For many topics / Feature Suggestions, one of the best things Plex could do from a support perspective is to let users know when something has made it onto the roadmap for implementation. It does not matter if implementation will take a few years, just knowing that <feature> has made it into Maslow's Hierarchy of Media Needs™ is supremely validating and goes a long way to assuage any frustration/disatisfaction with the status quo.
When I arrive on a forum topic if the first thing I see is [On Roadmap], it would very much re-frame any thoughts I bring to the conversation.
Based on experience this can also severely backfire for a company if users perceive stuff from said roadmap isn’t implemented fast enough or worse if it’s removed.
Especially with Plex being a company and their priorities can change for many good reasons… there’s a lot of considerations beyond forum user expectations.
Infuse has a very transparent and informative road map linked to the forums. It’s kind of inspiring. Plex has always been cloak and dagger with it’s plans, in my opinion a lot of the negative sentiment in the forums is a direct result of that corporate culture.
Agreed. I think openness is always the better path. Sure, some people are pushy but aren’t they pushy anyway?
Priorities change. Staffing turns over. PLEX is a company with people who need to make enough money to pay themselves. Sometimes Feature ‘X’ is going to lose out, at least temporarily.
No matter what you do “you can’t please all of the people all if the time” but I would wager a lot more people would be happier to have an idea what the roadmap looks like than people who would winge and cry about changes.
Anyhow, I love PLEX. It is definitely the best thing that has happened to media since MythTV way-back-when. Hopefully the roadmap will encompass some of the changes I desire.
For now it looks like I will have to rub my crystal ball to find out.
There is a clear and useful road map provided by Infuse, which is connected to the forums. It’s quite motivating. Plex has always been covert when it comes to its plans, and I believe that a large portion of the unfavorable comments in the forums stems directly from that corporate culture.
