The cloud is one way around iTunes for sure. But i wasnt really talking so much about cloud music and how great i think it is. I certainly know its been out for a decade. I more invoked it as a possible work around for iTunes. I use Amazons cloud sometimes now but not often. Mostly if I buy an album on the road I sometimes hold it there and transfer it to the NAS media server later. I'm pretty sure we can still get that on iPad through the safari browser. I was more worried about local copies for travel as his iPad is wifi only. And things like plane trips seemingly still require local copies (as not every carrier or even airport offers free wifi.)
So if I buy space on web DAV can I overwrite the local files on the iPad with it? Playing from the cloud is ok but he'll probably want to add albums I buy and add to the media server. I guess I wouldn't mind using web DAV as a workaround but I dont like having to upload and maintain music files in two places (ie both
Amazon and WebDAV.)
Obviously my most preferable solution is to be able to download local copies from my files on my media server. All I'm saying here is iTunes doesnt work at all with my existing infastructure. I like the device...but I just bought an album my husband would like to listen to on an upcoming trip. I have no idea how to get that from my existing media server to his iPad. I guess I copy it to the NAS, put the folders on his computer hard drive, add the folder to iTunes and re-sync. Probably a half hour process. I just want to make sure there isn't a better way (ie app) that can do this.
I'm not anti iPad. I just can't use one. I need to be able to take and put files copies from multiple server storage folders at various field offices. Not to a cloud. Not to a dropbox. To an server. Thats how its setup. I can't change that. To my knowledge iPad can't do this without an iTunes installation. I cannot sync iPad to 8-10 different servers. I don't dislike the iPad. I bought one for my husband. But I just can't use it. It was not a purchase option. I like the Xoom a lot as a device in and of itself. Like the iPad its a really excellent device. But the most important consideration was that I can use it for what I need it for.
EDIT: I Just want to add I hope I'm not coming off as totally lazy here. as someone earlier said, sync it once and be done. Even if I update the files with an iTunes sync once a week...no biggie. Realistically this isn't a ton of upkeep. Couple hours a week maybe. I was just hoping there'd be a better way to integrate it with existing infrastruture. I know iPad will be used a lot.more than Touch. So I'm just trying to make it as easily as possible.
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