The 2013 iPad + iPad mini Buyers' Guide, From iLounge.com

iPad + iPad mini Buyers’ Guide
THE 2013 ipad family
MP4/H.264 Videos
Apple’s iTunes Store is the exclusive direct-to-iPad vendor of
videos, including TV shows, music videos, and movies. The
quality of these videos is high: iTunes now sells full HD (1080p)
TV shows and movies from many major studios, as well as
lower-resolution 720p and DVD-quality versions that still
look great on older iPads’ screens. However, iTunes videos are
expensive, with TV shows commonly selling for $2-$3 each,
and movies for $10-$15; high-definition versions typically cost
$15-$20. Rentals are also an option, for $1-$5 per video. While
Apple has quality on its side, and iTunes-purchased videos can
now be streamed from iTunes in the Cloud for free in some
countries, subscription-based alternatives are viable, too.
In the United States, many new TV shows are also available
through Hulu Plus, an iOS app with an $8 monthly all-you-canwatch
subscription fee. Hulu also offers a number of decent
movies, but it’s strongest for U.S. network TV. Competitor
Netflix offers a $8 monthly subscription with unlimited
iOS and Apple TV streaming access to a huge collection of
second-run videos, including older movies, children’s content,
documentaries, and past seasons of many popular TV shows.
While Amazon and other companies sell some of the same
TV shows and movies as Apple does, the compatibility of the
video files varies, and the price differences are rarely as sharp
as with music sold through iTunes. Our advice is to choose
a video subscription service so you can stream the type of
content you prefer, and make selected purchases from iTunes
or your favorite DVD vendor, ripping videos using an app such
as Handbrake if that’s legal in your country.
iPad Apps + Games
Once again, Apple is the sole official direct-to-iPad
provider of applications and games. While there are
competitors to its App Store, they are only available
to users who ‘jailbreak’ (hack) their iOS devices, and
Apple has effectively frozen app rivals out by denying
warranty coverage to jailbreakers. For this reason, we
do not recommend jailbreaking.
The App Store is an incredible source of new software
for iPad owners: today, there are over 300,000 apps
and games with iPad support, the best of which have
been featured in iLounge’s Guides. Prices range from
free to $999, with the average game price slightly below $1, and the average app price under $2. That
said, top games often debut at $5 or $10 prices before falling lower. Today, almost all titles are $5 or
less, and around 56% are free, though many developers use in-app purchases to charge you later.
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