Yep I've tried .avi tv eps and it plays perfectly fine running off my synology nas. Also tried .mp4 and .mkv all the way up to 1080p with no issues.
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Hands-On With the New Plex App for the Apple TV
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Plex is among the best setups if you want minimal maintenance and a clean interface that the rest of the family can use. It's also great for accessing your media away from home or to weaker devices like the fire stick since the transcoding can be configured on the fly for lower bitrate when needed. However it may be overkill if you just want to get something to playing to you tv.
Also keep in mind that the version currently on the AppleTV is far from done. It was build in just a few weeks and has only basic functionality so far.
Also keep in mind that the version currently on the AppleTV is far from done. It was build in just a few weeks and has only basic functionality so far.
The Plex app is awesome. It would be nice to see the suggestions section expanded a bit (I liked some of the Kodi skins that gave you a totally random selection of titles to choose from if you wanted to just be surprised). That's a very small gripe though; the software looks lovely and clean. Streams start immediately and are very fast and high quality. It streams 1080 movies beautifully on my home network. fast forwarding and reverse is handled really well too.
Since Apple have all but given up on Home Sharing IMHO, i think Plex (or anything like it) is pretty much the way forward so it's good to see they're doing good quality apps. I haven't even opened Home Sharing since i've had the ATV4 so i think turning off my iTunes server is likely the next step.
EDIT: For those not wanting to run a Plex server, a really good alternative (if the iPad version is anything to go by) is Infuse. They've confirmed a version is on it's way for ATV4. It adds all the metadata like Plex does (first run is slow if you have a big library, but stick with it; it's fast when it's all cached). I tried Air Video on iPad but that didn't fill in artwork like Infuse did and wasn't as quality an experience for me.
Since Apple have all but given up on Home Sharing IMHO, i think Plex (or anything like it) is pretty much the way forward so it's good to see they're doing good quality apps. I haven't even opened Home Sharing since i've had the ATV4 so i think turning off my iTunes server is likely the next step.
EDIT: For those not wanting to run a Plex server, a really good alternative (if the iPad version is anything to go by) is Infuse. They've confirmed a version is on it's way for ATV4. It adds all the metadata like Plex does (first run is slow if you have a big library, but stick with it; it's fast when it's all cached). I tried Air Video on iPad but that didn't fill in artwork like Infuse did and wasn't as quality an experience for me.
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Tell us how Plex is less complex than Air Video. Air Video doesn't require an account of any kind. Air Video doesn't even require a connection to the outside world if you don't have one (although that may not be true with the ATV, since Apple will surely want a say in what you are doing). If you want a ton of bells and whistles get Plex. If you want to just watch your videos and have total control over your library get Air Video, especially if you are on an iPad/iPhone -- don't have the TV, so don't know for sure.
I'm currently using a MyGica Android TV box and it works very well but the "Wii" remote situation, while usable, is not as good as I'd like. I was using Kodi on it to play all my movies stored on a Drobo that was directly connected to it but I've since purchased a Synology NAS and run Plex server on that. I'm now running Plex on the Android box. I'm seriously thinking of getting the new AppleTV as I tried the Siri remote in the store and was blown away. My only gripe is I have a huge 4K TV and the Android box does 4K while the AppleTV doesn't. I know there's not a lot of 4K content at the moment, but the TV purchase was a future-proofing thing. I do however notice that 1080P content played on the Android box looks superb on the TV due to the upscaling, most likely from the TV?
The way I see it, by the time content hits a critical mass in 4K, the AppleTV will be updated.
With the addition of the App Store, I expect that Apple will update the AppleTV ever one or two years to a faster CPU/GPU.
I plan to be updating on a regular cycle.
With the addition of the App Store, I expect that Apple will update the AppleTV ever one or two years to a faster CPU/GPU.
I plan to be updating on a regular cycle.
I've got a Synology DS1815+ running plex. Haven't had time to try it with Apple TV. Just installed plex on the NAS. Was just streaming to a Mac mini running kodi before. Going to try plex but sad it doesn't support DTS, DTS-HD and TrueHD. Maybe one day!
Plex supports all of those. Might not work on a Mac or Apple Tv though.
