TV Anytime is a mobile app that lets you download any media content from your PC wirelessly to your mobile device. You can upload your entire DVD library to your iPad or mobile device (if you have the memory, of course) without having to re-purchase it on iTunes, Netflix or whatever streaming media provider you use. 

Set-up does take a couple of steps because you have to download the $4.99 app onto your device, then the software onto your PC, and sign up for an account. And I'm not crazy about the fact that the only option for creating an account is by logging in through Facebook--there should be a way to create an account through the TV Anytime website. That said, once you're all set up, it's pretty neat that I can have that Cars 2 DVD playing on my computer and then on my iPad.

You can access other media content through the app as well--TV shows like Glee, Gossip Girls, Fringe-- but the real differentiator for TV Anywhere is being able to transfer your library of DVDs at home to your device. 

Keep in mind that taking advantage of this feature definitely takes planning - something you need anyway if you're embarking on a long road trip with kids. The DVD "ripper" function on the app needs the entirety of content to be played out before uploading to the iPad. So, I had to have the entire Pixar flick playing in the background while I worked, and the upload still didn't start until the movie was over.  Just be prepared that if there are a handful of movies you want to transfer, you'll need a day or two to get everything locked and loaded. 

However the great thing is that once the content is uploaded, you don't have to worry about finding a WiFi or 3G network to press play.

Anything that helps lessen whine frequency to any degree is a road trip savior in my book. -Jeana