VLC and Plex Apps Coming to New Apple TV

[RockSpider]

P

What I don't really understand is why we can't have an ATV to which external hard drives can be attached and that is compatible with all the main music and video formats (especially with mkv)? Surely this is not something difficult to achieve?

I have the WDTV which is compatible however is so damn slow and freezes so often that it gets annoying.

Its not hard to achieve all the things you ask for, the problem is Apple, they want ALL your money not just dribs and drabs. I have a Samsung Blu Ray player with WiFi and USB port, it does all the things you say and more for $160.

I also have an ATV3 which I rarely use anymore, it's now not much more than a hockey puck.

 

[coolspot18]

What tinkering and upkeep, point it to a folder and that's it, same as Plex, except Plex can't find most NAS and won't play ISO and VOB.

If Plex was any good I'd buy it, but it's not.

I can stream fine from a NAS - all you have to do is point a Plex library to a shared folder. Plex can play VOB files, but not ISOs - but I've never needed those features because Plex has premium extra content built in.

Plex has far superior handling of metadata, especially for music. Plex has an excellent web interface and very good mobile applications - both which are not available on XBMC. Plex supports multiple TVs in a centralized fashion, again something that XBMC cannot do. Plex is built into many Smart TVs and has clients on devices like the Roku. I also personally prefer Plex's UI over XBMC too.

The only thing that XBMC is better at is plug-ins, but most are very buggy and/or the quality isn't there, so I don't feel like I've missed much from that perspective.

That's why I won't use Plex I'm not converting all my movies again and then on top of that buy a new NAS because it won't recognise my two.

Plex uses an underlying operating system's network shared folder capability - if you can't access it properly, it's something to do with your operating system configuration not Plex.

 

[interconnect]

My question is will Plex support mkv's. According to the Apple TV tech specs the box itself does not, which means it'd have to transcode. Same with DTS audio... the box doesn't support it so that'd have to be transcoded too. MKV's and DTS audio are very popular so that'd really stink if they'd both have to be transcoded.

 

[brewser]

My question is will Plex support mkv's. According to the Apple TV tech specs the box itself does not, which means it'd have to transcode. Same with DTS audio... the box doesn't support it so that'd have to be transcoded too. MKV's and DTS audio are very popular so that'd really stink if they'd both have to be transcoded.

The only reason I bought an Amazon box is to stream Plex and it streams MKV just fine. I would imagine that ATV would work the same.

 

[coolspot18]

My question is will Plex support mkv's. According to the Apple TV tech specs the box itself does not, which means it'd have to transcode. Same with DTS audio... the box doesn't support it so that'd have to be transcoded too. MKV's and DTS audio are very popular so that'd really stink if they'd both have to be transcoded.

Plex can do three things (generally automatically):

1. Direct Play, basically the same as XBMC, VLC, etc. and play the file directly.
2. Remux, if a file is H.264 but stored in an unsupported container (i.e. MKV), Plex can remux on the fly to a compatible format (i.e. MP4). There should be no loss of quality except additional processing overhead.
3. Transcode, for the hard cases, Plex can recompress on the fly to a compatible format - there is a slight loss of quality, but it really depends on the source material bitrate and the transcode quality you set in Plex.

In short, Plex will support MKV one way or another - whether it's Direct Play is a different story.

 

[coolspot18]

What I don't really understand is why we can't have an ATV to which external hard drives can be attached and that is compatible with all the main music and video formats (especially with mkv)? Surely this is not something difficult to achieve?

I can see this of value for a low-cost setup ... but I personally have not connected a USB key or Hard Drive to my media player (Plex / Roku / SmartTV) in over 5+ years? Everything is streamed across my home network. Perhaps it's time to invest in a cheap NAS?

 

[iliria]

P

Its not hard to achieve all the things you ask for, the problem is Apple, they want ALL your money not just dribs and drabs. I have a Samsung Blu Ray player with WiFi and USB port, it does all the things you say and more for $160.

I also have an ATV3 which I rarely use anymore, it's now not much more than a hockey puck.

You're right. Their greed never ceases to amaze me. They preach to have customer's best interests and satisfaction at heart when in fact it is completely the opposite.

However considering the fact that they preach to want the ATV to be an all in one box and that MKV and DTS are widely used files I am even more surprised that they are not using this to their advantage. I suppose this is what happens when a company becomes too large.

 

[coolspot18]

However considering the fact that they preach to want the ATV to be an all in one box and that MKV and DTS are widely used files I am even more surprised that they are not using this to their advantage. I suppose this is what happens when a company becomes too large.

DTS requires extra licensing which maybe why it's not included... also Apple's own content does not have DTS?

As for MKV, that's just a container format - as long as the Apple TV will have H.264, H.264, etc. format support, we should be fine - that will mean VLC, Plex, etc. will be able to leverage the hardware to do accelerated playback. Worst case I would assume the CPU should be powerful enough to handle software playback in which case the application (i.e. VLC) will implement an internal codec to play MKVs.

