iPad Wish the iPad will be able to do this one day...

[Digitalguy]

I was taking advantage of the holidays to watch some movies. I used my Galaxy Tab S7+. One thing I really like is the ability to seamlessly move from watching it around the house while doing other things (by the way, the magnetic kickstand cover is great for that and it's lighter than iPad pro 12.9 plus smart covert) and then just plugging it into a monitor and continue watching it there via Dex (while still being able to use the tablet, as Dex is set to be only on the external screen when plugged into it... )
The iPad would just mirror its display with its bad aspect ratio for movies, while the Samsung tablet adapts to the external display and remains completely available for use as a tablet...
Then sure there are also the nice deep blacks of the oled screen, which are great for 21:9 movies with big black bars even on a 16:10 display. Hope the iPad pro will be able to do it at some point (the 12.9in one for me, as I don't like to watch these widescreen movies on anything less than 12in...). Hopefully iPadOS 15?

 

[sparksd]

I was taking advantage of the holidays to watch some movies. I used my Galaxy Tab S7+. One thing I really like is the ability to seamlessly move from watching it around the house while doing other things (by the way, the magnetic kickstand cover is great for that and it's lighter than iPad pro 12.9 plus smart covert) and then just plugging it into a monitor and continue watching it there via Dex (while still being able to use the tablet, as Dex is set to be only on the external screen when plugged into it... )
The iPad would just mirror its display with its bad aspect ratio for movies, while the Samsung tablet adapts to the external display and remains completely available for use as a tablet...
Then sure there are also the nice deep blacks of the oled screen, which are great for 21:9 movies with big black bars even on a 16:10 display. Hope the iPad pro will be able to do it at some point (the 12.9in one for me, as I don't like to watch these widescreen movies on anything less than 12in...). Hopefully iPadOS 15?

How are you watching the movies? Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu and Apple TV all play full screen on an attached monitor as do streaming apps like Infuse and nPlayer.

 

[Digitalguy]

How are you watching the movies? Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu and Apple TV all play full screen on an attached monitor as do streaming apps like Infuse and nPlayer.

As a file. I have a big collection of ripped DVDs and Bluerays which I turned into digital files and put them on the 512GB microsd card of my tablet. I know, most people stream. But I like to have my big collection of movies. I started in the 90s with VHS, then moved to DVD and blueray, now all digital. The one I was watching today was Terminator 2 in 4k.

 

[sparksd]

As a file. I have a big collection of ripped DVDs and Bluerays which I turned into digital files and put them on the 512GB microsd card of my tablet. I know, most people stream. But I like to have my big collection of movies. I started in the 90s with VHS, then moved to DVD and blueray, now all digital. The one I was watching today was Terminator 2 in 4k.

Exactly what I do - I have a huge collection of ripped Blu-Ray movies that I stream from my NAS, attached external storage (SSD) and stored on the iPad. All play full screen on a monitor or TV using Infuse and nPlayer.

 

[Digitalguy]

Exactly what I do - I have a huge collection of ripped Blu-Ray movies that I stream from my NAS, attached external storage (SSD) and stored on the iPad. All play full screen on a monitor or TV using Infuse and nPlayer.

Ok, interesting, so with a NAS you can wirelessly stream your local files on your tabet as if they were running locally, right? And then connect to any monitor via HDMI and the player will work full screen I guess.
I have never thought of this option and hopefully at some point iPad will be able to do it natively without a NAS, but it's good to know there is already a way to do it.

 

[Deliro]

Ok, interesting, so with a NAS you can wirelessly stream your local files on your tabet as if they were running locally, right? And then connect to any monitor via HDMI and the player will work full screen I guess.
I have never thought of this option and hopefully at some point iPad will be able to do it natively without a NAS, but it's good to know there is already a way to do it.

The aspect ratio is 4:3, so there are black bars on the sides. It's a weakness of the iPad. That is of course you have a 4:3 monitor. Most people don't buy those anymore, but they can be had.

 

[Digitalguy]

The aspect ratio is 4:3, so there are black bars on the sides. It's a weakness of the iPad.

Yeah, on the tablet there is no way and with 21.9 movies it's pretty bad. Also I have just checked the apps and it does not work with the free version. I am trying to understand if it's a one time purchase or a subscription as it proposed to subscribed when I tried to do it...

 

[ericwn]

Ok, interesting, so with a NAS you can wirelessly stream your local files on your tabet as if they were running locally, right? And then connect to any monitor via HDMI and the player will work full screen I guess.
I have never thought of this option and hopefully at some point iPad will be able to do it natively without a NAS, but it's good to know there is already a way to do it.

I’m thinking of going the NAS route for our home movie collection too. Some devices can also create a Plex server directly running on the NAS - and I could then just use the Plex app from the App Store for my Apple TV / iPad and stream there.

 

[Digitalguy]

I’m thinking of going the NAS route for our home movie collection too. Some devices can also create a Plex server directly running on the NAS - and I could then just use the Plex app from the App Store for my Apple TV / iPad and stream there.

Is Plex a subscription-based app? I have seen ads for it, so I guess it's not free

 

[sparksd]

The aspect ratio is 4:3, so there are black bars on the sides. It's a weakness of the iPad. That is of course you have a 4:3 monitor. Most people don't buy those anymore, but they can be had.

There are no side black bars when streaming wide screen video on the monitor. The player apps use correct aspect ratio and the screen is not just mirrored.

 

[rui no onna]

Ok, interesting, so with a NAS you can wirelessly stream your local files on your tabet as if they were running locally, right? And then connect to any monitor via HDMI and the player will work full screen I guess.
I have never thought of this option and hopefully at some point iPad will be able to do it natively without a NAS, but it's good to know there is already a way to do it.

