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Plex Gains HDR Support on Apple TV, Face ID/Touch ID Support on iOS

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Plex today announced a few updates for its Apple TV and iOS apps, adding notable new features that are worth highlighting.

The Apple TV app now supports HDR video playback, and Plex Pass subscribers can get early access to HDR through the Settings > Advanced section of the app.

plexappletvhdr-800x449.jpg

According to Plex, HDR support provides sharper video output, better performance, and improved subtitle support.

On iOS devices, the Plex update allows users to log in with either Face ID or Touch ID as an alternative to requiring a passcode for a locked Plex library.

Plex has added new TIDAL features as well, allowing Plex iOS and web app users to listen to 30 second clips from the TIDAL library for the purpose of searching for and sampling songs even without a TIDAL account. Artist TV, a feature for subscribers, is now also available on the web, Smart VS, the PS4, and the Plex Media Player.

Plex for iOS and Apple TV can be downloaded from the App Store for free. A Plex Pass is priced at $5 per month and unlocks extra features including HDR. [Direct Link]

Article Link: Plex Gains HDR Support on Apple TV, Face ID/Touch ID Support on iOS
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2019/07/17/plex-adds-hdr-support-and-face-id/
Last edited:
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RamGuy said:
Wait, what? I’ve been playing back HDR using Plex on tvOS for over 1 year already?
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is it the app itself displays in HDR mode? that way the TV doesn't keep switching back and forth? or is that even a thing?
 
jasheeky said:
I prefer Infuse, but I recall playing back UHD remuxes with HDR already with Plex
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It will be interesting to see if they are able to handle passing HDR content to non-HDR tvs without messing up the contrast and colors. Infuse does a pretty good job of that.
[doublepost=1563399243][/doublepost]This still brings up the fact that if you cannot do dolby atmos or dolby vision (lossless from blu-ray) with ATV, why spend the effort of getting the content?
 
Jedwardoo said:
How was setting up Infuse?

What do you use for setting it up?
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About a year ago Plex lost the ability to play via the Plex app on Apple TV. Full of buffer errors and pauses even though that was the only thing running on the network. Many people with this issue. It has something to do with the player they use on Apple TV. (I’ve tried experimental player on Plex pass as well. Same problem.) I turned to Infuse as it played whatever I threw at it seamlessly without stutter. I still run my library using Plex on my 2018 Mac mini. Then login to my Plex account with Infuse. Found it loads a lot faster handling all the metadata and organization via Plex. But it’s all in all pretty great. Syncs play history and everything. It’s honestly what Plexs’ Apple TV app should be.
 
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nutmac said:
I am pretty sure HDR does none of those things. It should improve color gamut, improve dynamic range, etc.
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This. I laughed out loud when I read that ridiculous nonsense. 10-bit 4:2:2 for increased dynamic range and wider color spaces? No, “improved subtitle support” :p
 
nutmac said:
I am pretty sure HDR does none of those things. It should improve color gamut, improve dynamic range, etc.
Click to expand...

teeoh717 said:
This. I laughed out loud when I read that ridiculous nonsense. 10-bit 4:2:2 for increased dynamic range and wider color spaces? No, “improved subtitle support” :p
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Someone elsewhere said that HDR support has been enabled in their own player instead of using the native tvOS one... being able to use your own player in a media playing app probably would bring better performance and improved subtitle support.
 
nicho said:
Someone elsewhere said that HDR support has been enabled in their own player instead of using the native tvOS one... being able to use your own player in a media playing app probably would bring better performance and improved subtitle support.
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Sure, but that is irrelevant to HDR support. A better player is a better player overall, regardless of HDR capabilities. Headline reads “gains HDR support”, and they’re talking about subtitles. Poorly written at best, confused about what HDR means at worst.
 
grobik said:
About a year ago Plex lost the ability to play via the Plex app on Apple TV. Full of buffer errors and pauses even though that was the only thing running on the network. Many people with this issue. It has something to do with the player they use on Apple TV. (I’ve tried experimental player on Plex pass as well. Same problem.) I turned to Infuse as it played whatever I threw at it seamlessly without stutter. I still run my library using Plex on my 2018 Mac mini. Then login to my Plex account with Infuse. Found it loads a lot faster handling all the metadata and organization via Plex. But it’s all in all pretty great. Syncs play history and everything. It’s honestly what Plexs’ Apple TV app should be.
Click to expand...

How easy was it to set up your 2018 Mac Mini for the Infuse as the server?

Do you have links to a guide that you followed on how you did it?

I heard Infuse plays better than Plex and it does not require much hardware unlike Plex, is this true based on your usage and your experience?
 
teeoh717 said:
Sure, but that is irrelevant to HDR support. A better player is a better player overall, regardless of HDR capabilities. Headline reads “gains HDR support”, and they’re talking about subtitles. Poorly written at best, confused about what HDR means at worst.
Click to expand...

It's not irrelevant to HDR support when it works no differently to how it did before the update, except that it now is compatible with HDR videos as well as non-HDR videos. That's the point you're repeatedly missing.
 
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nicho said:
It's not irrelevant to HDR support when it works no differently to how it did before the update, except that it now is compatible with HDR videos as well as non-HDR videos. That's the point you're repeatedly missing.
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No, of course I understand that. It’s basic. The point you are missing is this:

“HDR support provides sharper video output, better performance, and improved subtitle support.”

HDR support provides none of those things. It’s poorly written and misleading.
 
Jedwardoo said:
How easy was it to set up your 2018 Mac Mini for the Infuse as the server?

Do you have links to a guide that you followed on how you did it?

I heard Infuse plays better than Plex and it does not require much hardware unlike Plex, is this true based on your usage and your experience?
Click to expand...

Infuse isn't a server, it's just feeds from Plex library / wherever you point it at ie. hard drive etc, & all meta is then downloaded on device. It doesn't go on the mac mini, it is an :apple:TV / iOS app. Just download the app on iOS / :apple:TV, enter your Plex credentials and jobs's a good 'un!:)
 
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teeoh717 said:
No, of course I understand that. It’s basic. The point you are missing is this:

“HDR support provides sharper video output, better performance, and improved subtitle support.”

HDR support provides none of those things. It’s poorly written and misleading.
Click to expand...

Actually, HDR provides none of those thing. Support for HDR provides all of them for the reasons outlined previously.
 
New features are always welcome... but I sure wish they would prioritize a few core things, like ability to transfer movies w/o encoding them, or photo rotation in the photo viewer/library, etc.

I recently decided to with to Plex, but it seems at every turn, I'm running into 'basics' type roadblocks. Then, I look in the forums and people have been requesting such stuff for 3-5 years. Meanwhile, I keep getting emails with fancy new features someone there is keeping busy with. I just don't get it.
 
Jedwardoo said:
How easy was it to set up your 2018 Mac Mini for the Infuse as the server?

Do you have links to a guide that you followed on how you did it?

I heard Infuse plays better than Plex and it does not require much hardware unlike Plex, is this true based on your usage and your experience?
Click to expand...

literally zero setup. I just use my existing Plex library. I just signed into my Plex account in the Infuse settings. Plays way better on Apple TV than the Plex app.
 
grobik said:
literally zero setup. I just use my existing Plex library. I just signed into my Plex account in the Infuse settings. Plays way better on Apple TV than the Plex app.
Click to expand...
Does "played" count and similar tags, then appear inside the main Plex library?
 
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