Getting files to/from iPad and taking an iPad to Germany

[r-sky]

I have ordered a 32G WiFi iPad. I have never owned an iPhone or iTouch, but do have a few iPods.

I have a few questions that I could not find answers for after I did a search on this forum. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

1.) From reading numerous posts, it sounds to me like you are able to connect and download media (songs, books, movies) via iTunes directly to your iPad. Is this correct?
(I expect that if it is true, then when you sync your iPad with your computer, it downloads the new stuff onto your hard drive.)

2.) I know you are able to upload files to your iPad via email attachments and cloud net-works (e.g. Dropbox), as well as my assumption of downloading media via iTunes.
If there are all these different ways to get files (pictures, media, PDFs, documents, etc.) to your iPad without syncing to your computer via iTunes. Then can you go days/weeks and even months without doing a iTunes sync?
(I know you'll need to sync to iTunes for software upgrades and backing up your files, but other than those activities, do you ever need to sync to your computer?)

3.) I will be traveling to Germany for a month this coming winter and wonder if I need to do anything different in the iPad's set-up to be able to connect via WiFi in Germany or other places in Europe with a Wi-Fi iPad that is enabled in the U.S.

Thanks for any help on answering my questions!

 

[pelicanflip]

1) Yes, you can download content from iTunes directly to your iPad. You can either download from the computer and sync to your iPad, or download directly on the iPad itself from the App Store or iTunes Store.

2) It'd be best for you to manually sync everything to your iTunes, because it allows you to backup everything you have on your iPad. Other apps like Dropbox allow you to export files to a third-party server, so yes, you can get files off of your iPad that way, but they aren't automatically saved to your iTunes library thay way.

It's best to sync to iTunes, just to be safe. When you sync to iTunes, you could always choose what things you want to sync, if you are worried about the time it takes to backup your iPad.

3) I'm pretty sure all you need to do is connect to WiFi and you'll be fine.



I have a 32 GB WiFi iPad as well. Welcome to the club.

 

[r-sky]

Thanks 'pelicanflip' for your quick and helpful response!

However, I still have questions related to #2 - not having to sync to iTunes for days/weeks:

a) I understand the manual sync, but why do you need to back it up so often? Does the iPad or OS crash often and you lose files not backed-up (synced)?

b) Also, I plan on downloading files from Dropbox to my iPad more than uploading them from my iPad. (I plan to use it often to read PDFs and other docs from work. Short of a USB drive, I want an easy way to load them to my iPad not using iTunes all the time.) Is this a reasonable assumption that I could do it without a computer/iTunes sync always around?

 

[pelicanflip]

Thanks 'pelicanflip' for your quick and helpful response!

However, I still have questions related to #2 - not having to sync to iTunes for days/weeks:

a) I understand the manual sync, but why do you need to back it up so often? Does the iPad or OS crash often and you lose files not backed-up (synced)?

b) Also, I plan on downloading files from Dropbox to my iPad more than uploading them from my iPad. (I plan to use it often to read PDFs and other docs from work. Short of a USB drive, I want an easy way to load them to my iPad not using iTunes all the time.) Is this a reasonable assumption that I could do it without a computer/iTunes sync always around?

A) It's not a necessity. For example: I've synced my iPad to my laptop once since I've purchased it on the launch date, and haven't synced it since.

It's a matter of personal preference and backing up whatever apps and content you may have purchased on the iPad itself. Personally, my iPad has never really crashed or lagged, plus I'm sorta lazy about resyncing my iPad

B) I'm sure you'd be able to, as long as you have a connection to WiFi. The only reason I'd see you needing to sync to your iTunes is if you wanted another backup of your PDF's or documents.

Hope that helps.

 

[r-sky]

THANKS!

Helps out tremendously. Now I can't wait to have it in my hands and start playing - I mean working!

 

[pelicanflip]

THANKS!

Helps out tremendously. Now I can't wait to have it in my hands and start playing - I mean working!

No problem. Enjoy your iPad on your trip to Germany