While I believe reasonable people can disagree on the same information, I will attempt to more tightly couple the points, from start to finish.
The use of the word issue in this context in my opinion was accurate choice, it is an in imprecise word as well, let’s break it down into three levels.
Issue-Minimums = The inability to play a video. I did mention more than one, but to focus, one specific issue is the inability to play a video. Here are four screen shots taken shortly before I write this post, not the clock down in the corner is UTC, so no as to avoid time nonsense, and local time shroud never be used in debugging or showing evidence of a problem being explained. Since am not familiar with how this forum will render the photos, I’ll just describe them an hope they end up lined out as intended visually.
For context I have been watching this same show for accouple of hours now, I just paused the video opened the webplayer, changed the time to UTC for screenshots, re-sized and moved the window to make it easier to visually capture the key elements. Also I chose to use the webplayer again because it provided the best visual context for a simple example.
- NewLibraryBeingRebuilt movie had been playing, now paused.
- Note the spinner in the upper right as the optional features such as detecting credits is going on in the background
- Second look at the time bar under the episode and it’s approximate position
- Third, the library named on the left
- OldLibaryWontPlay As above, we will get too the won’t play in a moment.
- Look at the approximate length of time this episode is
- Screen shots taken less than a minute apart
- OldLibaryWontPlayMetadataPresentAndUpdated
- Primarily context between the two screenshots
- Details on time episode expected to re-start at or begin again
- OldLibaryWontPlayExampleErrorMessage
- Webplayer error message presented to user
- Video will not play
This is a single example that is what I referenced in my first paragraph when I said “Every single player, on any platform, had a wide range of issues” The details change slightly player to player, but in the end, to sum it all up for a forum post, not a full developer but report, this effectively captures what “Issue-Minimums” is.
Second id “Issue=Minors” This one is implied but to state more clearly, it is the requirement that the library must be rebuilt. This issue will not impact everyone, as the specific problem is the library must be rebuilt. Player is fine.
As there are many servers out there, I am using a dedicated Debia VM, using the standalone version of Plex. In this install it is hard to get the version, but here is the quey I or anyone can run to identify their version of Plex Meidia Server when installed onto a Debian like OS
/var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/Version
OR
strings /usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Plex\ Media\ Server | grep -Eo '[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+-[a-z0-9]+'
plexmediaserver 1.41.5.9522
The data in what I have labeled “TV Shows - OLD” is present. It’s being updated. that is why I pointed out that I paused the video, then took the screenshots with old vs new. I have been playing this show for multiple episodes, hours, and as you can see the metadata on the library labeled ‘old’ is being updated. It has stored and can update effectively to know what I’m watching, where I’m at, etc. The only way that can happen is if the player is able to update the metadata on the episode. Do I have sync across all devices on? Yes, but not the point, because key here is the media server controls the metadata, and the media server. It has to read from and write to disk. But hit play? error, can’t play.
That was “Issue=Minors”.
I now realize at the end I forgot to take a picture of it actually playing. Ime stamp will be wayyyy off of the ohters, but to be complete, "YesItActuallyWorks". And yes, a well and precise manual test case example takes time.
Now to “Issue-Majors” I will; quote @jasonmcroy “I don’t see ANY mention of losing access to legacy libraries”
If this had happened after the price hike, this library would be a legacy library. It would not a have the promises made in that press release that they promised to them.
The next is a guess, cause I don’t know, but pretend scenario A it’s an oversight. People can appeal get the features back, still not OK. Too many will fil to ask, not fight hard enough, or… who know. Point is, this type of a bug, at this time, is WAYHYYYYA not OK. I fit is a bug, well I can speak from experience this is better than 90% of manually submitted reports.
If it is a business decision? even worse.
However, bug or intentional, the optics is bad here. I like it when a company is honest. I like to be personally held accountable to my actions, so I will give them every opportunity to do the right thing somehow.
Assuming the "issue’ deserved sarcastic quote mark? Not a fan, but that’s OK. If this saved someone else hours of debugging and what not, and if it makes sure they keep their promises? I will call that more than could have asked for.
