Apple TV arrived today with one of the the most anticipated Plex applications, at least for those who want to stream content from their computers to the new set-top box. The app itself is free, to activate streaming you need to pay $5.
Plex works as a media server and personal library for all kinds of content, from TV shows to movies to music. Plex neatly organizes all your data and then lets you stream it to your TV and other devices, locally or remotely.
On Apple TV, where the application can finally be native, Plex has a great graphical interface, making organizing your content very easy and clear. Plex can deliver posters and cast information, plot information and Rotten Tomatoes ratings to series and movies, and the same goes for music.
In the App Store, where Plex can also be downloaded for iPads and iPhones, you can find Plex, now also for tvOS, for free. But if you want to stream from the application, you need to pay 5 dollars (125 crowns) for the Plex Media Server. However, if you plan to stream media from your Mac frequently, it's pretty much a bummer.
[app url=https://itunes.apple.com/cz/app/plex/id383457673?mt=8]
Is it possible to stream content stored on a network drive or only through a Mac/PC?
Even on disk
Yeah, but I need to have that Plex server installed somewhere, right? Or does the Apple TV serve as a Plex server? Now I looked and I can't install the Plex server on either of the two network drives that I have at home.
If the Plex app in the Apple TV served as a Plex server and could connect to a network drive, from which it could just download content, that would be great.
You install a server on your computer, map the library to it on an external disk, and ATV serves as a player
I see. It's just a shame that the computer has to be running all the time.
to Libor: And where is the added value compared to home sharing of the iTunes library to the Apple TV, in this case?
to Libor: and the added value compared to the home sharing of the iTunes library to the Apple TV, so where is it, in this case?
Does iTunes support XviD, DivX, MKV with external subtitles?
And is it possible to buy an xvid, divx or mkv movie on iTunes? That's for the first time. Second, I convert everything I install into the library from third-party sources in about ten minutes. So the question became the same, where is the added value of Plex? I still don't get it.
Not directly, I used to make "backups" of DVDs in them and shove them onto a disc for easier handling. I won't make backups again, because I don't even have a DVD drive anymore and it's possible to convert, but my SSD doesn't fit much and iTunes had quite a problem with symbolic links because they kept replacing them (for applications) with a directory, I don't know how it is today, but iTunes is not my favorite app, comrades should rewrite it…
The added value is 0 for you personally, but I can imagine people who like it and they don't have to be just movie thieves...
I just don't see the benefit in it. If it worked at least in such a way that it is possible to stream from NAS or AE with an external HD, without the need to launch a Mac, but that only works with the Plex server on the other side.
You must have the right NAS:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MfYoJkiwSqCXg8cm5-Ac4oOLPRtCkgUxU0jdj3tmMPc/htmlview?sle=true
Plex server can be officially installed on QNAP and Synology.
I don't know about other NAS.
Thanks. Unfortunately I have a WD MyCloud which doesn't support it and a Netgear Stora which doesn't either.
I have connected a QNAP 239 PRO II (Plex server), apple TV 4 as a player and everything works as it should :)
Great report, thank you.
Does he have a problem with DTS? Thanks.
Hello, will it work even if it downloads movies from Apple Time Capsule 3TB ???
It won't be yet. There must also be a plex client on the other side. So only NAS or computer.
What is it really good for? So far I've always been fine with AirPlay, so I don't know. Why would I want to stream obash from my computer other than via AirPlay?
Because Airplay is real-time streaming. Worse wifi and it's over.
Here it converts the movies on the computer for the corresponding content allowing the ATV to play.
And above all, it looks clear :-D
So I'm not very wise about it. I don't have any problems with AirPlay and it's clear how I do it. And I don't convert anything. I still don't see any benefit to the common "apple man". But come on, it's probably useful for someone.
For me, Air Video is much better, playback from TimeCapsule, remote playback, etc. It costs a few crowns, it is much simpler and clearer ;)