live TV has a little edge, but it's REALLY GREAT to watch what you want, when and WHERE you want!

Watching iPad media over Wi-Fi - two things to know!

Using a new iPad and a 5ghz wi-fi router with high quality Australian cabled broadband (Telstra) to the house, the media streaming from YouTube, websites and in-App videos (like TED) is AMAZING!  Really!  A few seconds to get loading and ZOOM, usually the entire video plays back without 'buffering' or lagging.  Wonderful stuff.   

Buffering, lagging and patiently waiting

HOWEVER, We had an (albeit old) Linksys wireless router and neither YouTube nor any of the media players or radio streamers would work without LOTS of 'buffering' or 'waiting for data'. 

This was frustrating.  

This is because the router we used was of the 802.11b standard which only delivered a data rate of 11Mbps.  

This meant that my router could only send data THAT FAST, and therefore the lag.  

Nothing to do with my broadband or iPad, but my WI-FI HARDWARE.  

We now have an Apple TimeCapsule which has an inbuilt wi-fi network using the 5 GHz frequency and transfers data at a rate of 54Mbps. 

The smooth seamless streaming media experience we now love (and expect) with our iPads.   

Apple TV is amazing