If it needs a server process to be executed on a Mac or a NAS then it's worthless. We need an app that runs the server on the TV itself, that can scan network for media files during all day's idle time in background, so there's no need to keep a computer turned on. Having a Mac AND the TV running at the same time it's nonsense in 2015. Talk about sustainability and power savings too. Sorry Plex, I think I'll pass.
Yea it works on my mac. Just not on Apple TV. Which is why I'm hesitant to make the switch.
Yes, I tried a few and they worked.
[I incorrectly said no earlier, but was incorrect, the Mac running the Plex server wasn't connected to the shared directory that file was in. Poor error message!?!]
Gary
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Please tell us more about this magical storage device that sits on your network serving up files, without using a CPU, or power.
I can't imagine someone preferring Air Video to Plex.
I don't want a file list I want a beautifully organized media library that looks like my own personal Netflix.
My Plex is super fast, super organized, has tons of details like art work, descriptions, episode titles, ratings, theme music. It's like having a legit Netflix customized for you.
Air Video is a generic file list...
Maybe some people want that but if you're running a legitimate home media setup Plex is far far far better than the alternatives.
Yeah, the Apple TV/Apple TV Plex App would have to allow passthrough so the receiver could do the decoding.
Don't know -- it suits my needs without a subscription. Click the link I provided if you want more info. Without a subscription, I do know that you can only work with your own login. Subscribers can create multiple user-accounts within their primary login... your kids, friends, co-workers, whatever. Their website explains this with much more detail and accuracy than I can.
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Don't know, haven't tried air-vid -- read about it, noticed it's very well regarded by those who have left user reviews.
I'm constantly stumbling upon subtle features with Plex -- didn't even know there was a 'Top Shelf' on the AppleTV until I saw the setting in Plex. I thought that top row of apps was Apple-dedicated and static. Found that I could move Plex up there and simply hover over the Plex app to access 'Continue watching' and 'Recently Added' instead of iTunes Movies and iTunes TV Shows. Very nice
Plex is simple to set up, easy to use, and what you may perceive as 'bells & whistles' set the bar for what I would now look for in home media streaming and library management. I like being able to just dump all my media files into the same directory and have Plex sort it all out and present it to me in a slick, polished, and well-organized format. For those who prefer the folders & subfolders UI that air-vid is limited to, it'll do that as well.
Not a debate, I consider consumer choice a good thing. I asked the OP to provide examples to back up his statement -- he didn't, and quite honestly, neither have you.
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Pretty new to the whole NAS game so hopefully my question makes sense:
If I were to have a 1080p h264 encoded file on my Sinology NAS DS215j and I wanted to play it on the ATV4 via Plex, would it be able to do it fine? Or would the limited power of the NAS prevent it, even if the file is h264 based?
If I were to have a 1080p h264 encoded file on my Sinology NAS DS215j and I wanted to play it on the ATV4 via Plex, would it be able to do it fine? Or would the limited power of the NAS prevent it, even if the file is h264 based?
Can confirm. Using a QNAP NAS TS-453 with 16GB of RAM and this thing is blazing fast. Used to have a Mac mini running OS X server. Now i'm spoiled!
I have a synology 411j and plex couldn't convert half the movies because the nas isn't powerful enough....
It may be time to upgrade the nas. Transcoding is a very intensive process. Some nas devices were not built with that capability.
For reference, i'm running a QNAP NAS TS-453 with 16GB RAM, 12TB in RAID6 and it's nasty!!! It transcodes 1080P, while the wife watches KODI, and runs virtualization (Win7) all at the same time without skipping a beat! Gotta love technology!
I've installed Plex on my new Apple TV and so far I'm happy.
As with all new programs Plex does require some improvements, but after using it several days by now I can simply state the benefits and downsides of using Plex on the new Apple TV.
Plus sides:
+ Standalone now so your iPhone / iPad can be used for other things
with plex running on your Apple TV you don't need to use Airplay any longer, this is a big plus since using Airplay with your iPad or iPhone could result in breaking of the connection once you start transporting the signal using Airplay and start browsing at the same time on your iPad or iPhone. For example, when visiting a website that has an mediafile starting to olay automatically would result is breaking of the Airplay, or rather, it would start playing that mediafile of that website instead of continuous playing the moving you're watching.