 

[iliria]

I can see this of value for a low-cost setup ... but I personally have not connected a USB key or Hard Drive to my media player (Plex / Roku / SmartTV) in over 5+ years? Everything is streamed across my home network. Perhaps it's time to invest in a cheap NAS?

I'm afraid I am not a fan of streaming accross home network. I do not use any of my other devices for playing movie or music. So investing on a NAS would be introducing another link in the already large chain of electronic devices in my house. I am trying to reduce that number and have put all my music and movie collection on a couple of large capacity external hard drives. I like minimalistic. I have even got rid of all my devices and have replaced them with a Logitech Harmony remote that controls everything. I have got rid of CD player, BR player and so on and just want a small box like ATV to which I can connect such drives and which in turn can be connected to my av receiver (Anthem MRX300). This way I can live happily ever after.

Currently I have a WDTV which handles everything that you can throw at it. However it is very annoying because it freezes quite often and displays all sorts of other little glitches which frustrate me.

I am in the market for an XBox One and it seems like it may be the answer to my prayers. I believe it doesnt handle some of the files I mentioned however it does allow them to pass through to the AVR so that it can process them instead.

I could get a Mac Mini and use that as a media player but then that would introduce a mouse and keyboard to my set up which i dont really want to do.

 

[iliria]

DTS requires extra licensing which maybe why it's not included... also Apple's own content does not have DTS?

As for MKV, that's just a container format - as long as the Apple TV will have H.264, H.264, etc. format support, we should be fine - that will mean VLC, Plex, etc. will be able to leverage the hardware to do accelerated playback. Worst case I would assume the CPU should be powerful enough to handle software playback in which case the application (i.e. VLC) will implement an internal codec to play MKVs.

Amen to that. I hope that does indeed happen. It will answer all my prayers and give me piece of mind.

 

[macfoxpro]

When I buy a new Macbook pro (because it is the best hardware on the planet) I immediately:

1) uninstall iTunes
2) install Chrome
3) install Windows/parallels
4) install "NoSleep" app

Then I can stand to use it, but it's the only Apple device I will own, for now.
;-)

Cool

 

[dazz87]

Apple, if you're listening, we want XBMC/KODI on the Apple TV!!!!!

When hell freezes over................Only way if Kodi disable video addon......Which will never happen.

 

[mcouture87]

If only you could Siri search Plex it would be amazing - but looks like Siri is locked down to certain partners.

At the moment there's no point in getting an Apple TV over my Mac mini that I run Plex on.



Plex server doesn't and won't work with ISOs. VLC might though maybe? Depends how it can access network shares though.

<deleted>

 

[Keirasplace]

What the hell? I've been watching huge MKV files on VLC on iOS for a long time.

If your Mkv (which is just a container) has h264 inside, remuxing it to a mp4 on the fly is pretty easily done by most media servers, or client apps, with low CPU usage.

That's probably what VLC does on IOS, repackages the Mkv into mp4 for playback on the fly.

 

[coolspot18]

I'm afraid I am not a fan of streaming accross home network. I do not use any of my other devices for playing movie or music. So investing on a NAS would be introducing another link in the already large chain of electronic devices in my house. I am trying to reduce that number and have put all my music and movie collection on a couple of large capacity external hard drives.

Isn't using multiple hard drives and USB key against going counter to your concept of minimalism? I have a single 4-bay NAS tucked in my closet - I never see it, yet all my devices have access to it. No wires and no mess!

In fact, I haven't rebooted the device in >100 days.

It's probably the cleanest, wire free, setup.

 

[Regbial]

Yes, that is a classic. I watched it at least 3 times. Just hope the ending of the new version will be as good.

Bruh... You're not hoping alone, and who knows.. maybe it'll even TOP EoE! haha

 

[coolspot18]

If your Mkv (which is just a container) has h264 inside, remuxing it to a mp4 on the fly is pretty easily done by most media servers, or client apps, with low CPU usage.

That's probably what VLC does on IOS, repackages the Mkv into mp4 for playback on the fly.

Apparently VLC hasn't implemented hardware acceleration - it's using software playback, probably FFMPEG.

 

[thederby]

I could get a Mac Mini and use that as a media player but then that would introduce a mouse and keyboard to my set up which i dont really want to do.

I run Plex Media Server (backend) and Plex Home Theater (frontend) on a Mac Mini connected to my tv. No keyboard or mouse needed for daily operation, just an Apple Remote.

If a keyboard or mouse is needed, I connect via screen sharing from my main system.

 

[nebo1ss]

I run Plex Media Server (backend) and Plex Home Theater (frontend) on a Mac Mini connected to my tv. No keyboard or mouse needed for daily operation, just an Apple Remote.

If a keyboard or mouse is needed, I connect via screen sharing from my main system.

Its a nice concept in theory but with the same set up I find I need the keyboard and mouse for media editing, plex is also very particular about naming conventions and some editing in this area is often required. My Keyboard and Mouse are both Bluetooth and small.

