14 DAY TRIAL // In a move that may seriously affect Apple’s potential plans for a cloud-based iTunes, UK retailer PC World has launched an iPad Media Streaming service designed in collaboration with Livedrive, allowing iPad owners to store 100GB of data online.
As simple as it sounds, after activating the iPad Media Streaming online service, the content a customer chooses to store can be accessed and played through live streaming via a 3G or Wi-Fi.
And if there's somehing Apple fans like, it's the simplicity that comes with their gadgets, and the services leveraged by the hardware.
The service costs £39.99 (roughly $60) per year, according to thetechguys.com.
Purchasable at PC World stores throughout the UK, iPad Media Streaming lets customers back up 100GB worth of files from a Mac or PC.
Then, these files become immediately accessible on the iPad over a wireless network. Users will no longer need to store all their music and videos on the iPad’s limited flash memory.
TechGuys notes that “You will need an iTunes account to download the Media Stream app.
According to a Livedrive rep, the app is currently available in the UK iTunes App Store (thanks for the heads up, Jamie!).
Users will reportedly be able to stream music, videos and photos from multiple Macs and PCs to their iPad over their home network.
Key features of iPad Media Streaming are listed as follows:
- Your entire digital music collection at your fingertips and available to stream directly to your iPad.
- Browse your photo library from your iPad, you can even upload them to Facebook or Flickr at the tap of a button!
- Any videos or movies stored on your home computer can be instantly accessed through your iPad, wherever you are.
- Relax in the knowledge that your files are safe in our carrier-grade data centres. 100GB storage capacity; that's up to 6 times your iPad's internal harddrive!
Apple is known to be adding the final touch to a data center the company has built in North Carolina.
An upcoming cloud-based iTunes may soon harness its power to deliver content to every iOS device owner out there.
Apple has already made the first step towards transitioning users to a streaming lifestyle, by launching an Apple TV based entirely on this concept.
The device lacks a hard drive, and relies solely on renting content from the iTunes Store.
“Everything you want to watch — movies, TV shows, photos, and more — streams wirelessly to Apple TV,” Apple outlines, in the product’s description.
“That way you don’t have to worry about managing storage or syncing to your iTunes library.”
“HD movie and TV show rentals play over the Internet to your widescreen TV, while music and photos stream from your computer. Either way, all you have to do is click and play,” Apple explains.
Update: the article has been modified to remove a statement saying that the iPad Media Streaming app was not available on the Apple App Store.
While this is true for the US store, it is not for the UK store, where customers can immediately download the app.