It's not a deal breaker but I noticed that while watching movies using Airplay I also used the iPad / iPhoen for other purposes sometimes with sometimes bad results for using Airplay.
+ Visually pleasing
I love the fact that every appplication on the new Appe TV has more or les the same 'light' touch concerning look & feel. Browsing through your serie episodes is a joy and fast. It also remembers which episodes you have been watching alltough this requires a reload of the page section. In short, Plex looks great.
- SRT files does not always work
It's not something that can't be fixed, but frustrating none the less. Where all of my srt files works on my iPhone and iPad they don't all work on Plex for Apple TV. Most of them, fortunately, works fine. But this is a serious issue that needs to be addressed.
- Still depending on a server externally
Like the Apple TV foto application Plex also reauires to download the content from an external Plex Server. I'm using my Mac Mini for it that is stored in the attic where I'm working from time to time. A big miss with the current Apple TV is the ability to attach an external drive to it so Plex could access those media files directly. Although my network is fast it does require some time before Plex can fire up the movie or tv episode of choosing. But this is, for me, not a deal breaker because once an episode or movie starts playing it's very stabile, more when compared to the iPad or iPhone.
This aspect is way more disturbing using the photo app on Apple TV, it requires to constanly buffer the pictures from your iCloud and it doesn't store the pictures on your Apple TV.
So both plus and minuses. Overal I experience Plex to be very stable but it does requires some updates but so does Apple TV. Especially the ability to store photo's on your Apple TV from you iCloud permanently and a much much much faster Apple Music. I've got a 211 mbit connection so there should be no excuses why I need to wait 15 secondes, sometimes even longer, before a song is been played. Again same story there, an option to download all of your playlist on your Apple TV.
As with all new programs Plex does require some improvements, but after using it several days by now I can simply state the benefits and downsides of using Plex on the new Apple TV.
Plus sides:
+ Standalone now so your iPhone / iPad can be used for other things
with plex running on your Apple TV you don't need to use Airplay any longer, this is a big plus since using Airplay with your iPad or iPhone could result in breaking of the connection once you start transporting the signal using Airplay and start browsing at the same time on your iPad or iPhone. For example, when visiting a website that has an mediafile starting to olay automatically would result is breaking of the Airplay, or rather, it would start playing that mediafile of that website instead of continuous playing the moving you're watching.
It's not a deal breaker but I noticed that while watching movies using Airplay I also used the iPad / iPhoen for other purposes sometimes with sometimes bad results for using Airplay.
+ Visually pleasing
I love the fact that every appplication on the new Appe TV has more or les the same 'light' touch concerning look & feel. Browsing through your serie episodes is a joy and fast. It also remembers which episodes you have been watching alltough this requires a reload of the page section. In short, Plex looks great.
- SRT files does not always work
It's not something that can't be fixed, but frustrating none the less. Where all of my srt files works on my iPhone and iPad they don't all work on Plex for Apple TV. Most of them, fortunately, works fine. But this is a serious issue that needs to be addressed.
- Still depending on a server externally
Like the Apple TV foto application Plex also reauires to download the content from an external Plex Server. I'm using my Mac Mini for it that is stored in the attic where I'm working from time to time. A big miss with the current Apple TV is the ability to attach an external drive to it so Plex could access those media files directly. Although my network is fast it does require some time before Plex can fire up the movie or tv episode of choosing. But this is, for me, not a deal breaker because once an episode or movie starts playing it's very stabile, more when compared to the iPad or iPhone.
This aspect is way more disturbing using the photo app on Apple TV, it requires to constanly buffer the pictures from your iCloud and it doesn't store the pictures on your Apple TV.
So both plus and minuses. Overal I experience Plex to be very stable but it does requires some updates but so does Apple TV. Especially the ability to store photo's on your Apple TV from you iCloud permanently and a much much much faster Apple Music. I've got a 211 mbit connection so there should be no excuses why I need to wait 15 secondes, sometimes even longer, before a song is been played. Again same story there, an option to download all of your playlist on your Apple TV.