Comcast Xfinity Flex - Plex Player App

Plex Players Streaming Devices
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Can’t believe I’m first to post here and ask about any info about this…

I have my CableTV & Internet BB service through FiOS, but also have a 2nd Broadband connection from Comcast for my home-lab purposes and Internet redundancy. As part of that Comcast Broadband deal, Comcast provided me a free Xfinity “Flex” STB/Streamer, which I have hooked up in my garage. I only took it because it was completely free. As soon as I got it, I hooked it up and saw immediately that it was junk compared to my ATV4Ks and my Roku stick. It is pretty horrible experience compared to either retail solution. I also noted that Plex was unavailable on the Comcast/Xfinity App Store…so that also made it a non-starter for me for any STB solution.

Fast-forward, and I had a need to put a TV into my Garage bench area. It is very light use, so I thought I’d just throw the Xfinity Flex box there, and at least be able to stream PlutoTV or Youtube things when I wanted TV in the Garage.

Anyway, last week I fired it up and noticed that Plex was a newly added app! Awesome, so I downloaded, ran the app, and signed in. Guess what …none of my content is accessible in the “Comcast” version app, and my HDHomeRun feed is also not available.

Which begs the question: Really? What in god’s name is the point? I know Plex wants to push on the Plex streaming feeds, but frankly, that is absolutely SOOOOO small of a reason for the existence of Plex that I cannot see any point of a Plex app that doesn’t work with Plex’s reason for being and primary functional requirement: (User Content and IPTV streaming/DVR w/a local QAM-to-IP converter like Silicon Dust HDHomeRun Prime?)

My guess is that Comcast put the kibosh on user content. Which would not be unexpected, since they are known to be arrogant, tyrannical, idiots. But honestly, let’s look at the Plex user/customer base (the VAST majority), and I can’t help but wonder what the point is of having the Plex app on Xfinity Flex (or any other platform) without it having it’s most fundament features and reason for being in existence in the first place?

Ok…rant over…

Like I said, I did a search here, and could not find anything relevant tied to “Xfinity”, “Comcast”, or “Flex”…so thought I would post something. Apologies if my search algorithms were insufficient and I missed any conversation about this in another thread…

Anyway, I would welcome feedback from Plex folks as to helping us long-time Plex users (and lifetime subs) understand what the hell Plex was thinking. If it were me, I would have told Comcast to go pound salt, we don’t need to put our EXCELLENT platform app on your crappy android box if you aren’t going to allow its most basic function to work. It would just be another nail in the Flex coffin, in Xfinitiy’s attempt to compete with Retail solutions from Amazon, Roku, Apple, and others who provide a FAR better end-user experience.

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Plex Media Server access is not there due to the agreement with comcast/xfinity

Plenty of our users only use the streaming stuff and have no server at all. (neither theirs nor one shared with them)

Info about that app is here. https://support.plex.tv/articles/plex-for-x1-overview/

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Thanks. Yep, that is what I has suspected…Comcast put the kibosh on the Plex Media Server access. Care to discuss why that would be a condition of the agreement?

As far as users who only use the streaming stuff…sure, I can see that…but I will bet you dirt-to-dollars that the majority of “streaming stuff” they use is streaming from somebody else’s Plex Media Server… In fact, I will bet you that 99% of the users who “only use the streaming stuff” only know about Plex in the first place because somebody they know turned them on to Plex so they could stream from their Plex Media Server.

I stand by the paradigm, that the fundamental purpose of Plex is streaming from Plex Media Server, and that other 3rd party streaming is just a “nice-to-have” added feature. If Plex is going down another path in that regard, you’re likely going to find yourself losing your core base of Plex Enthusiasts. (Meaning…if development priority starts showing a shift to 3rd Party streaming considerations at the expense of development/enhancing/fixing of Plex Media Server streaming/function, Plex core base and enthusiasts will be looking for alternatives…)

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Interesting no philosophical / marketing reply from Plex.

I will still submit that Plex on any device is pretty much useless without access to user’s Plex Media Server content. I see no point otherwise.

From a streaming perspective, yes, I agree having the Plex interface as “one-stop-shop” for streaming is a good idea, and compelling. But only in-so-far as being able to have single interface interaction to have both your content (Plex Media Server) and Streaming content (Plex streaming) in one place. Otherwise, what is the point? I’m good with Pluto TV for accessing free “Plain Jane” “Streaming” content. The key UI “killer app” component is having the ability to seamlessly integrate ALL your content choices into a single UI/App. While I fully understand the “distribution” wars, we’ve come to bordering on the ridiculous for hampering tech innovation.

I’ll make this bet: Whomever can release a single app that provides for seamless integration of sources for watching content (users or streaming) will be the clear winner.

In this case Plex on Xfinitiy is useless and pointless without allowing for users Plex Media Server streaming…

For this and other reasons, my Xfinity (Comcast ) Flex box is sitting on my work bench unattached to anything. It is not a competitive implementation device…to put it simply. Even my new TiVo Edge addresses better user content choice integration…

For Plex: Can we sign up somewhere to get a notification when you guys “grow a set” and release Plex Media Server integration with the “Plex” Comcast Flex App? If it is never going to happen, you should let your Plex Subscribers customers know… It is always best to set paying customers expectations on the front end…

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As I have already stated lots of folks use Plex with no Plex Media Server access at all, whether you choose to believe that or not.

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Sure, and how does that aspect fit into a successful business model for Plex, or scalability moving into the future?

AFAICS, Plex’s business model core functionality is built around Plex Media Server serving up user content. That is the whole point of Plex.

Really, how many people in the world are using Plex app to stream otherwise “free” content already available via other sources? And WHY would they choose to do that from Plex, outside of other (already established) other streaming applications? The answer is they wouldn’t, except for Plex ability to stream from Plex Media Server…whether their own instance, or that from other Friends and Family.

Your argument is a non-sequitur… And yes, I don’t believe there is any statistically significant evidence that Plex with “free streaming” only implementation makes any business sense in regard to Plex core business. If a Plex application doesn’t support Plex Media Server streaming, then I’m using something else. No point otherwise. That is Plex’s core business and service.

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By the same reasoning, many people can enjoy the great stereo in their new Mercedes without ever driving the car. That’s deliberate avoidance of the raison d’etre for having the car. And here, in having Plex. No one is arguing that the lighters don’t work too even if the car won’t start.

By repeated avoidance of the actual question, it appears that PLEX isn’t allowed to discuss this. Sounds contractual. And it would not be Plex’s choice… so Comcast doesn’t want it. End of discussion, I guess.

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