As I am used to watching streaming video from Netflix and Hulu Plus, I was astounded to discover that iTunes requires you to download the video first even on the Apple TV. This can take like 30 minutes to an hour! I don't know the exact time because I usually abort because I don't want to wait. [OK, here's a guide as to how long it should take.]
Of course, after you download it, you can watch right away. But there goes all that space on my iPad.
Amazon Instant Video, on the other hand, is more like Netflix and Hulu Plus in that it streams from the cloud (after buffering for like 10 or 15 seconds or so) and doesn't take up space on your device.
So a big disadvantage in my book for iTunes videos.
Funny nobody seems to mention this in their reviews.
Well, this guy mentioned the problem, but the responders apparently have no clue.
Or maybe there's something wrong on my network?
Looking at this answer, it sounds like you can stream from itunes on the computer, but you have to download first before watching on iPhone or iPad.
OK, trying Tiny House Nation which I had purchased earlier (well it was free so I don't know if you can call it a purchase). I'm accessing on iTunes on my computer. It downloaded for a little while (a couple of minutes), then said it was ready for viewing. Apparently it downloaded/buffered enough to start viewing, but didn't complete download. Well, the controls are there but it ain't playing. Still downloading. Yeah, iTunes sucks. Don't have this problem with Amazon Instant Video. 68 more minutes. Forget it. Abort.
Apparently it's supposed to stream without downloading on the Apple TV. (So why do I have to wait so long?)
OK, let's try Tiny House Nation on the Apple TV again. Play from the beginning. It's now 11:43. At 11:44, it says ready to play in 3 minutes. OK, that's not so bad. Now 1 minute. Starts playing at 11:46 AM.
OK, let's try the 3 minutes long Scorpion: Behind The Scenes. Press play at 11:53. Hey, started playing after like 5 seconds.
OK, now that Tiny House Nation is playing quickly on the Apple TV, let's see how it plays on the computer.
Run iTunes. Check for updates. 12.1.2 is available. Current version is 12.01.26. WTH, let's update it. Update QuickTime (to 7.7.6) while I'm at it.
Not so fast, when back to Tiny House Nation (actually FYI Networks First Look) and resumed. Ready to play in 3 hours 7 minutes :( iTunes sucks. Well maybe the fact that I'm downloading/updating QuickTime and iTunes on my computer at the same time isn't helping.) Now 3 hours 28 minutes.
OK, didn't have to wait the 3 hours. Or even the 28 minutes. A couple of minute after iTunes finished downloading, the video started.
OK iTunes updated. Go to purchased (click the down arrow to the right of my name). Then choose TV shows. Nothing happens when I click on the icon. Evidently I have two choices. I can click on the x at the upper left to hide the item off the list. (To get it back, go to Account Info, iTunes in the Cloud, Hidden Purchases, Manage, TV Shows, Unhide.) Or I can click the cloud symbol at the upper right.have to click on the cloud symbol at the upper right of the icon. Then it starts to download. Showing Downloading 1 item at the top. Then after several seconds, a windows pops up saying it's ready to watch. The choices are to Play TV Show Now or Watch Later. Let's Play. The player comes up. Wait. It's now 12:45. Hmm. The marker wasn't at the beginning, I guess it was where I had left off on the iPad. Move it to the beginning and click play. Now the video is playing!
Play for a while, close window, TV shows from the iTunes Store are being downloaded. Are you sure you want to quit? Quit.
OK, let's try it on the iPad. Used 11.2 GB (6.0 GB of photos & camera) Available 1.6 GB. It also says iCloud total storage is 1.0 GB and available 1.0 GB. But when I go to manage storage, it says on the bottom 5.0 GB available of 5.0 GB on iCloud.
Whatever. Go to Videos. Tiny House Nation. Touch the small picture on the right of the big picture. The video window comes up. Move white dot at top to the beginning of video. Video starts to play then stops with the network thingie going in a circle. I guess it's downloading the video. Wait a little while and tap play. OK it's playing. Turn on closed caption. That works too.
Maybe it's downloading to iCloud. And once it's downloaded there, the other devices stream from iCloud? I'll wait for the video to complete playing then check my storage on the iPad.
OK, played to about the 7 minute mark and stopped. I guess it's pausing it's breath to reload.
Forget it. Abort. Used is now 11.5 GB with 1.3 GB available. How do I get back that storage?
Well according to this, the item is stored on iCloud and not on my device. So why do I have 300 MB less space now?
OK, try this to delete videos. General, Usage, Videos. Don't see any videos. OK, maybe it ain't on my iPad.
Sign in to Amazon Instant Video. Apparently you have the option to download or stream. Click play. It plays right away. Why can't iTunes do that?
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