Should I switch from Home Sharing to Plex?

[AndrewMRiv]

What do you think is the best solution?

Before I was aware of Plex, I created a very large library of TV Shows and Movies in iTunes. I ran handbrake on a lot of DVDs and I now have a ton of MP4 files in my iTunes Library on an external HDD attached to my Mac Mini server.

I recently installed the Plex app on the Mac Mini and as a test selected the entire "TV Shows" folder into Plex.

Since I was using iTunes to manage the several TV Shows, the filenames are a bit all over the place.

Am I best off just removing my media from the iTunes Library, creating a folder structure for Plex, and then re-organizing everything?

Should I use both? What are your suggestions?

Thank you very much

 

[matrix07]

If all your media are already in iTunes-friendly format frankly you don't need PLEX.

 

[Gav2k]

I use plex as I like the interface but Apple TV has no love for it. The upside for me is all my tv's load via dlna or plex app.

The huge plus side is no file conversion is needed.

 

[schlotz]

I use plex as I like the interface but Apple TV has no love for it. The upside for me is all my tv's load via dlna or plex app.

The huge plus side is no file conversion is needed.

Not certain I understand the "no love for it"? Point here is that with Plexconnect running along side of the Plex Media Server the aTV works exceptionally well.

 

[Gav2k]

Not certain I understand the "no love for it"? Point here is that with Plexconnect running along side of the Plex Media Server the aTV works exceptionally well.

It's not always been reliable tho which pushed me to seek other alternatives

 

[Uofmtiger]

I would not pull my files from iTunes and restructure them. The hole that allows Plex to work with the AppleTV could be closed tomorrow. I would try to use Plex with your current structure, if possible, or copy the files to another drive to work with Plex and keep both libraries. This would work as a backup, too.

 

[Donka]

If you have pother devices that are not iTunes compatible that you would like to use as a client for watching then Plex makes more sense. If everything you have is already working with iTunes then no real need to change it if you are happy.

 

[Nightarchaon]

Plex + Amazon FIre TV = superior experience to iTunes + Apple TV.

If you have a Plex Pass, then Plex + PS4 or Xbox One = superior to iTunes + Apple TV

The apple tv interface is just awful and outdated, especially if you have more than about 50 items (and in my case, more than 8TB of TV and Movies recorded from air or my digitally ripped DVD collection)

I was a massive and vocal lover of iTunes + Apple TV, when we had Gen 1 and earlier iTunes builds, as time has gone on however and a library of movies and films that has grown from a few hundred gigabytes to many terrabytes has seen the newer apple TVs and iTunes builds just cannot cope.

Too much time spent changing interfaces to make things "look" new, rather than updating the software to actually be new and handle things better... Its like ford releasing nothing but the model T every year since they made it, but changing the colour from Black to Black, but a slightly different black

 

[Donka]

As Nightarchaon says, Plex offers a great experience with the right client. I use the built in Plex client on my Samsung TVs or a Roku but still need an Apple TV for some Airplay streaming from my Mac (Flash content). If a new Apple TV with app store is announced in June and presumably a dedicated Plex client for it then I will be made up.

 

[jdag]

I have both running.

iTunes is my main repository and what I actively manage. And I use AppleTVs for accessing via Home Sharing.

But, I also have Plex Media Server running on the same iMac, and Plex points to the same files that iTunes is using. Both movies and TV shows are properly cataloged in Plex.

The reason I have Plex running as well is that I also have a FireTV Stick, and several family members have FireTV Sticks pointing to my library.

 

[oneMadRssn]

I recommend holding off on any switching until after this year's WWDC and the software announced there is released.

If Apple beefs up it's homesharing features and doesn't release a proper Apple TV app store, then it might be best to stick with homesharing.

If Apple just releases a proper Apple TV app store and Plex announces a native Apple TV app, then it might be worthwhile to switch to Plex.

 

[rctlr]

What client on iOS would people suggest for Plex Media Server, both for streaming and Download for offline use.

I know VLC has this function, but it seems a bit battery intensive.
98% of my content is mp4/m4a

R

 

[Donka]

What client on iOS would people suggest for Plex Media Server, both for streaming and Download for offline use.

I know VLC has this function, but it seems a bit battery intensive.
98% of my content is mp4/m4a

R

Plex have their own iOS client which works very well indeed. The offline use is a paid subscription feature (Plex Pass) with the official app but you can use an app like nPlayer and download from the Plex Server for offline use without Plex Pass provided you have enabled the DNLA server. You will lose the Plex metadata and the ability to sync your viewing progress/history but otherwise this is a free way for offline viewing.

 

[mmomega]

I use both.
Since I have a Mac Mini dedicated to being my all around home server I have iTunes and Plex server constantly running.
All media files are in the same location on a NAS. When I get a new media file I run it through one of 3 apps I have that pull and add metadata to the file itself so if I access the file through any iOS device or TV it shows all of the information. Plex displays the same info on the XBoxONE.

I've been using Plex since mid 2009 (when it was my main media server) but with me having almost nothing but Apple devices I converted TeraBytes of files to MP4/M4V's. It seemed a pain at first but I'm glad I did it.
Plex allowed a lot of ability to customize the experience but the longer I used it, I just wanted a simple solution to play files and the setup I have now allows it.