You don't need a NAS for full screen playback. If Infuse can play full screen via HDMI for shared/streamed videos, it will do the same for local files.

As for Infuse, you have two options for Pro features:

1. Infuse Pro 6 standalone version ($26.99) - won't get major updates (e.g. 4 -> 5 -> 6 are all separate purchases), allows Family Sharing

2. Infuse subscription ($0.99 monthly, $9.99 yearly, $59.99 lifetime) - you always get the latest version

I use 1:1 4K UHD and Blu-ray rips which is why I need the Pro version (for audio track). Don't know if that's needed just for HDMI out.

I don't have a Lightning to HDMI adapter. We've got AppleTVs so we just stream directly from NAS SMB shares to Infuse for AppleTV.

 

[sparksd]

Yeah, on the tablet there is no way and with 21.9 movies it's pretty bad. Also I have just checked the apps and it does not work with the free version. I am trying to understand if it's a one time purchase or a subscription as it proposed to subscribed when I tried to do it...

I use the free version of Infuse and it works with an SMB connection to the NAS. I use the lowest-price version of nPlayer and it works the same. I like nPlayer because it has better playback options for video (saturation, etc.).

 

[ericwn]

Is Plex a subscription-based app? I have seen ads for it, so I guess it's not free

The app was a one time purchase thing. They do offer additional services that tie into the software, if needed, but I don’t have these.

 

[rui no onna]

Is Plex a subscription-based app? I have seen ads for it, so I guess it's not free

Free download with in-app purchases (both one-time and subscription) to unlock features.

 

[Digitalguy]

I use the free version of Infuse and it works with an SMB connection to the NAS. I use the lowest-price version of nPlayer and it works the same. I like nPlayer because it has better playback options for video (saturation, etc.).

Infuse refused to open my 4k Mkv local file, telling me I need the pro version

 

[sparksd]

Infuse refused to open my 4k Mkv local file, telling me I need the pro version

ah, one of the pro features. I've used it with mp4 but now I always use nPlayer.

 

[AutomaticApple]

Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu and Apple TV all play full screen

What about the black bars though?

 

[sparksd]

What about the black bars though?

Yeah, black bars top and bottom, size depending on the aspect ratio of the video. Which I want.

 

[Deliro]

There are no side black bars when streaming wide screen video on the monitor. The player apps use correct aspect ratio and the screen is not just mirrored.

Ok. Cool. If I’m local (at home) I don’t prefer the iPad with a monitor as my movie watching medium so I never tried. Just tried to use it for apps and it wasn’t a good experience. Thanks for the correction.

 

[sparksd]

Ok. Cool. If I’m local (at home) I don’t prefer the iPad with a monitor as my movie watching medium so I never tried. Just tried to use it for apps and it wasn’t a good experience. Thanks for the correction.

Yeah, I've used it to try it out but the 12.9 Pro screen is really nice and if I really want larger, I've got a 4K TV to use.

 

[sparksd]

Ok. Cool. If I’m local (at home) I don’t prefer the iPad with a monitor as my movie watching medium so I never tried. Just tried to use it for apps and it wasn’t a good experience. Thanks for the correction.

Aspect ratio matching on a monitor is one of those most-requested features for iPadOS. Simple mirroring of the screen with its 4:3 aspect ratio is the primary reason I rarely connect a monitor.

 

[Astonish_IT]

iPad Pro is my fav device, but I am definitely jealous of the DeX on Samsung S7+ series. Samsung S7+ is a great device too, but it's biggest flow, which is not really Samsung's mistake, is the lack of Android Tablet Software support compared the ones on iPad Pro. Even on iPad Pro there isn't much pro apps, I mean still the publishing/mise-en-page is not well covered lacking softwares like inDesign or Affinity Publisher and also on 3D modelling there is some long way to go.

I should admit that I envy you having both S7+ and iPad Pro, I think that it is a winning combo. Enjoy!

 

[ericwn]

iPad Pro is my fav device, but I am definitely jealous of the DeX on Samsung S7+ series. Samsung S7+ is a great device too, but it's biggest flow, which is not really Samsung's mistake, is the lack of Android Tablet Software support compared the ones on iPad Pro. Even on iPad Pro there isn't much pro apps, I mean still the publishing/mise-en-page is not well covered lacking softwares like inDesign or Affinity Publisher and also on 3D modelling there is some long way to go.

I should admit that I envy you having both S7+ and iPad Pro, I think that it is a winning combo. Enjoy!

I really don’t think any pro publishing is meant for iPad until it gets the same support for external monitors like a MacBook has.

 

[Astonish_IT]

I really don’t think any pro publishing is meant for iPad until it gets the same support for external monitors like a MacBook has.

Why do you think like this? Because of the screen size? I think that I could definitely make a brochure on 12.9 iPad Pro. Obviously external screen support could help, but it is still very doable. Like LumaFusion, many people who edit their videos, use external monitors with their computers, but still, many edits on iPad Pro in LumaFusion as well. So, I think this could be still very possible. Even tho I use external monitors at home, in the office I use my 15" Macbook Pro and I have no problem to do brochures and such.

Affinity had said that they are working on the iPad version of the publisher, I hope that it comes soon.

 

[chrism_scotland]

How are you watching the movies? Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu and Apple TV all play full screen on an attached monitor as do streaming apps like Infuse and nPlayer.

Is it still the case that you can't use the iPad screen while your using one of those apps on an attached monitor?