Hands-On With the New Plex App for the Apple TV

[Analog Kid]

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.

I have, and most of the other help files. They describe the benefits of a Plex Pass by saying what "you" can do but they don't indicate whether "you" are a user or a server administrator. At the price, I'd hope it's per server-- buy one so my whole family can download material to their mobile devices for offline viewing-- but it's not explicit anywhere.

Anybody know?

 

[thasan]

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!

too expensive for me. i use it mostly for my work data backup.
i dont want to upgrade just because of this to be honest...

 

[AtheistP3ace]

Yeah, the Apple TV/Apple TV Plex App would have to allow passthrough so the receiver could do the decoding.

I'm no expert on this stuff. perhaps you know. Is that something software or hardware related? I mean obviously plex is just software but does the Apple TV have the hardware capabilities to allow it?

 

[AtheistP3ace]

too expensive for me. i use it mostly for my work data backup.
i dont want to upgrade just because of this to be honest...

Not sure what your price point is but the Synology DS1815+ cost me about 2k with 8 x 3tb drives. I'm sure you could get price down with less storage coming with it and that thing does a good job transcoding. I'm very happy with it.

 

[NMBob]

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 --...
Plex is simple to set up, easy to use, and what you may...
Not a debate, I consider consumer choice a good thing.

No, no debate. I guess it just depends on what you are used to. All of my files are already named and organized and artwork'ed the way I want them. They are all on a Mac mini connected to the TV. I actually only use a wireless trackpad, Finder and VLC, from startup to shutdown, when watching stuff. When I switch to Air Video the organization and naming of everything on my iPad is exactly the same. I do wish AV would show the artwork, but they are working on that.

I've tried to set up Plex a couple of times, but never finished. It was just too fiddly to get it to match the way my stuff is now, and I had no interest in renaming stuff. With Air Video -- if your files are organized to start with -- there basically is no set up. Just point it at a directory or two and you're done.

 

[thederby]

I have, and most of the other help files. They describe the benefits of a Plex Pass by saying what "you" can do but they don't indicate whether "you" are a user or a server administrator. At the price, I'd hope it's per server-- buy one so my whole family can download material to their mobile devices for offline viewing-- but it's not explicit anywhere.

Anybody know?

if you have a plexpass, you can allow non-plexpass users you share media with to sync media from your server to their mobile devices.

https://www.facebook.com/plexapp/posts/1451124661789342

 

[Laguna Hiker]

Plex is super speedy running on a Mac Mini as the server and the Apple TV 4 as the client (my Synology NAS just acts as storage). Using a NAS as your server is always a bad idea.

I'm curious about something: If I'm running a Mini with OS X Server (i don't run either), couldn't I just use iTunes to serve my movies to ATV? If that's the case, would there still be an advantage to running Plex, r/t iTunes? Thanks.

 

[benjitek]

- SRT files does not always work

Previously a know issue that fixed a couple days ago in a Plex Media Server update.

 

[benjitek]

I'm curious about something: If I'm running a Mini with OS X Server (i don't run either), couldn't I just use iTunes to serve my movies to ATV? If that's the case, would there still be an advantage to running Plex, r/t iTunes? Thanks.

You could, for media files in a format that iTunes will allow. MKV, FLV, AVI are some examples of file formats iTunes won't play -- for those, you'd need to convert the files externally (iTunes won't) and then import them into iTunes. Plex transcodes these file formats (and more) on the fly so you don't have to convert them.

 

[usarioclave]

Despite claims of "more formats supported", I can't find a list. I store all my Plex files as MKV to retain quality. The Air Video website has essentially zero information, but it looks to me like AV is for folks who just want to share a folder of videos across the network, and Plex caters more to those who want to maintain a library. Plex also transcodes on the fly depending on the source format and destination capabilities.

AV seems to have built in support for offline viewing-- I think Plex still requires a "membership" for that feature.

I've been using air video for years, and you're right: it's not a media organizer, it just plays stuff in any old folder you tell it to. It'll also down convert in realtime if you're on a slower connection, which was much more imprtant back in the 3G days.

For me, I use iTunes at home and share the movie and tv folders with air video. I also transcode everything to MP4/264 so the ATV can play it, which is sort of a drag. Air video can do mkv and if I want to watch an mkv now I'll just AirPlay it to my tv with air video, but I don't have a lot of tv time anymore so I can almost always wait.