 

[nebo1ss]

I'm afraid I am not a fan of streaming accross home network. I do not use any of my other devices for playing movie or music. So investing on a NAS would be introducing another link in the already large chain of electronic devices in my house. I am trying to reduce that number and have put all my music and movie collection on a couple of large capacity external hard drives. I like minimalistic. I have even got rid of all my devices and have replaced them with a Logitech Harmony remote that controls everything. I have got rid of CD player, BR player and so on and just want a small box like ATV to which I can connect such drives and which in turn can be connected to my av receiver (Anthem MRX300). This way I can live happily ever after.

Currently I have a WDTV which handles everything that you can throw at it. However it is very annoying because it freezes quite often and displays all sorts of other little glitches which frustrate me.

I am in the market for an XBox One and it seems like it may be the answer to my prayers. I believe it doesnt handle some of the files I mentioned however it does allow them to pass through to the AVR so that it can process them instead.

I could get a Mac Mini and use that as a media player but then that would introduce a mouse and keyboard to my set up which i dont really want to do.

Somehow I think a couple of large capacity external hard drives are less minimalistic than a small NAS.

 

[nebo1ss]

I think some of your summary is incorrect. Its worth noting that PLEX is a commercialised version of X-box Media Centre or XBMC which is now called KODI. You can do anything PLEX does in KODI. Some of it is easier in PLEX; for example PLEX is designed for steaming your files to mobile devices and this isn't really a main function of KODI. You can absolutely stream over a network to KODI, you do not have to use local files. PLEX is definitely aimed at the more regular user while KODI requires a little bit of tinkering.

The real advantage of PLEX like you point out is the server setup where the software organises a database which devices can connect to and see rich metadata. KODI can also create just as good a database with all the fancy box art etc this is done client side however. PLEX used to also have a great advantage because the PLEX server can transcode on the fly and serve up files to dumb clients where they don't play the file you have natively. The thing is that we now live in a world of cheap powerful devices like the Raspberry Pi which have no issues playing very high quality video from all sorts of sources. The advantage of KODI is the "server" can be a networked hard drive and do nothing more than samba of NFS sharing, it doesn't need server side software and this makes it cheaper. Although PLEX is now available on a few NAS boxes these days as well.

Both are amazing to use and it comes down to what devices you have or want to buy. I personally think the Raspberry Pi running OSMC (a version of KODI just for the Rasp Pi) is unbelievable for its cheap price, video format flexibility, stunning look and ease of use. My newest TV now has a PLEX app so if I hadn't already bought the Raspberry Pi I would have considered PLEX.

As for the Apple TV 4 it depends on what Apple will allow. If they will allow the likes of KODI and VLC to decode any video format they want then for me personally PLEX would be a waste of time. If they restrict the file playback to mp4 then PLEX might be a great workaround. Although if they take this route I suspect the Apple TV 4 will not replace my Raspberry Pi.

The real excitement for me with the Apple Tv is that with the App store everyone will want to get in on the action. Amazon will develop an app, Netflix will be on there, SKY in the UK will want to use it. Most of the other boxes (ROKU, Amazon Fire etc) have apps for this and that but not everything. Hopefully Apple will open it up and quickly surpass the completion on choice.

Plex in fact was started when a group of the developers working on XBMC wanted to develop for the MAC platform and broke away. The code they started with was based on XBMC but Plex today has very little in common with XBMC. I certainly would not call it a commercial version of XBMC. This break away occurred many years ago and the development has taken completely different directions.

Plex is definitely more mainstream and based on a Light Client with a separate server that does the heavy lifting. With a light client they are available on more platforms including many smart TV's they also develop within standards and adher to Apple requirements in terms of how their apps work. One of the advantages of Plex is you can run one server with a single media database and have multiple clients connect to it. It makes managing media much easier

Kodi is a lot less mainstream but is popular within the development community. Perhaps because it is open source with a lot less controls it does not meet Apple standards and would never be approved in its current form. In addition it is closely associated with Pirating. You might say its the plugins that are associated with Pirating but that does not change the view.

 

[dannys1]

Isn't that what all the Siri search API's in iOS9 were about?

Nope. Apple TV siri search is locked down to the 5 services Apple announced. It wont be searching content on other third party apps.

 

[Mercifull]

Nope. Apple TV siri search is locked down to the 5 services Apple announced. It wont be searching content on other third party apps.

Yet. It's only a matter of time before Siri is opened up.

 

[CobraPA]

Isn't using multiple hard drives and USB key against going counter to your concept of minimalism? I have a single 4-bay NAS tucked in my closet - I never see it, yet all my devices have access to it. No wires and no mess!

In fact, I haven't rebooted the device in >100 days.

It's probably the cleanest, wire free, setup.

Cool, although this sounds like a bit of exaggeration here... How'd you find a NAS with wifi that runs on batteries?

It's really wireless?

 

[rhoydotp]

Call me when I can put Kodi on there, Plex is for children.

Let us know when you build, compile and distribute your own code, that will make you an adult and a head above everybody else ... all these tools are for children.