Of course, submitting an app for an Apple device and actually being added to the app store is 2 very different things. Before we claim something with such authority, we might want to check with Apple first.
I'm as hopeful as anyone else but this is Apple as gatekeeper.
TV, not some ancillary experience that is not phone/texting/web browsing/email as it is on the phone. I suspect Apple wants to "own" the primary experience of the
TV, so I lack confidence they'll let a Plex take that over. But again, we'll see. And I'll hope right with you.Having been a long term user of Apple TV since the first gen, what are the advantages to using Plex over Home Sharing (which has worked flawlessly on my ATV)?
No need for fancy UIs with albumart, posters etc.
I still fail to understand the added value of Plex. it's a client-server based Mediaplayer and (mostly) relies on transcoding at the server.
For me, Kodi can connect to any network share. I don't need a server thingy on my NAS. Using Infuse I can play any movie (MP4, MKV, AVI) incl. 1080p on my iPad. No need for fancy UIs with albumart, posters etc.
Ok, your "no need" is a need for many.
Plex has been working for me just fine for 2 years.
Very cool!If they do decide to go with their PMP interface, there is always hope for this third party client: http://simplex.video/
Plex has several added features that some would consider mandatory, especially in an environment with multiple people...
1) Central database to manage the library - 1 central location to manage content, customize artwork, etc. I believe to do so with Kodi you have to build a separate database. With Plex is it standard.
2) Central database to store watched status - You can start a show on your family room TV, stop, go upstairs and continue. Again, a separate database needed for Kodi that you have to configure/manage (and know how to set up in the 1st place).
3) Remote access on your devices, and ability to share your server with friends/family for remote use.
4) Even within 1 household, simple to share with different people so that each maintains his/her own watched status. For example, my son has a Roku in his bedroom, and a separate Plex account, so his TV is, well, his TV. His Plex is his Plex.
On a side note, I actually only use Plex as a secondary server (I primarily use iTunes as the default server). So what I've done is set up iTunes with all of my media, then simply pointed the Plex server to my iTunes folders. Therefore, I use HomeSharing and the native AppleTV menus for my 3 AppleTVs, but my son is able to use Plex on his Roku. My parents also use my Plex server via their FireTV Stick. My iMac is on 24x7.
Plex is the only reason I'm getting the new Apple TV! I hope it doesn't get rejected.
I'm trying to figure out the advantage of Plex on an ATV, vs what I do now, which is running Plex on a dedicated Mac Mini hooked to my TV. The only thing I can think of is that its one less activity button on my Harmony Remote.