I'm glad plex is there for people who want a more full featured option.

 

[Crzyrio]

I have, and most of the other help files. They describe the benefits of a Plex Pass by saying what "you" can do but they don't indicate whether "you" are a user or a server administrator. At the price, I'd hope it's per server-- buy one so my whole family can download material to their mobile devices for offline viewing-- but it's not explicit anywhere.

Anybody know?

It is per server.

With a maximum of 15 users. So it can cover more than even just your immediate family.
That is why I found the Lifetime Pass more than affordable.

 

[dragje]

Previously a know issue that fixed a couple days ago in a Plex Media Server update.

I stand corrected. That is, after annupdate the subtitles seems to work, granted. But within the plex apple tv app itself srt titles still doesn't show up in the srt section but at least it does on the television.

 

[LordJohnWhorfin]

I loved the video review, it's perfect! Short, to the point, if only all video reviews could be like that...

I would say that the choice of Plex vs. Air Video HD or StreamToMe has to do with how you store and use your media. Air Video HD and StreamToMe are great for small collections, but past a certain size you start feeling the benefits of Plex's automatic indexing and cataloguing: as long as you follow simple conventions ("movie title (year).mkv" or "Series Title/Season X/Series Title - S0XE0Y - episode title.avi" for instance) it will automatically find movie or show information, artwork, posters, etc... allowing you to search by a ton of criteria such as year, actors, directors, writers, genre... without having to input the information yourself. Priceless.

If you have a small collection on your Mac, AirVideo HD or StreamToMe are all you need, but past a few hundred files Plex really shines. Another huge benefit is that it's available on pretty much every platform under the sun: Mac, Windows, Android, iOS, Linux... even GoogleTV and ChromeTV! It's nice to be able to run one server and give access to all possible devices in your household.

My recommendation for a standalone server: skip the overpriced NAS boxes and instead go for an HP Proliant mini G7, which only costs $200 without disks, and install the fantastic OpenMediaVault distribution on it. I can't say enough good things about this incredible free Linux distribution, which is remarkably easy to install, configure and maintain even for someone who has never touched Linux before. The Proliant has 4 SATA bays and comes with a 250GB drive; it has room for a DVD drive, internal SATA and USB ports and two PCIe slots. I moved the 250GB drive to the motherboard's SATA port and used the other SATA port for a 4TB drive, and filled up all four bays wth 4TB drives, grouping the five 4TB drives into a RAID6 array, giving me 12TB of redundant storage. This box has been running flawlessly for 2 years.

 

[grundoon]

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?

Short answer: maybe. Most H.264 can be "Direct Streamed", requiring no transcoding, so the NAS workload would be about as minimal as it gets.

It still needs to be running PMS of course, and it's unclear (to me anyway) what the upcoming Siri integration will mean... just universal search, or will it also allow deeper control (e.g. "what did she say?" would likely require subtitles, which will require transcoding if not already encoded)?

 

[hybra]

Please tell us more about this magical storage device that sits on your network serving up files, without using a CPU, or power.

Long story short:

With Plex:
Mac or NAS video server app ON
Network Disk (for example usb disk connected to router, or Time Capsule) ON
AppleTV ON

Ideal:
AppleTV video server app ON
Network Disk ON

 

[nebo1ss]

I have, and most of the other help files. They describe the benefits of a Plex Pass by saying what "you" can do but they don't indicate whether "you" are a user or a server administrator. At the price, I'd hope it's per server-- buy one so my whole family can download material to their mobile devices for offline viewing-- but it's not explicit anywhere.

Anybody know?

You do not need a plea pass to share media with multiple devices family members accessing the server. I have been using Plex as long as it has been available and never subscribed to the plex pass. the main benefit appears to be early access to the new features which eventually is available to everyone.

 

[nebo1ss]

Short answer: maybe. Most H.264 can be "Direct Streamed", requiring no transcoding, so the NAS workload would be about as minimal as it gets.

It still needs to be running PMS of course, and it's unclear (to me anyway) what the upcoming Siri integration will mean... just universal search, or will it also allow deeper control (e.g. "what did she say?" would likely require subtitles, which will require transcoding if not already encoded)?

for the apple tv plex will need to transcode anything in an AVI or MKV container it will play mp4 files without transcoding. This is not really a Plex issue it is an Apple TV issue.

 

[usarioclave]

for the apple tv plex will need to transcode anything in an AVI or MKV container it will play mp4 files without transcoding. This is not really a Plex issue it is an Apple TV issue.

That's odd. I think AirVideo streams MKV files directly. Of course MKV is just a container, so just playing an MKV file means nothing.

Just checked, it handles mkv files directly..but mine are H264 video. I'd be surprised if Plex needs to do anything, unless it was DiVX encoded or something. I don't have any DivX files to test anymore, so I can't tell.

 

[Sora]

No, no debate. I guess it just depends on what you are used to. All of my files are already named and organized and artwork'ed the way I want them. They are all on a Mac mini connected to the TV. I actually only use a wireless trackpad, Finder and VLC, from startup to shutdown, when watching stuff. When I switch to Air Video the organization and naming of everything on my iPad is exactly the same. I do wish AV would show the artwork, but they are working on that.

I've tried to set up Plex a couple of times, but never finished. It was just too fiddly to get it to match the way my stuff is now, and I had no interest in renaming stuff. With Air Video -- if your files are organized to start with -- there basically is no set up. Just point it at a directory or two and you're done.

Everything has a learning curve. I'm not the most tech savvy person - and if I can successfully setup Plex, i think the average user can.
It is a very powerful media organizer, and worth the time learning/understanding it's potential value.

 

[Crzyrio]

That's odd. I think AirVideo streams MKV files directly. Of course MKV is just a container, so just playing an MKV file means nothing.

Just checked, it handles mkv files directly..but mine are H264 video. I'd be surprised if Plex needs to do anything, unless it was DiVX encoded or something. I don't have any DivX files to test anymore, so I can't tell.

Yeah, with Plex you have the option. If it is H264 in an mkv container then it won't do any transcoding.

 

[mgmusicman94]

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.

Most Plex users access their server from multiple devices, like other computers, phones, TVs, etc locally and over the internet. That wouldn't be possible if everything was served from the Apple TV. The Plex server transcodes media and makes it smaller if necessary for streaming over the internet, and that transcoding needs to be done on a capable computer with a decent processor.

 

[DarwinOSX]

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 using Air Video more than Plex. Simpler and quicker. I don't need long term storage of video or movie posters or whatever. I also find Plex's UI gets in my way. I do use Plex for music but started using an external hard drive attached to my receiver for that and I get better sound.

 

[ianrip]

I tried to use plex server on my NAS Synology (DS213+ 6TB), but the NAS couldn’t handle it, so I’m now running on Mac Mini 2012, and using the NAS as a storage device, so far so good
I’m a Plex lifetime user
I don’t need Plex as such, however my family can’t find the files, so plex is defiantly an option for the less technically minded folk out there

 

[beanbaguk]

From the initial page of comments I have the feeling most people simply don't get Plex.

I've been using it for just over a year now and it's an incredible bit of kit. I converted my old Windows MCE system to a plex server by simply adding a couple of extra USB HDD's, a faster CPU (costing €40), and some more memory. (It had 2GB before but I upped it to 4GB). The total cost of the server upgrades were about €100 and I have a system that can transcode up to four Plex movies at once around my house (not that I need four!).

Using a modified NowTV box, I've sideloaded Plex to that as well as on my Apple TV (3rd gen), and I can watch my movies anywhere in the house.

I also use my Plex Pass subscription a lot by syncing my movies to my iPad so i can watch them on the plane. I simply select what I want to watch in the evening before I leave and just plug my iPad into a power source and by the time I wake up, I have a load of movies ready to watch on my iPad for my journey. You can't do that without a Plex Pass.

Additionally, you while you can do that using handbrake, then adding the movie to your movie library, and then copying it across, the whole process is very laborious and plex just simplifies everything.

Anyway....I'm hoping Santa knows I want a new Apple TV and the Plex app will be one of the first I download.

 

[beanbaguk]

Oh and just to add, using Plex, I can access my movies / music / photos and home videos anywhere in the world which is great when I visit friends and family or just want to listen to some particular music or watch a movie that I haven't synced.